Bird watching is fun and proof of this is the ever growing market for bird watching tools and equipments like spotting scopes and binoculars. Some have actually made a profession out of it by doing bird photography. But you actually do not have to spend a large amount of money to enjoy a bird watching hobby. All you need to is transform your garden into a bird friendly environment

One way of doing this is by putting or growing plants that are beneficial for them. A good plant example is honeysuckle. For one, this plant produces fruits in the autumn season that are sought by birds like bullfinches, warblers and thrushes. Different species of insects also feed on honeysuckles and these little creatures are attractive meals to birds as well. Sunflower is another plant most attractive to them. Sunflower seeds are good come-ons for birds and not only that, their bright yellow flowers can brighten up any garden.

Cotoneaster berries can be a good source of food for birds during the cold season of autumn and winter. Its flowers are also frequented by bees because of their rich nectar contents. By carefully choosing the kinds of plants to put in your garden, you will not only have a pleasing outdoor spot, you can also help in maintaining a good balance in the eco-system.

Bird baths do not just add accents in a garden space as they can also be a good spot for bird watching fun. When this becomes a permanent piece in your front or backyard you can monitor the different bird species that stays in your area all year round and those that visit in different seasons. A very interesting topic for people who will come to visit your house, don’t you think?

Do you need that extra element that will give your garden an ump? How about coaxing birds into your yard with bird accessories? These flying creatures will not only provide you with entertainment but it will also assist you to ward off pests, facilitate the seeding and pollination of your garden plants and may give your yard the appeal it needs.

You may install a fountain or birdbath to entice a variety of winged species. In choosing garden products, you may consider purchasing water accessories to supplement your bird baths. Birds cannot resist water thus water features serve as a magnet for wild birds. You can add a birdbath de-icer which is inserted into the bowl of your fountain that keeps the water warm enough not to freeze. It is made of high quality heating unit with built in thermostat, a stainless steel guard, 6foot corn and a cord chew protector. You can also use a water wiggler which creates continuous ripples in the water which prevents mosquitoes breeding and the spread of West Nile virus.

Other garden accessory you may need is a bird feeder. But you have to choose the right king to entice birds to your garden. The basic features you should look for feeders should include it being stable and durable. It should be able to withstand strong winds and heavy rains as it will be placed outdoors. It should also hold a favourable amount of seeds to save you from all the hassle of having to refill it always. But it should also keep the seeds dry for if it will come in contact with moisture; it has a greater tendency of spoiling earlier than expected thus causing harm to birds forfeiting the purpose of having the feeder in your garden. And lastly it should be protected from wild animals that may come eating the seeds eventually attacking birds.

A bird cage makes a great addition to your garden as well. This will improve the appeal of your garden and it will give those beautiful birds a shelter. The birds will love their new home and will never have to venture far with all that they need just around the corner – food, shelter, water.

All the mentioned bird accessories are available at Garden Accent Heaven. They have all your garden needs, bird baths, bird feeders, wildlife cameras, squirrel feeders and other garden decors. This online shop is owned by passionate gardeners thus they know your sentiments and needs to enhance your garden. Whether you are an amateur or expert in the field of gardening, you will find this site a heaven to visit.

Putting squirrel feeders in your garden may be a good way to drive them

Songbird Essentials Squirrel Feeder

away from your bird feeders. Squirrels are serious seed eaters, the reason why bird feeders are a favorite target for them.  They have strong legs that can run as fast as 20 mph making them high jumpers as well to at least 8 to 10 feet above the ground. And their teeth, boy, aren’t they strong. Their teeth can grow 6 inches per year, and it never stops, but we see them short because of the many activities squirrels do with their mouth, eating being the main thing.

To protect the food intended for the birds, many garden owners have resorted to mounting the bird feeders on poles that are set much higher than the squirrels’ jumping distance. But since these animals are also good climbers, protecting the bird feeder from them can really be a challenge. Many have tested that PVC pipes work on them because the sleek surface is hard for them to cling on.

