Bring Nature and Wildlife to You

You can bring a lot of what nature has to offer right to your own backyard. Backyard fish ponds, bird feeders and squirrel feeders are great methods for enjoying the numerous types of birds and other wildlife around your home. Millions of Americans, from the very young to senior citizens, are already enjoying pond keeping, bird feeding and squirrel feeding as relaxing and fun hobbies.

It is indeed great fun to watch the behavior and antics of the animals that come to enjoy the little slice of paradise that you have provided for them. In addition, providing nesting sites, feeders, and water for the wildlife in your area lets you contribute to the wellness and security of many species.

Bird and Squirrel Feeding and Watching

Bird watching with the aid of bird feeders and birdhouses is the second fastest growing hobby in the country, with only gardening ahead of it. However, bird feeding and watching is a much less time-consuming and less stressful hobby. If you have never tried a wild bird feeder, you will find that it is well worth the small investment. Getting a simple wild bird feeder will easily help bring even more wildlife to you and your backyard. You would be amazed at the variety of birds of all different colors, sizes, and types that come to eat at a bird feeder. Set out a hummingbird feeder, and you will see one of the most amazing birds there is to see.

As mentioned earlier, the food that you provide can also be very important to these birds. This is especially true during the winter months when there is not much out there for them to eat. Springtime is important too, however. Often times during the spring, not all the plants birds like to feed from have fully bloomed yet. Spring is also the time when birds are nesting and they will really appreciate the food you supply. Sometimes a bird or even a small flock of birds may stay all winter around your backyard area.

Bulk bird food is easy to get and very affordable. You can get a good quality bird food mix from your local pet shop. Roasted peanuts (not raw) and sunflower seeds are a great treat for birds too. There are also a great variety of bird feeders available, from small and simple to large, stacked ones that are very ornate. You should get one depending on what styles you like personally and what kind of birds you want to attract. There are platform feeders, tube feeders, mesh and wire feeders, and much more. Keep in mind that a few birds have specific needs, for example hummingbirds will need a nectar feeder with sugar water. However, their rarity and beauty makes them quite well worth it!

If possible, try to provide at least two feeding stations in different areas of your yard. This prevents bird crowding and stress when feeding. It is best to place feeders at least 10 feet from bushes so cats and other predators can not surprise birds at the feeders. Feeders should also be cleaned on a regular basis using warm water, say once a week or so. Be sure to remove seed hulls, bird droppings, and check for food spoilage or moldiness. Try to make sure that the bird food is kept fresh and dry so that it does not turn moldy. If a feeder has mold or is terribly dirty, it can be cleaned with a solution of one part bleach to 10 parts water. Make sure to wash hands after cleaning or handling bird feeders!

Squirrels are another fun creature to watch eat and play. You can mount an ear of corn on a squirrel feeder, and the squirrels will gather all around it and just about eat it all in one sitting. Just make sure to place food away from window sills or door steps so as to discourage squirrels coming through screens or doors into houses, and keep feeding stations for squirrels placed a little distance away from the regular bird feeding stations.

Backyard Ponds

A backyard pond will be sure to bring great beauty to your backyard, add value and landscaping to your home, as well as promote wildlife and natural ecosystems. For all these reasons and more, pond keeping is a fascinating and rewarding hobby that is also becoming quite popular. Finally, a pond is also a great and unique alternative to an aquarium. If you keep fish in the pond, watching them swim and eat can be very relaxing and fun.

As for wildlife, you can also expect to see many other interesting visitors come to your pond, such as frogs, turtles and different types of insects - dragonflies, butterflies, and water bugs just to name a few. A backyard pond can quickly become very interesting for its visitors and for you. As a major source of outdoor water, your pond will be used and appreciated by neighborhood wildlife while you enjoy the beauty, wildlife, and relaxation that the pond automatically brings to you and your backyard. A pond and the natural ecosystem that it builds offer a wonderful opportunity for children and adults to observe, study, and interrelate with wildlife.

Many different types of ponds are available depending on your budget, the level of energy and time that you want to put into the pond, and your backyard or space requirements. Basically, you can make your own pond or go buy one. The pond can be as simple as a small plastic "tub" pond you can buy at the local pet shop, a large water bowl, or even half of an old wooden barrel with a plastic liner. These can be placed on the patio and provide many of the same benefits as a pond built in to the ground, although you will probably not be able to keep large fish in it and there will be less potential for attracting a lot of wildlife.

There are numerous tub and pond kits available that come with detailed instructions for installation, and some can be as simple as adding water, a pump, and some plants. For the very industrious among us, you can even dig your own natural pond in the backyard, and finish it by lining it with plastic pond liner or even with a concrete or tile coating. You can put dirt in the bottom of plastic or concrete ponds to make the ponds more organic.

If you have any questions regarding backyard fish ponds, bird and squirrel feeders, or other ways to bring nature and wildlife to your own home, just ask us and we will help you any way we can.

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