[Bristol-Birds] Thinking outside the feeder
- From: "Shane" <tshane@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, <bristol-birds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 2 Feb 2007 14:48:45 -0500
Birders: Here is some information that I am sharing with everybody about
birdfeeders.
Shane Adams
Hamblen County / Morristown, Tennessee
Thinking outside the feeder
(ARA) - When you think of a bird feeder, you inevitably envision a tube
or hopper feeder hanging from the maple tree in the backyard, right beside the
old tire swing.
It's a nice vision to have, but a little narrow-sighted. While birds and
other outdoor pets love to eat seeds, fruit and nuts from a bird feeder, they
also like to mix up their diet (much like humans).
Giving your outdoor pets some variety in their dining choices is easier
than you might think. One of the most popular "alternative feeding" methods is
suet.
By definition, suet is white animal fat used to make foods like puddings
and mincemeat. When it's used to feed outdoor pets, seeds, nuts and fruit are
often suspended in the suet and it is formed into a square or rectangular
block.
Birds love suet, especially those that prefer high fat diets (such as
woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatches, jays and many other songbirds).
You can make suet yourself out of ground beef, but it can be a messy,
greasy process. It's also a lot of work.
Instead, most outdoor pet enthusiasts buy prepared suet products at their
local wild bird food retailer (lawn and garden centers, grocery stores and pet
shops are all good places to look).
Wild Delight is one of the nation's most popular brands of premium suet,
with three varieties that are full of the stuff birds love: Woodpecker,
Nuthatch and Chickadee Suet, Gourmet Suet and Nut N' Berry Suet. All are jumbo
sized and made with a wonderful cherry scent.
The easiest way to give suet to your outdoor pets is by using a "suet
feeder."
These are small "cages" made especially to hold the suet blocks snugly in
place while allowing birds and other outdoor pets to consume the tasty suet,
seeds, nuts and fruit inside.
You can feed suet almost anywhere that you feed outdoor pets. They work
especially well in the winter, when fat is at a premium for these birds and
suet itself tends to hold its shape the best. Don't let that discourage you
from putting suet out in the summer, though.
Good suet is made to take summer's heat without melting or going rancid.
Another feeding option that is gaining popularity is called an "outdoor
pet food block." These blocks are made up of outdoor pet food pressed into
easy-to-distribute blocks.
Most are about the size of a cordless phone.
They are very easy to use. In fact, you can hang or place them almost
anywhere that birds and other outdoor pets can get to them.
These blocks are almost always a hit with your local bird population
(Wild Delight sells a good variety of these as well - try their Special Finch
Block to attract finches, for example).
Birds love to land right on the block and peck away at the ingredients
contained within.
One of the nicest parts of these outdoor pet food blocks is that you
don't need to maintain a feeder.
They serve as their own feeder! After birds greedily consume the block,
just replace it with another - no fuss.
It's a nice alternative for those who love outdoor pets but have limited
space or time.
Finally, you can get yourself an outdoor "finch sock." This is a cloth
tube made of a tight mesh material that allows just enough room for finches to
pull out one of their favorite foods - Nyjer seeds. You can buy them filled or
you can buy them and fill them yourself.
Whether you choose suet, blocks or finch socks, your outdoor pets are
going to love the change of pace.
In fact, you may attract birds and other visitors that are new to your
yard - and for people who love the outdoors and the wildlife that we share it
with, there is no greater treat.
by
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