It’s that time of year again when we’re thinking about what gifts our family and friends would like… but what about the birds and squirrels? Have you ever thought about adding something special to your yard for your feathered and furry friends?
You may consider doing something for the whole gang by adding a heated bird bath, or maybe something small like a few additional suet feeders. Either of these would be appreciated.
I’ve put together a list of suggestions for you to ponder.
Cardinals and House Finches - The Sky Cafe (AR-360) is a great feeder for cardinals and house finches. It has a comfortable tray for them to feed from, and a 7 lb. seed capacity. This feeder can be mounted to a 1 inch pole or hung from a pole, bracket or tree branch. If you’re hanging this feeder, make sure it is in a place where squirrels can’t jump directly onto the tray. When they approach from above the feeder, the roof acts as a squirrel baffle. If you’d like to make this a ‘quiet’ feeding space for cardinals and house finches, use safflower seeds to deter other birds. A dove guard (AR-366) can also be added.
Chickadees - The Cutest Chickadee Feeder (DY-Cute) is an adorable little feeder you can tuck away for the chickadees and other small birds. It will only hold 1 cup of seed, so it’s a good idea to situate it in a place with easy access for you to fill on a regular basis.
Goldfinches and Pine Siskins - Droll Yankees offer a mesh feeder (DY-CC12FM) for goldfinches and pine siskins to cling to which invites more birds to feed at one time. These birds are quite sociable and don’t mind sharing the feeder with each other. You could fill this feeder with nyjer seed or fine sunflower hearts. An Onyx Clever Clean Tray can also be added.
Nuthatches - White-breasted and red-breasted nuthatches love their peanuts. The Squirrel Buster Nut Feeder (BRM-1053) is the perfect feeder for these friendly little birds allowing them to feed in their preferred upside down position. Peanut halves (no shell peanuts) fit perfectly in this feeder… and it’s squirrel proof too!
Downy, Hairy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers - These suet loving birds will surely be attracted to the Squirrel Buster Suet Feeder (BRM-1106). This feeder holds two suet cakes, one on each side. There’s plenty of space on this feeder for woodpeckers to cling comfortably in an upright position. Mill Creek Suet offers a great selection of flavours to choose from. The Insect and Nut is their absolute favourite though… (MC-BUG).
Blue Jays - If you’re looking for some entertaining activity in the backyard, the peanut wreath is the way to go (PBHG-10760). This wreath holds whole peanuts (peanuts in the shell) and is pliable enough to let the blue jays extract their beloved peanuts. If you don’t want to share this with the squirrels, you’ll definitely need to add a baffle… or they can just share.
Mourning Doves - Fly through feeders are a good idea for mourning doves giving them more floor space to feed. The Fly Thru Large Feeder with Screen Bottom (WBT-PLAT) is taller than other models and has plenty of room for mourning doves to dine. The roof and screen bottom helps to keep the seed from becoming saturated in inclement weather.
Dark-eyed Juncos and American Tree Sparrows - These little beauties prefer to feed at ground level. We have a variety of ground feeders with legs to choose from including a small model (BE-162) or a larger style (SE-RUBSPF100) which is made from recycled plastic. A roof can also be added to this feeder if you prefer. Sunflower hearts and white millet attract both of these species. You can also sprinkle these seeds on the ground in addition to the feeder.
Squirrels - If you’d like to entertain family and friends with a fun feeder, you might like to try the Gnome Squirrel Feeder (ARMC-12984). This vinyl feeder requires the squirrels to stand on their hind legs to reach their treats. You can also choose from unicorn, horse or cat head models. Add some of our squirrel mix and prepare to be entertained.
If you want to keep things simple with one feeder for all of our backyard birds, the Squirrel Buster Plus (BRM-1024) is a wonderful choice. It has a large seed capacity (3 quarts), and good ventilation to keep seeds fresh. The perching ring is attractive to cardinals, small finches, blue jays, woodpeckers, doves, and sparrows… but not squirrels as the feeding portals will close from their weight. You can also adjust the tension on this feeder to attract only the birds you want to observe. A lifetime warranty on parts and squirrel damage is also offered by Brome Bird Care. You really can’t go wrong with this feeder!
I hope this information helps you with your holiday gift giving! We’d also love to see you in any of our store locations to answer any questions you may have.
Happy Birding… and Shopping!
Jane Paradis
Brand Ambassador
Urban Nature Store
