Adding Bird Feeders to Your Garden - Worth It
by Yin Liang
on Nov 10, 2023
Studies show that more than 60% British households feed birds, and up to 60 million bird lovers in the United States put out food for their avian friends in their backyard gardens. Stunned by the number and wondering why? We'll be diving into all of the benefits of not just throwing out your stale bread or seed on the grass for your winges friends, but using a full bird feeder to incorporate into your garden!
Benefits of Bird Feeders in the Garden
Serving not just as a hub for your local birds to grab a quick bite, the benefits of putting up bird feeders go beyond simply food: you're supporting your feathered friends, fostering biodiversity and personal wellness! Let's dive into each of those points deeper, then.
1 Supporting Feathered Friends
Bird feeders play a crucial role in augmenting the survival prospects of birds from the surrounding areas. It serves as perhaps the most direct means for us to support these endearing feathered creatures, constituting a daily practice in bird conservation that is both straightforward, highly visible, and accessible.
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Proving Scarce Food Sources
It is common knowledge that birds in fact don't rely on bird feeders for sustenance as much as we assume. They are particularly dependent on feeders during adverse weather conditions, though, like in heated summer days and freezing winter months when food is comparatively scarce, and supplemental nutrients are necessary.
Placing bird feeders in the backyard year round, though - that sends a signal to your local birds that there is a dependable refuge with an uninterrupted food supply, and they can always turn to it for help when needed. For instance, if a bird recognizes your feeders as a reliable food source, it may choose to visit them for a quick meal during nesting times when they cannot be away from the young for too long.
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Serving as Shelters During Migration
Bird feeders not only benefit your local birds, but also proactively function as shelters for the temporary avian visitors during their migratory journeys. As migration is a sophisticated and time-consuming endeavor accompanied with potential risks and challenges, bird feeders are essential in supporting our hungry and exhausted avian guests during the night, enabling them to restore energy for their journey's onward.
2 Preserving Biodiversity in Your Locale
Did you know that having bird feeders can also help you preserve the biodiversity of your backyard gardens, too? Statistics reveal that there are more than two thousand insect-eating and pollinating bird species. That is to say, there is a high potential that birds drawn to your feeders may contribute to the biodiversity of your neighborhood through their natural activities. These beneficial activities can be broken down:
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Pest & Weed Control
As birds primarily forage for live food sources, they may help mitigate pests and insects upon visiting your garden. For example, Purple Martin and some Swallow species consume substantial quantities of insects, providing you with free pest control. This can also reduce the hassle of using chemical pesticides in your yard which is unnatural, costly and has adverse impact on both the plants and your health. Moreover, there are some weed-eating birds like Goldfinches who are willing to tackle thriving weeds and even weed seeds in your backyard. Bonus!
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Pollination
If your feeders manage to attract pollinating birds to your garden, your flowerbed would be livened up and become more and more beautiful. This, in turn, will draw more avian guests. This reciprocal relationship between pollinating birds and flowers not only enhances your backyard landscape, but also contributes to the preservation of the native ecosystem by sustaining biodiversity in the local area. Birds like hummingbirds, honeycreepers and sunbirds pollinate by transferring pollen attached to their beaks, fertilizing the next flower.
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Dying Trees Revitalization
In addition to the aforementioned benefits of attracting birds to your backyards, it can also contribute to the revitalization of dying trees. For instance, woodpeckers nest in tree cavities, allowing air and sunlight penetrate and slowing down the decay process. The recovering trees can then serve as a source of sustenance, supporting wildlife such as squirrels, butterflies, rabbits, and more. You may as well be encouraged by the flourishing landscape and be inspired to plant and care for additional trees and plants.
3 Enhancing Personal Wellness
Engaging in birdwatching not only promotes mental and physical well-being but also enriches our understanding of birds, nature, and even ourselves.
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Mental Health and Physical Well-being
Ever felt trapped in overwhelming life and work? You may consider birdwatching and feeding as a natural therapy to find a sense of freedom and inner peace. It allows you to distance yourself from disheartening news on social media and find genuine serenity and happiness. Establishing bird feeding as a habit can also enhance your physical fitness, with these refreshing moments sharpening your mind and promoting better health, reducing the risk of diseases and illnesses.
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Strengthening Bonds with Loved Ones
Setting up feeders with your family builds a bridge between you and the younger generation. You can name the regular bird visitors together and turn bird-feeding into a delightful family activity with beautiful memories. Birdfy Feeders allow you to do all of this and more - sending you live updates and recordings of visitors to your garden right to your phone!
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Appreciation of Nature and Birds
Adding bird feeders to your garden teaches you and your family to better appreciate nature and birds, along with all other living creatures on earth. In particular, you can acquaint yourself with various kinds of birds especially across breeding seasons, learning about their appearances, sounds, feeding habits and temperaments. Such knowledge is also beneficial in the cognitive development of kids.
Closing Thoughts : Choosing the Right Foods and Feeders
Putting bird feeders in the backyards is our way of expressing love and care for our avian friends. It demands dedication, persistence and a strong sense of responsibility. Do not regard it as a on-time effort that requires no further attention!
Feeders need care when you use them daily, so carefully consider suitable food options, engage in regular maintenance and cleaning, and choose the right location for placement. Learn how to attract birds to your feeders here. We wish you an enjoyable birdwatching and feeding journey with your feeders！
