Most anyone enjoys watching birds and listening to their beautiful songs. One way to have ready access to these delights is to provide them food in a bird feeder in order to entice them to come. There are responsibilities involved with attracting them, however. You can be a responsible bird lover by following a few simple suggestions to keep them safe and well provided for.
One important point to consider is the fact that they become dependent on the food you supply. They become somewhat your pet. This is of no great significance when food supplies are plentiful. But, during the winter and other times, such as summer droughts, when food supplies are not so available, it is different. Animals in the wild normally locate food supplies that are accessible for hard times. You are their normal source.
You will need to be cautious about starting to provide for them, then stopping. This puts them under a very special hardship. You need to make sure you can continue to provide for them. If not, don't even start it. It is okay to provide supplemental food, however, to make things more pleasant for them. This will encourage them to continue to locate regular sources and not be devastated when you no longer provide for them for some reason.
Though birds eat several times their weight each day, they are so small that it takes very little for them. And, suitable food is not expensive at all. However, when other creatures, such as squirrels, get access, they quickly consume everything, requiring frequent refilling and purchasing a much greater supply, an expense you may not be prepared to undertake.
You will need to be concerned about cats in the area. It is not fair to encourage birds to come to your feeder only to have them attacked and killed by neighborhood cats. You must provide protection if you want to be responsible about attracting them. You can do some things to make it more difficult for a predator to get to the defenseless birds.
There are things you can do that will help to protect these creatures from these predators. You should hang the feeding station at least five feet away from anything such as trees or bushes from which a predator can climb and jump over. Hanging it on a metal pole will also prevent climbing, and a baffle underneath it offers further protection.
If you want to be a responsible caretaker, you must provide these beautiful creatures with adequate water supplies. Providing watering containers during hot summers or droughts, ensures they have plenty of water. They must be emptied and refilled periodically to keep the water cool and suitable for drinking. This is just one aspect of being a responsible wildlife lover.
Maintaining a bird feeder benefits both you and the creatures you are caring for. You get the pleasure of watching one of nature's most beautiful creatures. They have a ready food and water supply. It is a win-win situation for both.
One important point to consider is the fact that they become dependent on the food you supply. They become somewhat your pet. This is of no great significance when food supplies are plentiful. But, during the winter and other times, such as summer droughts, when food supplies are not so available, it is different. Animals in the wild normally locate food supplies that are accessible for hard times. You are their normal source.
You will need to be cautious about starting to provide for them, then stopping. This puts them under a very special hardship. You need to make sure you can continue to provide for them. If not, don't even start it. It is okay to provide supplemental food, however, to make things more pleasant for them. This will encourage them to continue to locate regular sources and not be devastated when you no longer provide for them for some reason.
Though birds eat several times their weight each day, they are so small that it takes very little for them. And, suitable food is not expensive at all. However, when other creatures, such as squirrels, get access, they quickly consume everything, requiring frequent refilling and purchasing a much greater supply, an expense you may not be prepared to undertake.
You will need to be concerned about cats in the area. It is not fair to encourage birds to come to your feeder only to have them attacked and killed by neighborhood cats. You must provide protection if you want to be responsible about attracting them. You can do some things to make it more difficult for a predator to get to the defenseless birds.
There are things you can do that will help to protect these creatures from these predators. You should hang the feeding station at least five feet away from anything such as trees or bushes from which a predator can climb and jump over. Hanging it on a metal pole will also prevent climbing, and a baffle underneath it offers further protection.
If you want to be a responsible caretaker, you must provide these beautiful creatures with adequate water supplies. Providing watering containers during hot summers or droughts, ensures they have plenty of water. They must be emptied and refilled periodically to keep the water cool and suitable for drinking. This is just one aspect of being a responsible wildlife lover.
Maintaining a bird feeder benefits both you and the creatures you are caring for. You get the pleasure of watching one of nature's most beautiful creatures. They have a ready food and water supply. It is a win-win situation for both.
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