Birdbath misters are like a sprinkler that shoot out a fine mist of water. Especially appealing to smaller birds, if you place a plant nearby, they can enjoy a leaf shower. Misters use approximately one gallon of water per hour. However, it you’re worried about water consumption, you can by an optional timer or use a birdbath dripper instead.

In comparison to using one gallon of water per hour, unlike misters, drippers consume less water. The flow rate on drippers can be adjusted to approximately one pint per hour. With drippers, birds are not only attracted to the moving water but the sound of dripping water. Drippers are also excellent for smaller birds.

Although wigglers neither spray or drip water, they do move the water. Wigglers not only attract birds by moving the water, they also deter mosquitoes since the water isn’t standing. Another advantage to wigglers is they require electricity to operate. They usually run on two D-cell batteries.

Like wigglers, birdbath bubblers move the water and have the same advantages. Not only do they attract the attention of birds nearby, the moving water can also attract birds flying overhead. A pump moves the water. The pump usually runs on rechargeable six volt batteries. Nowadays, they even have solar panels that can recharge the batteries.

Birdbath fountains are not only nice for the birds, but they are relaxing for homewoners to watch too. To save electricity, they even have solar fountain pump kits. Low-voltage water pumps are run by solar power.

Regardless of what type of bird bath accessory you bath, not only will they attract more wild birds, but they will prevent mosquitoes from breeding in stagnant water. With the many different types available, I am sure you will be able to find one to fit within your budget.

Did you know that hummingbirds are the smallest bird in North America?  Their humming sound is caused by their rapid wing beat. While small humming birds beat their wings 38 to 78 times per second, larger hummingbirds beat their wings 18 to 28 times per second. Unbelievably, while hovering, hummingbirds can fly both forwards and backwards. Hummingbirds eat twice their weight per day and drink eight times their weight in water. Even as small as they are, a 3 to 4 ounce bird can use approximately 35 calories per minute. Hummingbirds feed every 15 to 20 minutes during the day and even heavier at dawn and dusk to replinish their energy.

Nestlings are blind with tiny bills. Since they are unable to feed themselves, they are totally dependent upon their mother. When they hear the hum of their mother’s wings or sense movement, they beg for food. She feeds them a regurgitated mixture of nectar and insects

When the weather is bad, and they can’t feed, they will go into a torpor to save energy. During a state of torpor, they become still, stiff, and unable to fly. However, incubating and brooding females do go into this state.

Although hummingbirds get most of their energy from nectar, they need protien too. Protien is usually supplied by them eating small insects. However, if you wish to contribute their protien needs, you can also put out overripe fruit to attract fruit flies for them to eat. They especially love banana peels.

When you go to purchase a hummingbird feeder, you will want to look for certain features. These features are:

• The number of ports – Hummingbirds get the nectar by inserting their bills and tongues into the port. They curl their long bill-shaped tongue into a straw-like tube and lap the nectar like cats similar to the way cats do. Consequently, the more ports available, the more hummingbirds can feed.
• Perches - A feeder without perches require a hummingbird to burn more energy while feeding.
• Color – Color is not that critical. However, if you’re just starting to try to attract hummingbirds, red is a popular color.
• Easy to fill and clean
• Nectar reservoir – The nectar reservoir should be clear so you can see when it needs to be refilled. Stay away from embossed letters since sugar can crystallize in crevices?
• Glass - Unlike plastic hummingbird feeders, glass can be sterilized. Although, plastic feeders can discolor with age, they don’t break. There are pros and cons to both
• Size – Unless you have alot of hummingbirds, don’t buy a feeder to large. If the nectar doesn’t get used quickly, it can sour, spoil, and hummingbirds won’t drink it.
• Type – Basin-style feeders are better than the inverted bottle-syle feeders since they are easier to clean and hold less nectar.
• Bees and wasps are attracted to the yellow flowers on some ports. Either remove the flowers are paint them red before hanging the feeder. You can look for a feeder with bee guards too, but they tend to drip more. Incidently, bats love nectar too. If your feeders are emptied overnight, they may be the culprit. Bee guards will keep them out of your feeder too. Consequently, if bats are a problem, you can either buy a feeder with bee guards or take your feeder indoors overnight. However, taking them in overnight can be a problem unless you’re an early riser. Hummingbirds begin to feed as early as 45 minutes before sunrise.

If the liquid is cloudy in the feeder, it is spoiled. When refilling your feeder, rinse it with hot tap water and scrub it with a bottle brush. Hummingbirds do not like the taste of soap. At least once a month, disinfect your feeder with a 1:4 ratio of bleach to water.

Placing hummingbird feeders within a window’s view enables to you to enjoy watching them throughout the day.  However, if you place it near a window, put something on the window so they don’t mistakenly fly through the glass. Glass catchers or window stick ons are helpful.

In some parts for the country, as the summer progresses, hummingbirds will become even more dependent on the feeders when their natural sources of nectar finish blooming for the year. Furthermore, since hummingbirds need to increase their fat reserves before migration, don’t take away their feeders too early. They should remain up at least a week or two after you have seen your last hummingbird. Hummingbirds that migrate late because of an illness or injury will appreciate the feeder even more.

Recipe for Hummingbird Nectar

• One part water to four parts white sugar. Although many people boil their mixture, it is not necessary. The microorganisms that contaminate the nectar don’t come from the water but the birds. Store unused nectar in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Do not use honey, brown sugar, jello, fruit, or food coloring in your nectar.

