A Bird Table Or A Bird Feeder?

If you would like to  enjoy the spectacle of backyard bird watching this low cost hobby can be enhanced and your backyard beautified at the same time. You can attract the birds to your garden using different types of bird feeders filled with wild bird foods, treats or for birds like Hummingbirds nectar. You can add a bird bath above ground or in the ground  to your  garden or deck. This provides your visiting feathered friends with the opportunity to eat and enjoy a drink or a bath when they visit. The other option you may want is called a  bird table feeder where you can place seeds or different foods, fruit, and  enjoy watching the birds as they eat and interact.

You can purchase  bird tables and bird feeders of course or you can try your hand at making your own bird table.

Making Your Own Bird Table Feeder

Making your own bird table feeders is a very easy project to do and the satisfaction that you will gain as you watch the many birds in your backyard enjoying the bird table feeder you made will definitely make it  worth your effort.

To make your own bird table feeder you will need a strong pole to support the bird table and the visiting birds, a large flat piece of wood to act as the table, and some thin long strips to place along the edges of the table. The pole or post you use to put your bird table on should be about 1.5 meters high or about 59 inches at least tall, this will help  keep your birds safe from any prowling and hungry cats.

Before you hammer the bird table feeder into the ground, check out the best place for your new table. This site should have some shrubs nearby so the birds  can flee from any Sparrow Hawks in the vicinity. You should also make sure the ground cover and surrounding foliage will not allow a cat to easily hide or support them so they can jump on your home made bird table feeder.

Also you should attach the thin strips of wood to the edges of your home made  bird table feeder. These edge strips need to be 2 inches high and there should be a small gap between them and the table. This design feature you make will let any rain water drain off of the table and stop the bird  food from floating in water.  I recommend you  attach the strips of wood to the table before you nail it to the pole as it is easier, however you can do it afterwards. Just make sure that the pole and the table are firmly attached to each other, so they do not tip or fall apart.

Once your new home made bird table feeder or purchased table bird feeder are firmly in the ground you can put out a variety of foods for the birds to enjoy. You   can use commercial wild bird feed and foods or you can try unsalted peanuts, fresh coconuts, fats like suet, solid dripping, meat fat and bacon rind, cheese.Some birds also enjoy stale cakes, biscuits and pastry with interesting fillings,  fruits, apples, dried fruits, sunflower seeds, bread and pumpkin seeds.

A bird table feeder is a great way to watch different birds, but you will also need to make sure that all this food does not get the attention of any squirrels who also like these foods and after all they do not have to work for it. If however, you do manage to attract the attention of a squirrel, and it is bound to happen, you have two choices: fight them or join them. If you are sure you will have a problem with  your bird table feeder using a metal pole instead of wood and making sure your bird table is away from an area they can jump from will help. Also most squirrels do not like mint so planting some near the base of the feeder can help. Since fighting them frequently  requires too much energy joining them is the simplest course of action and placing enough food on the bird table for them as well, will ensure that you have hours of added fun watching their antics along with those of the birds.

Thank You for visiting Backyard Bird Watching and hope you like your table bird feeder.