Pretty Bird Food

Spring is on its way and all the backyard birds are our hunger. With daffodils and crocuses start blooming pop the head off the ground, we tend to forget that food sources of plant seeds fall have long been swept away by the winds of winter and new growth n ' has not yet begun.

There are about 2 acres of wooded land adjacent to my property for birds, raccoons, possums and the occasional coyote. This area has been left in its natural state, free of lawn mowers, chain saws and trimmers. It's almost like God designed it.

We have three bird feeders in the woods and both sides of the house, but it's enough to keep us on the edge of bankruptcy. Try to keep food from wild birds in our five feeders full house is not an easy task. It seems as if it was the goal of all birds do its part to clear the entire station's power all its contents.

I once thought that birds really cared about the appearance of their cafeterias, but I learned it does not make much difference if it is made of plastic, wood or aluminum. If you want to feed finches well, you need a hose Finch feeder because it is designed to receive and distribute these tiny thistle seed. Almost all other types may be made of wood.

When I had the idea to get something to feed the birds, I went to my local bird store to buy a couple of bird feeders. I changed my mind when I saw the price of the easiest they had to offer. I decided to build my own.

I went to my computer and found pictures of happy birds pecking at bird seed on a very simple looking rectangular piece of wood, with a wall two inches around it to keep all food off the floor.

The disadvantage of the platform type of food, of course, is that the food is exposed to weather. Put a wall at each end and a roof over the container and you have a hopper type feeder. Internet search I found plans to build one, but after reading five pages of detailed drawings, I built my own diet of wild birds, without even meaning to print.

This type of feeder is not a good idea because the seeds sown by the birds fell to the ground and made the perfect introduction to predators, like my cat Spike. He waited behind a bush and threw himself on the ground to feed the birds when they flew to swallow up the treasure from heaven.

Now he's older, he is just a step from the deck and watch the birds, no doubt remembering the days of his youth back when they were afraid of him. Now they just go about their business of eating the premium on the ground without worrying about the threat of annihilation of an old yellow cat.

I went back to the computer and developed a plan to build a bird feeder with a roof that is not complicated. There is never a shortage of construction materials because someone in the neighborhood is always throwing something. I just drive around looking for fencing old man left for trash. For a charger it does not take a lot of wood or other materials. Regarding the design, there are many free plans and instructions online.

It is worth when I'm looking through my kitchen window at the cardinals, chickadees, titmice, wrens, and many other colorful friends and happy I am grateful on a daily basis.