Bird Feeding Resources

My Favorite Bird Feeding Resources

In the fifteen plus years I’ve been feeding birds and wildlife, I’ve tried a ton of things. Many of them did not work out for one reason or another. I didn’t want you to go through all that trial and error. That’s the reason behind this bird feeding resources page.

I wanted to give you a quick list of the products I’ve used over the years and continue to use. These are the ones that have stood the test of time.

Listing Criteria

Big title. Simple philosophy.

For anything to be listed here it must:

• Be easy to obtain.
• Made of quality materials.
• Have good customer service.
• Economical to use.

That’s really are there is to it. If any of the items listed fall at all short in either of these areas I will note it in the listing.

Feeders

I still have feeders I don’t use hanging in my garage. I’ve used just about any and every kind possible. One of my top requirements of feeders is that they can be cleaned relatively easily. Also, that they aren’t built in a way that requires them to be cleaned after every rainfall, for instance. Here are the feeders I’m using and recommend.

Audubon Bird’s Delight Squirrel Resistant Bird Feeder Model 7511i

Although the original Heritage Farms feeder is no longer made, this one comes as close as any of them to it. I’ve had my feeder for more than 15 years! The only thing I’ve replaced is the wooden perch a couple of times. I also mainly use it to keep big birds off of it. If a squirrel can get on top of it, they’ll figure out how to hang down and get food. No kidding.  Easy to clean and the birds love it.

Brome Bird Care Squirrel Buster Legacy

Brome Bird Care Squirrel Buster Peanut +

Duncraft Eco-Strong Upside Down Suet

This is another excellent feeder. Even though the upside down suet feeders won’t stop pesky starlings from feeding, it will keep the numbers down. Plus, woodpeckers of all sizes love to cling upside down to feed on this.

Perky Pet Upside Down Goldfinch Feeders

I’ve had these feeders for years but you WILL have to replace them before too long. Even though they’ve patented the upside down style, they’re still not made that well in my opinion. Also if you’re going to buy these I would recommend hanging them from a bird feeder cover that is NOT a squirrel proof cover. Something like the Aspects 264 Weather Dome that screws together and has a seal so water doesn’t run down the hanging wires and ruin your precious thistle. You’d be amazed at how much damage just a drop or two can do to seed. They are easy to disassemble and clean. Just remember to use a rubber washer at the top for even more drip protection.

Birdola Squirrel Cob Bungee

I can’t think of anything more fun than watching squirrels throw themselves at this feeder and then bounce up and down like idiots getting one kernel of corn! There are other similar ones with more bells (literally) and whistles. This is a great place to get started.  It takes them a little while to get the hang of it but it’s well worth the wait. Trust me.

Feeder Pole System

I was hoping to give you something you could order online. I’ve bought ALL my feeder poles and accessories from Wild Birds Unlimited. They are not the cheapest you will find but they WILL last you forever! I have not replaced any of my pole systems since I set them up over 15 years ago. Plus, the people that work there know their stuff and the birds in your area. They can really help you set up or add to your current feeder options. They also have a wide selection of specialty seed products that can attract exactly what you want in your back yard. Check out the Wild Birds Unlimited store locator to see if there’s one near you.

Thistle Tube Feeder Protector

Even though this product bills itself as a squirrel baffle, I have never used it for that. What the Songbird Essentials 20 inch Squirrel Baffle DOES do is help keep your thistle seed dry. That’s because water does not travel between the top and the bottom of the hardware. The 20 inch size also reduces rainwater getting in during storms. The effectiveness of this cover can be increased by using a plastic washer between the top and the bottom.

 

Feed

I’m well aware that bird and wildlife feeding can get to be very expensive very quickly. It really irks me to go into a bird feeding store and pay 50-75% more for the same food you can get at Walmart! The problem used to be that in order to save money, you had to drive there, fight your way to the birding supplies, then lug it home. No longer.

Now, Walmart delivers bird seed and if you buy a minimum (where I live it’s $35.00) they deliver it for FREE! How cool is that?

So, go take a look at the bird seed section online at Walmart.com. They also stock squirrel food and feeders if you’re so inclined.

Gadgets

Merlin Bird ID

This is an easy one. The only birding gadget I use is the Merlin Bird ID app by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. It’s free, available for iOS and Android and you can even customize it with only the birds in your area.

Did I mention it was also very, very easy to use?

Click Here To Go To Merlin Bird ID

Books

There aren’t many that I use consistently but here they are in no certain order. You can find all of these at Amazon.com and get free two day shipping with Amazon Prime.

Stokes Field Guide To Birds: Eastern Region

This is my quick go-to guide for identifying birds I see in my back yard when my phone or iPad isn’t handy.

Smithsonian Birds of North America

Here’s where I go when I either can’t find a bird quickly or I want more in depth information on a species.

Squirrels: A Wildlife Handbook

The book that will help you decide if you do or do not want to feed squirrels in your back yard.

Enjoying Squirrels More or Less

This is the very first thing I consulted when I realized I was going to be living with squirrels. It’s a great “toss in” if you’re already ordering something on Amazon.

Hand-Feeding Backyard Birds: A Step-By-Step Guide

All I can say is that I followed his method and had success. This just requires patience.

Crossley ID Guide: Eastern Birds

The Crossley Guides are revolutionary because they allow you to ID birds from different distances and angles.

Binoculars

Finally, no bird feeding resources page would be complete without a little explanation of how I do things here.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, this blog was originally started as a binocular reviews site. Where I didn’t have direct experience with a pair I’ve done my best to research and read specs and reviews by others more knowledgeable than me. I then put this information together in a unique format that gives the best and the worst about each pair.

Through all of this, I’ve never just tried to sell you something you wouldn’t want or don’t need just to make a buck. I fully realize that trust is something that needs to be earned EVERY DAY and have stuck by that principle throughout my personal and professional life.

Having said that, I believe a great place to start is with the Bushnell line of binoculars. They are a quality line that allows you to get birding the quickest. From way under $100.00 to models in the low midrange, you’ll find something to get you going.

I have a pair of compact Bushnell my father gave me that I still use today. That should tell you something.

 

 

If you have more rigorous demands of your optics, by all means check out my other binocular reviews on the site. And yes, I do receive a commission if you buy anything from Amazon.

I hope you find this bird feeding resource helpful. Please email me at help at birdoculars.com or use the contact form for any questions or requests you may have.

Enjoy,

Jeff