With so many bird feeders to choose from, use this bird feeder buying guide to help you narrow your birdfeeder decision

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Bird Feeder

Choosing a Decorative Bird Feeder

Adding a decorative bird feeder to your backyard can attract your feathered friends and makes sure they have enough to eat all year long. Choosing the right squirrel proof bird feeder is important. The tips below will help you find the perfect birdfeeder to keep both you and the birds happy.

Types of bird feeders Bird feeders come in a wide variety of styles, and each one is designed to attract a specific type of bird. Platform feeders have a long narrow platform that encourages birds to feed from the edge. This style of bird feeder minimizes contamination of the feeding station and attracts a wide variety of species, including blackbirds, wrens and cardinals. Tube feeders are designed with a long cylinder that holds seed, surrounded by multiple levels of perches and feeder holes. There is often a platform around the bottom to catch loose seeds and provide extra perching. Tube feeders attract finches, titmice, chickadees and woodpeckers. Suet feeders come in a wide variety of styles, but all are designed to hold suet cakes. They usually have a wire cage with a perch or platform in front, and the birds can peck at the suet through the wire. Suet feeders attract creepers, jays, bluebirds, woodpeckers and mockingbirds. Hummingbird feeders are designed specifically to attract hummingbirds. They hold liquid hummingbird nectar or a simple mixture of sugar and water, which hummingbirds drink with their long bills. A hummingbird feeder should have a bottom tray to catch spills and provide plenty of feeding space.

General bird feeder tips

Regardless of what type of birds you're hoping to attract, there are a few general rules you should follow when choosing a bird feeder. These tips will ensure that your birds stay healthy and that your feeder lasts through several seasons of use.

• Choose a bird feeder that is easy to fill and clean. Tube feeders and other long, narrow feeders should have removable tops and bottoms so that you can easily run water through the inside. Box-shaped feeders should have removable roofs so that seed can be poured in and leftover shells can be removed.
• Your wild bird feeder should be weather-resistant. If you're looking for a wooden feeder, cedar and redwood are excellent choices. Avoid chemically treated lumber. Make sure any painted surfaces do not chip, and if your window bird feeder has metal parts keep it out of direct sunlight so that it doesn't get too hot for the birds.

With these helpful tips, it should be easy to find the perfect bird feeder for you and your backyard entourage. The right feeder will keep the birds cared for all year round and provide you with hours of bird watching entertainment.