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Bird feeding evokes a lot of interest for genuine bird lovers. A bird feeder is a place where wild bird seed is placed. Mostly bird feeders are found outside of the house in a garden or the back yard. The bird feeder is a chirpy place that is full of noise and activity. It may sound silly to be talking about bird feeders. Wouldn't any bowl filled with bird food serve the purpose of a bird feeder? No! It is not as simple as that. Bird feeders should be designed well and placed where they will protect the bird food from rain, from other animals that might eat the food, and will also keep the wild, migratory birds safe from natural predators.

A bird feeder should be designed to accommodate the wild birds that frequent your yard. Hopper feeders, platform feeders, tube feeders, thistle sock feeders, suet bird feeders, nut feeders and honey feeders; these are some of the widely used varieties. Hummingbirds feed from honey feeders and it is common to add red color to attract these jewels of the bird world. Also, feeders should protect the birds from sudden attacks from birds of prey or cats. It should be sturdy enough to withstand the perching of many birds, as squabbling among your avian visitors may go on all at a time.

The bird lover should have a pleasant view of the birds while they are feeding. But the safety of the birds takes precedence over this. A bird feeder should not be placed too near to the trees. Cats and squirrels always eye the bird feeder for their meals; the cats eye the birds and the squirrels try to eat the bird food. A squirrel proof bird feeder may be just what you need to protect your avian associates. As well, keeping bird feeders far away from big trees and bushes will make it difficult for the birds to fly to safety if a bird of prey tries to attack.

Feeding the many species of birds that are indigenous to your area can be a round the year activity, peaking during the winter and ebbing during the summer. The bird feeder should be stocked with wild bird food and it should be replenished often. You never know when a winged guest might arrive. There is a chance of diseases spreading from bird-to-bird or from bird-to-humans; therefore, all of your bird feeders should be cleaned and sanitized regularly.

Bird feeding is not an easy thing. You cannot simply put some bird food on a plate and set it under a tree. Soon there will be other uninvited guests eating all of the food and leaving nothing for the birds. Mice, squirrels and raccoons are some of the animals that will eat up the wild bird seed. Squirrels rank at the top of the chain and the pilfering habits of squirrels deprive the wild birds of their food. The only thing that can be done is to make your bird feeder squirrel proof.

There are many different bird feeders on the market for the wild species of birds you would like to attract. You will find that many of them are topped with plastic domes to keep the pesky squirrels from getting the wild bird food. The squirrel proof bird feeders have plastic domes fitted at the top and at the bottom. When the squirrels try to climb up the pole or descend the suspension wire they encounter the deterrent. Unable to tackle it they fall to the ground, spilling a little bit of seed in the process, which they eat. But the amazing thing is the creatures try this very trick again and again till they are full. Squirrels definitely find ingenuous ways of getting what they want from a squirrel proof bird feeder.

Squirrel proof feeders come with chambers that allow only small birds to enter and gain access to food, while preventing squirrels from doing so. A plastic coated metal netting around the bird feeder works as a perfect deterrent. Only the beaks of the birds reach the food ports. Do not apply jelly on the poles or the suspension wires. Though this may prevent the squirrels from eating the food meant for the migratory birds, the jelly may stick to the wings of some birds and make flying difficult for them.

Meat for one may be poison for another, or so goes the old saying. Though it is unlikely that squirrels would know that a certain food is poisonous, they certainly would not think twice about devouring these foods, which is why squirrel proof feeders are needed. Cardinals, chickadees, titmice, and other species of birds love safflower seeds whereas squirrels hate them. Niger thistle is also not favored by squirrels much. Adding these foods to your bird feeding program is a definite way of making your bird feeder squirrel resistant.