Ten Tips on Feeding Wild Birds on a Budget
Ten Tips on Feeding Wild Birds on a Budget
Knowing how to stretch your bird feeding budget in hard financial times can make life easier for wild birds and their human friends. As hard financial times in the country make it impossible for bird lovers to feed their feathered friends the way they used to, there are some things bird lovers can do to continue to care for their feathered friends and still survive economically. Here are a few good tips:
Shop aroundJust as shopping around helps to stretch the human home budget, it also helps to stretch the budget for wild bird feeding. Check flyers from farm supply companies, pet stores and landscaping companies for the best deals and stock up when the price is right. Online dealers may offer more competitive prices but you must, also, keep in mind shipping and handling fees when calculating the best deal.
Buy in bulkGenerally, large sized packaging yields a better price per pound and it, also, means that you will be running out of supply less frequently.
Offer a better quality bird seedAlthough a better quality bird seed may be more expensive it may be a better value because less of the bag is made up of filler seed that birds will not eat. Offering a choice of bird seed that is, specifically, intended for birds in your area will insure that less food is wasted.
Grow a garden full of bird seedBird seed is very easy to grow and will attract more birds than seeds in feeders. An extra bonus from this activity is that bird feeders will not need to be filled since the birds will, gladly, eat straight from the plants.
Offer alternatives to seedsBirds eat more than seed. Try offering your aviary visitors bread scraps, chopped fruit, nectar and other types of food as an alternative to expensive seed. This activity may surprise you with a whole new different bunch of species paying you visits.
Refill feeders less frequentlyBirds are notorious for spilling seeds. Waiting a few days before filling the feeders encourages them to feed off the ground saving money on bird seed and giving less maintenance for the owner of the yard.
Choose feeders that are efficientIf you watch your bird feeders for a few days, you may find that you are feeding other creatures besides birds. Deer, raccoons, squirrels and other wildlife often treat themselves to food meant for birds. You can discourage these creatures by buying feeders with smaller openings and built in cages to discourage these raiders.
Don't purchase poisonsMany wild birds are very happy to munch on flies, spiders and other insects. Withholding pesticides will save money on for lawn and flower bed maintenance and enables birds to take advantage of this natural food.
Make your own bird foodCommercial seed mixes and suet are, usually, more expensive than buying the raw material. Buying the seed that is enjoyed by the specific species you are trying to entice will make the food go farther for less.
Remove several feedersYou can save money by removing some feeders and replacing them with bird-friendly bushes, nesting boxes, brush pile and bird baths that will still attract birds without the cost of feeding them. Birds will, still, enjoy coming to a friendly habitat.
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