There are numerous reasons to feed your birds during the summer. A growing cast of new and different birds are visiting feeders, all birds are sporting their most vibrant plumage, and the young birds are learning where and how to feed. Eastern Pennsylvania has a great variety of beautiful birds and since bird feeding is for people who love to watch birds, it is important to place your feeders in places where you can readily and frequently see the birds you are feeding. If you are new to this, it is important to start with the basics.
1. Seed: Black-oil and striped sunflower seeds in a tubular feeder are a very effective combination for attracting a large number of birds to your yard – including cardinals, woodpeckers, goldfinches, purple finches, chickadees, titmice, and nuthatches.
2. Habitat: Provide birds with habitat, food, water, and nest boxes so birds will use your yard year-round.
3. Placement: Bird feeders near larger trees and shrubs often have more bird visits.
4. Safety: Move feeders to within 3 feet of windows, remove hiding places of cats, and keep feeders free of debris and filled only with seeds birds will eat.
5. Maintain: Keep your feeders clean and dry. If the seed becomes wet, remove it, wash the feeder and dry it before adding new seed. Moldy seed can make birds sick or even kill them in some circumstances.
Birds will find most of their food in the wild. They do not really need us to feed them, but it is fun and educational. Braxton’s selects the best mixes of quality, wild bird seed that is most appropriate for our area. Along with several single seed formulas, we also carry no shell patio and deck mixtures to keep the area under the feeder clean. Stop by Braxton’s and check out our selection of seed and feeders so you can start enjoying your own backyard.
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