Alexandra Ramirez
1. Nature Anywhere
Best Overall Bird Feeder
5/5 Product Rating
It’s made from a high quality acrylic that is 5/32′ thick. The robust design of this bird feeder combined with the features that customers appreciate makes this our top pick. Natures Anywhere also offers excellent customer service and a money back guarantee.
– Jennifer Abel
2. Brome 1024
Best Overall Bird Feeder – Runner Up
4.8/5 Product Rating
The seed capacity of this bird feeder is 3 quarts and the feeder itself is very easy to assemble. Cleaning should be done periodically as well. The seed ports on the feeder will close automatically wherever a squirrel climbs onto the feeder like they often do. This prevents them from being able to drain the feeder of all its seeds, leaving nothing for the birds. The seed ports will close even if a large bird tries to get on it and eat everything.
The closing mechanism is adjustable so you decide what weight closes access to the seeds. This adjustable weight settings gives you control over what birds are able to access the bird feeder and which cannot. You may see such birds as gold finches, chickadees, cardinals, downy woodpeckers, indigo buntings, and more. It is easy to fill, and you can hang it anywhere you want. It hangs with a wall bracket, tree hook or extension hook which you can purchase separately. Cleaning the bird feeder is also easy, as it is dishwasher safe. Measurements of the Squirrel Buster Plus Bird Feeder by Bromeare6″ x 6″ x 23″. Customers who purchase this excellent and quality made bird feeder receive a lifetime, hassle free warranty as well.
– Jennifer Abel
3. H Potter
4.7/5 Product Rating
It’s the perfect gift for anyone who loves to bird watch and who wants to provide the birds with a place to eat that is stylish and unique. This is not your every day bird feeder, that’s for certain. Many people love to make their yard a sanctuary and having a bird feeder as decorative as this one can add to the beauty of your yard while offering food and relaxation to your bird guests. This is not just your every day bird feeder; it’s one that is durable, made from long lasting, good quality materials and has a lot of style.
– Jennifer Abel
4. Perky-Pet Lighthouse
4.6/5 Product Rating
You will have a full 1 ½ pounds of seed capacity in this unique and attractive bird feeder. The design of this lighthouse prevents any water from gathering inside the feeder and messing up the seeds inside. The sides offer plenty of space for the birds to perch and cling to get their food. It can hold up to 15 birds at once! The classic black and white color scheme has a splash of red in traditional lighthouse flair.
A little ladder connects the mid-feeder ring to the feeding tray offering birds a second level to eat their seeds and rest. The solar powered LED casts a nighttime glow from the four tiny windows at the top of the 14″ lighthouse making it possible to enjoy looking at this bird feeder any time, day or night. The squirrel resistant designed lighthouse bird feeder is easy to clean, fill and maintain and will last for a long time with proper care. It is a perfect gift for the ocean lover that also loves bird watching. No assembly is required; just open the box, take it out, fill it and hang it up for the birds to enjoy right away.
– Jennifer Abel
Bird Feeder Buying Guide
What is a Bird Feeder?
Many people are interested in watching birds and providing them a place to perch and rest while eating to their hearts’ content. Bird watchers love seeing different and numerous birds hanging out in their yard all throughout the year regardless of the season. Below is a guide that will help you compare and weight the different aspects in different bird feeders and decide which one is the best choice for your yard.
Benefits of Bird Feeders
There are many benefits to having bird feeders in your yard. Bird watching becomes very easy when there are plenty of reasons for the birds to come visit your yard. There are many benefits to having birds in your yard and having bird feeders will attract many different species of birds to your yard. Some of these benefits to having birds in your yard include:
- Less insects in your yard – Because many birds eat insects including pests like gnats and mosquitoes, you will notice there are fewer insects around the outside of your home when you have frequent bird visitors.
- Flower pollination – Many birds love to sip the nectar of the flowers in the yard which helps with pollination.
- Weed control – Birds such as finches, sparrows and others will consume a lot of weed seeds which will help control the weed population of your yard.
- Relaxation – Bird watching is a calming activity that can help de-stress overworked or stressed individuals. Spend an hour or two just watching the birds that come into the yard and you may notice that you are a lot calmer.
Types of Bird Feeders
There are many types of bird feeders on the market. The kind of birds that you attract into your yard will depend on the types of bird feeders that you choose. Below we have listed the different types of feeders and the birds that are typically drawn by those types.
