Choosing a Bird Feeder

Any bird feeding endeavor begins with selecting the appropriate feeder. With many varieties to choose from, it's important to determine what kinds of birds you're interested in attracting and where you're planning on placing the feeder. Here's a brief rundown of three of our most popular feeders and what to expect from them:

Sunflower-Seed Tube Feeders

If you are going to put out just one feeder, this is your best choice. A model with metal ports around the seed dispensers is best, as it will protect from nibbling squirrels and house sparrows. Hang the feeder at least five feet off the ground and try to position it near a window where you can enjoy the visitors, which are likely to include chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, goldfinches, siskins and purple and house finches.

Suet Feeder

Suet is popular with titmice, chickadees, nuthatches and woodpeckers. While you can hang suet chunks in a mesh onion bag, you can also purchase cage feeders. Suet feeders can be hung from trees, from poles near other feeders, or from a wire stretched between trees. Avoid feeding suet when temperatures rise into the 80-degree range, as it can turn rancid.

Thistle (Nyjer) Feeder

Especially designed to dispense thistle (nyjer) seed, these feeders have tiny holes that make the seed available only to small-beaked finches such as goldfinches, redpolls and pine siskins. Hang your thistle feeder from a tree or place it on a five-foot pole near other feeders. Squirrel baffles will help to protect the feeder.

For more information on any of these feeders, please visit our garden emporium which is packed with all the supplies you'll need to enjoy your backyard birds all season long.