The animal kingdom is a wild place, filled with both predators and prey all working in the balance of a complete ecosystem. As humans, the way we behave, distort and play with these types of ecosystems can have very big effects on the animals that inhabit them.
As we drill it down to our feathered inhabitants and the way we feed them, we truly are living alongside these wonderful creatures. As we continue to plan habitat, feed, provide water for and observe our birds, we must always remain mindful as to how we do each of those things.
While there is nothing wrong with feeding birds and taking an active role in their day-to-day lives, there are a few things we should keep in mind while planning our backyards. Below you will find a number of tips to help you better place feeders, bird baths, and nesting boxes to keep our feathered friends as safe as possible in our man-made ecosystem.
Feeder, Box and Bath Placement
For some of us; the thought of our favourite birds perched close by to our homes is something we could only dream of. While birds would certainly use feeders located close to homes and windows, we must be cognizant of the location of the feeders placed in our yards.
We always recommend between 15-20 feet worth of distance between your feeders, baths, and boxes from any tree or similar structure. Leaving these birding havens too close allows predators to come dangerously close to our birds, their nests and young.
Find the Right Food
Yes, our seed is the best and we are proud of it. What we provide our birds to eat affects their health and the health of the environment around us. Many other seed manufacturers are not held to the highest of guidelines as they should, in fact, many aren’t held to any. Our seed blends are the only ones on the market today certified as safe for human consumption.
The right ingredients not only attract and keep more birds locally, it also keeps them healthy during the many different seasons of the year.
Include Natural Shelter
For the most part, when a bird visits your feeder, bird bath or nesting box, they are often left exposed out in the open. While this is not always a problem, having the proper shelter nearby for them to hide, disguise themselves or raise their young will keep them nearby and safe from predators.
The addition of native plants and shrubs or even some dead trees and snags can go a long way in providing adequate shelter, hiding spots and more food for your backyard birds!
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