With winter starting, there has never been a better time to engage in a DIY project that is not only fun for you but also benefits the birds, that is, a homemade bird feeder. Having feed out for birds makes a huge difference to the well-being of wild birds. Food is scarce in winter and the food that you put out in your garden could be the difference between surviving winter and starvation.
Birdwatching is one of life’s simpler pleasures and one that becomes easier to do when you have the right food on hand to attract our feathered friends. And it doesn’t even have to be warm-weather activity. Even in the dead of winter, you can put out some bird seed and watch birds explore your yard from the comfort of your living room.
If there’s one thing we know about birds, it’s this: take care of them, and they’ll take care of you. Birds are what’s known as a “beneficial” animal, helping to pollinate flowers and feasting on the types of pests we don’t want in our gardens. And while most other beneficial creatures – bees, ants, bats, small mammals – tend to vanish this time of year, there are still plenty of birds around.
If you want to become a bird watcher, you could pick worse places than New Jersey, where you’ll find such colorful creatures as the blue jay, the cardinal and the brilliant yellow goldfinch (our state bird). And don’t think that you need to trek through the woods with binoculars to spend time with birds. When you build a DIY bird feeder, you can let the birds come to you. Here are a few suggestions for building your own bird feeder.
Mother’s Day is fast approaching, and you’re probably thinking about what to get mom. You can always go with one of the popular standbys: a meal at her favorite restaurant, some jewelry, or fresh-cut flowers. But what about the moms who grow their own flowers? Or who would rather eat a salad from their own garden than one at the Olive Garden? A trip to your friendly New Jersey gardening supply store might be the answer. Read on to explore our list of gardening gifts for mom:
Not all birds fly south for the winter. The ones that stay up north face a tough few months once the weather gets colder. Most of their natural food supply has been exhausted, and insects have died or gone into hibernation. As we’ve said before, birds are beneficial animals, helping pollinate our flowers and feeding on potentially harmful insects. And backyard birds rely on us to help them get through the winter. You see a birdfeeder in your yard, they see a port in a storm. With that in mind, here are a few types of birdseed New Jersey birds will enjoy feasting on this winter.
Winter is coming, but not every local bird will be flying south. If you want to spot birds in your yard this winter, consider putting out a few bird feeders. The wider variety of bird seed you put in those feeders, the greater diversity of birds you’ll attract. Here’s a look at some of the more common types of bird seed in NJ, and the birds that eat them, courtesy of the The Cornell Lab of Ornithology and other sources.
Bird feeding has become a year round hobby for many people. We have found that using a good quality bird seed allows our customers to see and feed more beautiful birds and puts less waste on the ground. Here are some suggestions on basic backyard bird feeding we learned from Bird Watcher’s and Rutgers’ Cook College Research and Extension. Create a habitat for bird feeding sections: Birds have three basic needs. They are shelter, food and water. Providing those needs in your backyard will increase a bird’s habitat. Thus, you will bring various bird species to your area. Creating a bird habitat will help you learn to care for them, forming a bond between you and your new friends.
