Bird Feeders

There are an enormous variety of bird feeders available ranging from the old-fashioned peanut bag to sophisticated ones that will even spin squirrels off them! However, here are essentially 3 types of bird feeders, those for peanuts, seeds and suet.

Peanut bird feeders comprise a coarse plastic or wire mesh, usually large enough for birds to peck and remove large pieces but not to take whole peanuts.

Seed bird feeders usually comprise a plastic tube with several ports and perches sited down and around the tube. The birds sit on the perches and remove the loose seed from the ports. A specialist seed bird feeder is the "niger feeder", instead of the usual large ports these have very small holes that prevent the very small niger seed blowing away but still allow the birds to get at it.

Suet bird feeders are typically a metal cage that vary in size and shape depending on the type of suet block, which may be shaped like a ball, cylinder or square.

Some of the bird feeders are made wholly of plastic and may not survive the persistent attack of a hungry squirrel - more expensive metal and polycarbonate bird feeders are available that should last much longer.

Bird feeders can be hung from variety of places in the garden, there is no right or wrong. However, where the bird feeder is hung may affect how popular it is with the birds. If  bird feeders are hung in trees with shelter then birds are more likely to use it as they less vulnerable to predators. Hanging bird feeders from bird tables is a popular choice as well as hanging them from a window. 

Bird feeders can be bought from www.gardenersheaven.co.uk