It is when squirrels do not have their own feeders do they search and look for food in other places. A salvaged feeder drives birds away from your garden and if you love seeing and hearing these birds in your back or front yard, then you have to deal with this squirrel problem. But even though they seem to be such pests, they can be fun to watch too as they are very smart in their pursuit of food. Put squirrel feeders in your garden and you’ll have a space booming with activities.

Having birds around your garden have its pros and cons. If you want birds, there are different ways to catch the attention of the right kind. When you have a garden, a fair amount of birds can wander around it. If you want these birds to stay then you need to search around for top quality nevertheless cheap bird feeders. These devices are placed outdoors with the purpose of supplementing food for birds. There are many types of feeders around, but if you are a bird feeding novice or enthusiast, you should know what qualities make a good one.

First, it should be very stable and durable. They should be made of high quality materials and constructed well. It should last a long time despite the fact that it will be placed outside exposing itself to all kinds of conditions such as strong winds, rain, snow and other wild life creatures. A well-made feeder should be able to withstand all these to serve its purpose of providing birds food.

Second, it should be able to hold a favourable amount of seeds. You shouldn’t be hassled of the constant refilling especially in the cold months of winter. Who would want to go out in the cold just to restock their feeders?

Third, other than being able to hold a large amount of seeds, it should keep it dry. The feeding stations should be protected from the rain and strong winds. It should have enough drainage holes to prevent the collection of any moisture which will cause the seeds to spoil easily. Spoiled seeds can be dangerous for birds because if ingested, the birds may become ill or eventually die.

Fourth, it should be protected from other wildlife creatures. There are animals that are known to attack feeders in the hopes of getting what is inside it, like the squirrels, raccoons, cats and even bears. It is important to have built-in additional accessories to prevent unwanted animals from gaining access to the food prepared solely birds.

Lastly, it should cater a large number and assortment of birds. It would be useless if the feeder can just accommodate one kind of bird. Feeders with more perches can hold different kinds of bird food, attracting more birds which will eventually fill your garden with different bird species.

There is a great deal of bird feeders offered almost anywhere whether online or not. One shop that offers top of the line bird feeders and other garden accessories is Garden Accent Heaven. They can satisfy all your gardening needs. With the various choices you have, one idea is important. You should choose the best one where you don’t have to be spending extra for something that doesn’t work well and last long.

Birds of all shapes and sizes have always been considered as a welcome presence in any garden or yard at home. Them being there is always a pleasure to have and look at whether they are taking baths, enjoying a dip in bird baths or munching off of treats that are fed to them using bird feeders.

Songbird Essentials Woodpecker Feeder with tail prop

A bird feeder, also known as a bird table or tray feeder, is a piece of feeding equipment that is used to place outdoors and provide bird food to birds. The success that a bird feeder achieves in drawing birds to it mainly depends on where the feeder is conveniently placed and the kind of food that is given.

Like humans and other animals, birds have their own personal preferences when it comes to food. Luckily, there are a variety of bird foods that are there to choose from ranging from seeds, safflowers, canola seeds, oil and striped sunflowers, millets, and Niger seeds to birds who love seeds.

No doubt that feeding birds at any time of the year, whether it is during the summer or winter season, is where you feel the sense of accomplishment in helping living creatures that struggle to get food for themselves to eat. Even still, it is always to take note of the right foods to feed the birds, especially during winter.

All birds, whether these are large birds or small birds, must have the much needed energy, proper nutrition and calories that they will need in order to survive long winter days, most especially the force of gathering foods during the day and the vigor to withstand the cold when asleep during night time.

Black oil sunflower seeds are considered the best foods to give to birds in any season. These seeds, to some extent, contain slender shells and high oil content, which makes them very nourishing and wholesome foods. This food will definitely draw many hungry birds and this can be provided using a platform, tube, or hopper feeder.

Other foods that you can serve to birds are suet, which contains high calories and are superior winter foods. Peanuts are also a suitable bird food to be fed to birds because, like suet, they also have high calories and are rich in fat. These nuts do not freeze up during winter time, which makes them perfect for winter feeding.

Depending on what type of food you will serve the birds during winter time, make sure you get the best bird feeders that are easy to use and effortless to maintain.