If you keep your hummingbird feeders clean and full of fresh nectar, once the hummingbirds find them, you should be able to enjoy many hours pleasurable hours watching them.

This platform doesn't have a screen platform. Platform feeders with removable screens are better so the food has adquate drainage and vetiliation.

Platform bird feeders are a good choice for backyard bird lovers. They have many benefits. With their versatility, they attract a larger variety of wild birds than any other feeder. Some of the benefits of platform feeders are:

• Unobstructed viewing – Since platform feeders are open on all sides, they allow for unobstructed viewing of the birds. This also allows for both small birds and larger birds to use the feeder.
• Easy-to-clean – Cleaning platform feeders is as easy as cleaning and disinfecting the frame and the removable screen at the bottom.
• Attracts a large variety of birds – Since you can offer almost any type of food from kitchen scraps to seeds, platform feeders attract the widest variety of birds. Unlike other types of feeders, they also allow larger birds to feed since they’re not restricted by size. Some of the birds they attact are: cardinals, doves, chickadees, nuthatches, juncos, painted buntings, purple finches, house finches, red-winged blackbirds, woodpeckers, and many other birds.
• Less food waste – Since most platform feeders have mesh screens, they allow for moisture drainage and adequate ventilation for the food so it doesn’t rot or spoil as easily. Some even come with roofs to protect the food from precipitation.
• Inexpensive

When deciding a location for your platform feeder, although it should be near trees or bushes for protective covering, keep them at least ten feet away from the covering so squirrels don’t jump on them.

Versatile, easy-to-clean, and inexpensive, if you love watching wild birds, a platform feeder is one feeder you shouldn’t go without in your backyard bird sacturay. Considering its many benefits, it will give you many hours of pleasurable bird-watching.

Water for bathing is important for two reasons. First, clean feathers help a bird fly better and protect them from cold weather too. Clean feathers help create air pockets between the feathers and the bird’s skin. For example, research has shown if a chickadee’s feathers are well-maintained, they can sustain a 70 degree insulation barrier between the outside temperature and its skin.

When searching for the right birdbath, there are several factors you should take into consideration. These factors are:

• Size - When selecting a birdbath, look for a birdbath with gently, sloping sides. The size is The bowl’s depth should be between 1″ to 3″ deep. Otherwise, if it’s too deep, the birds will avoid it. Diameter is also important. Since birds are territorial, a birdbath with a large diamter will enable more than one bird to use it. It should at least be 2′ in diamter or larger.
• Bowl interior – The bowl’s interior should be textured for solid footing. If the bottom of the birdbath is smooth, line it with pebbles or rocks. Since birds are more attracted to dark interiors, if the interior is light, line it with dark-colored pebbles. A bowl which has different depths is also a nice feature it will be more suited to birds of different sizes.
• Placement – When deciding where to place your birdbath, place your birdbath in the shade near cover so the water doesn’t get too hot and evaporate. Furthermore, after bathing, birds like to preen themselves in a safe place. While they preen themselves, it distributes an oil from an oil gland near the base of their tail. The oil makes the feathers more durable and water-resistant. When wet, they don’t fly very either. Consequently,  the birdbath should be close to cover so they don’t have to fly very far to escape from predators. It should also be at least 15′ away from the feeding station. In addition to these factors, unless your bowl is removable and lightweight, you will also want to place your birdbath near an outdoor water faucet for ease of cleaning.
• Cleaning - Keep your water fresh and clean. The water should be changed at least every couple of days to prevent diseases and to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs. Each time you change the water, you should clean the birdbath too. Clean the birdbath with a stiff brush and a 1:10 solution of bleach to water. If you don’t want to mix your own solution, there are also non-toxic cleaning solutions availabel. Concrete bird baths can be difficult to clean. Furthermore, birds need water throughout the year, and they can crack during the winter.  If you live in a cold climate, during the winter you will need to use a de-icer. A ground fault interrupt protectors is a wise idea too so neither you or the birds get an electrical shock.
• Accessories – Besides a de-icer and ground fault interrupt protector, other accessories are nice for a bird bath. Since birds are attracted to moving water and the sound of dripping water, drippers, misters and wigglers are nice addtions. If you live in an area with hummingbirds, they like misters too.

By providing water and food for birds for your birds, you can enjoy many hours of pleasurable bird-watching.

In addition to what they like to eat, birds have different feeding styles. There are basically three styles: clingers, perchers, and scratchers. Finches are clingers. Consequently, finch feeders are usually either tubular feeders or a mesh bags that hang from a supportive structure.  Whereas one kind of tubular feeder comes with small perches, the other type has a metal wire that spirals down the length of the tube. Some tubular-shaped feeders even come with different compartments so different kinds of seed can be served. Last but not least, when you hang your finch feeder, it should be approximately 10 feet off the ground near some type of cover the birds can seek protection if a predator bothers them.

As an interesting side note, the color of Finches plummage can be affected by what they eat. When finches were kept in captivity, researchers found three different cartenoid pigments in their food influenced the color of their plummage. These chemicals were beta-carotene, isocryptoxanthin, and echinenone. If they ate a diet high in beta carotene, their plumage may be a yellow to orange color, whereas if they eat a diet high in echinenone, their plumage was more red. In addition to pigments, a finches’ coloration can also be affected by parasites. Furthermore, the plummage of male house finches that were infected with a parasite or mites prior to molt were less intense in color.