- Hanging Bird Feeders – Hanging bird feeders can be cylindrical in shape with openings for the seed and several perch options including stick perches and ring perches. The birds that they typically attract include Goldfinch, Tree Swallows and Bluebirds.
- House Feeders – These bird feeders are identified by the house shape they have. They may be made of metal, plastic or wood. Many bird watchers love the house style bird feeder. There are a multitude of things you could choose that have the house shape. Species of birds that are usually drawn to the house hopper feeders include the very popular Cardinal, Purple Martins and Grosbeak.
- Suet Bird Feeders – Suet bird feeders are usually wire or some are bags with perches that the suet goes into. Species that are drawn to suet bird feeders include Nuthatches, Woodpeckers, Tufted Titmouse, Warblers, and Baltimore Orioles.
- Hummingbird Feeders – Humming bird feeders can come in a variety of shapes and sizes. They are designed to hold commercial hummingbird nectar or you can make a mixture of sugar water which hummingbirds also enjoy. Hummingbirds are the only bird species that is drawn to these feeders although you will see bees frequently feeding on the nectar.
Make sure that you know the species of birds that normally populate your area so you know what type of bird feeder will reap the biggest results. This will prevent you from wasting effort on using a certain type of bird feeder only to find out the species that are attracted to that style of feeder are not common to your area.
Good Places to Put Your Bird Feeders
There are many different places that you can choose to hang a bird feeder. Most avid bird watchers put many different types of bird feeds around their yard to they attract as many species as you can that are in your region.
- In front of a window – This is a terrific location to hang a bird feeder. It will provide you with ample opportunity to see many different species while you are either washing dishes, cooking or just sitting and relaxing. Make sure you place the feeder in the right place if you choose to put it in front of a window. Put them either less than three feet away from the window or farther than 10 feet away to avoid and reduce the incidences of window collision.
- From a Tree Branch – Hanging your bird feeder in a tree attracts many different species of birds. It also will attract squirrels that will use the tree and its branches to get to the feeder. If the bird feeder has wire mesh and cages, it can eliminate the success of the squirrel obtaining any bird food.
- Free standing near a bird bath – If you place your bird feeder on a hanging post near a pond or birdbath you will attract many different species of birds that love being around water. To avoid the squirrels from ruining the feeder, choose a variety that is a success currently, and I will show you how to achieve them.
- On the Porch or Deck – Hanging a feeder here will not result in a ton of birds simply because the close proximity to the house and humans can scare them away. If you leave the feeder there and make sure that you keep it full of fresh seeds, eventually they will get used to the close proximity and be just fine but it will take some time for the birds to establish trust and become comfortable.
- In your flower beds – If you put some free standing bird feeders in your flower beds, the different seeds that the flowers have will draw many different birds to them. Many different types of feeders will work well in your flower beds and that will bring you a variety of species. If you use ground feeders you will see sparrows, juncos and mourning doves as that type of feeder attracts those species.
Materials Used for Bird Feeders
Bird feeders are made with a variety of materials such as metal, wood and plastic. Each of the materials has different properties that make them what they are.
Wood – Any wood bird feeders that you purchase needs to be made wood that has been treated to become water resistant. This will ensure that the feeders do not rot. Cedar is a popular choice among bird feeder manufacturers and provides a wonderful smell for the birds as well.
Plastic – This is the most inexpensive material to use and results in a very inexpensive bird feeder that is functional, but not always very attractive. Another issue with plastic bird feeders is that they can be damaged extensively by squirrels that won’t hesitate to chew right through a plastic bird feeder to get to the seeds inside.
Metal – This is the favorite in terms of producing a bird feeder that is strong, durable, has a lot of variety when it comes to design and that will stand the test of time. Metal bird feeders are almost always squirrel proof and can last years, as good as new.
Conclusion
Bird feeders are popular items to purchase by bird watchers so they can enjoy watching them eat, interact with each other and relax. There are dozens of styles, shapes and sizes of bird feeders on the market today. Choosing one can be a challenge if you do not know what to look for. The most important factor there is when it comes to choosing a bird feeder is knowing what birds are normally in your area.
Purchasing the right bird feeder becomes much easier when you know what birds you have in your area. Then you can get one or more styles to attract many different species to your yard and enjoy their day to day interaction.
The purpose of these reviews and this buyer’s guide is to make sure that you have the knowledge needed to choose the right feeder for your region and yard. When you know what to look for and what you prefer, choosing the right one for your needs becomes easy.
