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Seven Tips for Bird Feeding on a Budget
It's no secret that the economy has slowed down in recently months. Gas and grocery prices are up, and we're all looking for ways to save a buck. So what's a backyard bird watcher to do when it's time to refill the bird feeder with expensive seed? Resourceful bird lovers can continue to attract birds without breaking the bank with these tips from National Wildlife Federation's naturalist and backyard wildlife expert David Mizejewski.
Plant Natural Feeders - Birds only use feeders to supplement
the natural foods they find in the landscape, so focus of your
bird-feeding efforts on your plants even in good economic times. Plants
feed birds with seeds, berries, nuts, sap and nectar as well as shelter
and nesting places. Once planted, they'll provide free bird food for
years to come. Get a list of the best plants for your state at
https://secure.nwf.org/backyard/food.cfm.
Say No to
Insecticides - Before you reach for the bug killer think about this: 96
percent of bird species in North America feed their babies insects.
Most adult birds rely on insects as a source of protein too, but even
those that primarily eat plant foods as adults still feed their young
insects, including hummingbirds. Make sure you have plenty of insect
life for the birds by going organic and eliminating insecticides. Let
the birds control the insects for you.
Go Native - Native
plants that grow naturally in your area provide birds with the foods
they've been eating for thousands of years and thrive in local soils
and weather. Many exotic plants don't provide seeds or fruits that
birds can eat and those that do have become invasive pests. Native
plants also support up to 60 percent more insects than exotics and
therefore more birds. Luckily, many natives are ornamental and
commercially available (check out www.abnativeplants.com for more
information).
Attract Birds with Water - Even if you can't
provide food, a simple bird bath with clean water will attract plenty
of birds to your yard. Replace the water every three days to keep the
bath clean and to avoid mosquito problems.
Free Food - Make
your own suet by recycling bacon grease. Next time you fry up a batch
of bacon, pour the grease into a plastic container and freeze it. You
can then put it out in a suet cage or mesh onion bags as a high calorie
treat for birds such as woodpeckers, jays and chickadees. Saving the
plastic packages from store-bought suet and using them again to make
your own will save you even more.
Buy in Bulk - If you are
addicted to watching the constant activity of birds visiting your
feeders, consider buying seed in bulk to save some cash. Avoid seed
blends which often have "filler" seeds that most birds toss aside and
feed black-oil sunflower seed, which all feeder birds relish. Store
seed in a metal container with a secure lid to keep moisture and other
critters out.
Grow Your Own Feeders - Plant sunflowers instead
of buying expensive sunflower seed. The flowers look beautiful and also
provide nectar for bees and other beneficial insects. In the fall, cut
the flower heads and hang them in the yard as home-grown bird feeders.
David
Mizejewski is host of the Animal Planet's Backyard Habitat and author
of Attracting Birds, Butterflies and Other Backyard Wildlife.
Bird
lovers can learn more about attracting wildlife and add their gardens
to National Wildlife Federation's Certified Wildlife Habitat list at
http://www.nwf.org/gardenforwildlife/.
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