Birdscape Your Yard
Maximizing Your Space
You can successfully birdscape your yard, whether you have a grandiose property or postage stamp of space, you just need to plan accordingly to make the most of it. You must make your yard a place where birds can feel safe. By providing some shelter. Be it a pile of brush, shrubs, or trees, they all work, be creative. Our in-house expert, Tatsiana, showed us how to create a haven for birds by using a garden planter and branches. They were fun to make, they looked great and before long they had visitors! See the video here Providing food and water sources for the birds is another key element. By planting fruit bearing shrubs, berry bushes or hanging a bird feeder you should attract hungry visitors to your yard! Bird baths are a great water source for wild birds and make a great addition to your yard. Watch Brome Bird News for many tips and tricks on how to maximize your yard space. Happy birding! Credit: Susan Roghair
Birdscaping FAQ's
How many birds that can feed at once depends on how many seed ports are available for the birds to feed at. Don’t forget there is a pecking order and birds will patiently wait their turn.
We do not guarantee our feeders for nuisance birds. If you purchase weight-adjustable feeders, you can exclude certain larger birds by adjusting the setting on your feeder.
It is beneficial to add shrubs and trees to your yard because birds use them for cover.
You would only need weather protection if you live in areas with heavy rain and wind.
Switch to safflower or Nyjer seed only. Another trick is to attach shiny objects (CDs, washers) using fishing wire to the perches.
Choosing the right feeder depends on how often you want to fill your feeder, the amount of room you have, where you are located and what kind of food you are prepared to buy on a regular basis. These are things to keep in mind.
You can set a pole up with an umbrella stand on your patio or deck if there is no ground available to screw in a pole.
You could start seeing birds at your feeder as early as a day if you’re lucky but it could take several weeks.
There is no difference.
There is no difference as long as there’s cover, window collisions have been minimized and the feeder is placed for your viewing pleasure.
The only feeder that should be placed in the shade in the summer is the Squirrel Buster Suet. All of our other feeders can be used in sun and shade.
Small birds visit all of our feeders.
All our feeders have been tested and work in all 4 seasons.
If you are having deer problems, our suggestion is to hang them higher than the deer can reach. If your deer are only active at night consider bringing your feeder inside.
You can add a water feature during the hot months, bird houses, native plants and berry bushes are all great additions to your yard.
Our feeders should be placed somewhere close to cover, for example a tree, a bush or a brush pile so that birds have somewhere to hide should a predator appear. To avoid birds colliding with your windows, hang your feeders 3 feet and closer or 30 feet and further away from windows.
The best solution for raccoon problems is to bring your feeders in at night or to install a pole with a baffle and to be sure it is securely attached.
Our Squirrel Buster Plus was voted BEST squirrel-proof feeder by Popular Science in 2018.
“Best” really depends on your needs. Where will you be hanging this feeder? How often do you want to fill it? Will you be able to see the birds from your favorite chair? What is your budget?
Please see our size chart below to help you choose the “best” feeder for you. If you need help just give us a call 1-800-856-5685
Our most popular feeder is the Squirrel Buster® Standard. The Standard is both compact and adjustable. It is a great entry level bird feeder.
Tatsiana has some tips and tricks to help you manage chipmunks at your bird feeders.
She suggests a baffle as the best solution and when that isn’t possible, she suggests choosing different seed that chipmunks do not like, guards made out of tin pans and plates, moving the feeder to a new location or by saving over ripe-fruits (that won’t get eaten in her home) to offer the chipmunks and catbirds.
Watch the video to see how she does it!
BBN 4-14 - Backyard Feeding - Managing Chipmunks Around Your Feeders from Brome Bird News on Vimeo.
6 steps to turn your yard into a bird sanctuary
Birds need your help! Populations of many kinds of birds are declining. Habitat loss and degradation, disease, collisions with man-made structures and a host of other factors contribute to these declines. You can help by turning your yard into a sanctuary for birds. Here are six steps you can take to make the future brighter for birds:
1.Put out the welcome mat! Habitat loss is the biggest challenge facing birds. You can help by making your neighborhood more attractive to birds by landscaping with native plants that provide natural food sources, shelter from the elements and predators, and nesting sites. Providing feeders, nest boxes and water also benefits birds. To learn how, stop by your local wild bird food retailer.
