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Bird
watching and bird feeding
Birdfeeders, which are provided for seed-eating birds, most commonly
contain the following seeds: millet, sunflower, safflower, thistle
(also known as niger or nyjer seed), rapeseed and canola seed.
Liquid nourishment is supplied in hummingbird feeders, rather than
seed. The liquid is generally a solution of 1 part sugar to 4 parts
water. In order to attract the hummingbirds, this solution is often
colored red.
However, this coloring have been proven unnecessary and may even be
harmful to the birds. Oriole
birdfeeders, contain a similar artificial nectar and the solution is
often colored orange. This solution is primarily for New World
orioles, which have a differently shaped beak and tongue than other
types of orioles. Some birds, including these types of orioles are
attracted to fruity foods like grape jelly or a piece of orange.
A suet (fat from beef or mutton) feeder is usually a metal cage-like
construction with a plastic coating. It holds a block of suet to
feed woodpeckers, flickers, some common backyard birds (such as
nuthatches) and other species of insect eating birds.
In order to engage in at home bird watching, you must have a
birdfeeder. Many people even have webcams attached to feeders where
birds regularly gather. However, squirrels may also help themselves
to the food inside the bird feeders. They often carry away the food
to their nest. For this reason,
there are anti-squirrel gadgets available to prevent the squirrels'
attempts to invade bird feeders. Some birdfeeders come equipped with
perches that collapse under the weight of anything heavier than a
bird. Some are even equipped with battery power to lightly shock an
intruder or spin the perching area to fling it off. You may consider
a squirrel feeder as a means of keeping squirrels away from bird
feeders. Squirrel feeders commonly contain a whole dried cob of
corn, often at the top of a rotating stick to add a bit of amusement
to their antics.
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