2.Prepare a proper menu Providing the appropriate foods year round will attract more birds to your yard and help ensure that they have a safe and nutritious diet. Refill feeders regularly with food desired by birds in your area. To pick the best menu, stop by your local wild bird food retailer.
3.Keep feed and feeding areas clean To help reduce the possibility of disease transmission in birds, clean feeders and feeding areas at least once a month. Plastic and metal feeders can go in the dishwasher, or rinse these and other styles with a 10% solution of bleach and warm water. Scrub birdbaths with a brush and replace water every three to five days to discourage mosquito reproduction. Rake up and dispose of seed hulls under feeders. Moving feeders periodically helps prevent the buildup of waste on the ground. Keep seed and foods dry; discard food that smells musty, is wet or looks moldy. Hummingbird feeders should be cleaned every three to five days, or every other day in warm weather. It’s good hygiene to wash your hands after filling or cleaning feeders.
4.Birds and chemicals don’t mix Many pesticides, herbicides and fungicides are toxic to birds; avoid using these near areas where birds feed, bathe or rest. Always follow directions provided by chemical manufacturers. For additional information visit your wild bird food retailer.
5.Keep cats away from birds Scientists estimate that cats probably kill hundreds of millions of birds each year in the U.S. This is a big problem, but it’s easy to fix. Many people who enjoy feeding birds also love cats. The best solution is tokeep cats indoors. They will lead longer, healthier lives, and your yard will be safer for birds. Install feeders in areas not readily accessible to cats or install fences or other barriers to help keep stray cats from feeder areas. Collar bells, de-clawing and keeping cats well fed will not solve the problem.
6.Reduce window collision. Collisions with glass windows kill millions of wild birds every year. Depending on their size and location, some windows reflect the sky or vegetation, and birds are fooled into thinking they can fly through them. To eliminate this problem identify windows that cause collisions (typically larger, reflective windows, those near the ground, or those that “look through” the house). Attaching decorative decals or other decorations to the outside surface of the glass can reduce reflections. Feeder birds fleeing predators are vulnerable to window collisions. If this is happening at your house, consider moving feeders within three feet of the windows so that birds cannot accelerate to injury level speeds while flying away. Problem windows can be covered with a screen so that birds bounce off, rather than hit the glass.
The information contained here is designed to assist birding enthusiasts in their efforts to attract a variety of birds to their property, as well as to serve as a guide to providing a healthy environment. WBFI and its member companies hope you find this information helpful in creating your own wild bird sanctuary, and wish you many years of happy viewing! You can help change the world and make it a better place for birds. The most important step you can take is to get started! Following the six steps presented here is a great start. Be sure to learn more about birds and how you can help by getting involved with the organizations listed below, and with others committed to conserving bird and wildlife habitats.
Representatives from Cleveland MetroParks, Aurora University, and Muhlenberg College, as well as the following organizations contributed to the development of this brochure. • American Bird Conservancy – www.abcbirds.org • American Birding Association – www.americanbirding.org • Bird Conservation Alliance – www.birdconservationalliance.org • Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology – www.birds.cornell.edu • Massachusetts Audubon Society – www.massaudubon.org • National Audubon Society – www.audubon.org • National Fish and Wildlife Foundation – www.nfwf.org • National Wildlife Federation – www.nwf.org • The Wildlife Society – www.wildlife.org • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – www.fws.gov • The Wild Bird Feeding Industry and its member companies – www.wbfi.org The Wild Bird Feeding Industry (WBFI) sponsored development of this brochure. WBFI is an association dedicated to the progressive expansion of the wild bird feeding industry. ©2004 Wild Bird Feeding Industry
Various Set-ups We Love!
Our customers often send us pictures of their backyard set-ups. We love to see all of the creative ideas! We want to share them with you too.
Thanks to Bernice Payne, Anna Purdy, Darlene Perkins, Scott Richardson, Eric Wallgren, Rosemary Rosepaur, Doug McFadgen, Gary Braaten, Heidi Johnson, José Cornelio, Lou Ruttkay, Neil Castle, Petrus, Rebecca Trowbridge, Nancy Love.
Do you want to share a picture of your yard? If so, please send your submission to brome@bromebirdcare.com.