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There are over 15 species of woodpeckers in North America and they stay on the same area for most of the year. They can be found living on pine woods, oak trees, woodlands, and farmyards. They help the environment by feeding on pests. They typically prefer insects such as wasps, flies, beetles, ants, and crickets. However, they are also known to feed on sunflower seeds, millet, sorghum, peanuts, and oranges. It is also fascinating to watch these birds eat on feeders.
Most woodpeckers are opportunistic and would eat at any kind of food that is available. They can eat fruits, saps, insects, and accords. However, these are not practical and can’t be put on many feeders. Fortunately, there is food that the birds love and you can buy it from many stores. The food is cheap and it attracts many species of woodpeckers to your yard. This food is called suet. Know more about suet in this link here. If you are considering getting feeding baskets to your yard, here are the things that you should know.
Best Feeders
1. Baskets
There are a lot of baskets that are cheap and can let you start attracting the birds to your garden today. The baskets’ appearance is not complicated at all. It just consists of a square metal cage where the suet cake perfectly fits. They are sometimes attached to hopper style feeders that are smaller in size to attract others such as the Downy species. The baskets should be large enough for the birds to peck at food comfortably.
2. Tail Props Suet Holders
The tail props let the woodpecker feed while their two feet and tail are perched on the metal. This is how most of these birds feed naturally on trees. To feel secure, they securely press their tail while banging their head on trees. If you have one of these tail props, you can make the birds feel more at home while eating on our yard. Most of the wooden props contain two holders so homeowners would not have to refill the suet cakes as often. You can check out more features of the tail prop feeder in this link here: https://www.hummingbirdsplus.org/orbirds/best-woodpecker-feeders/.
3. Suet Plugs
These plugs give a more natural look to your backyard which can attract the birds. Most of them hang vertically with drilled holes on their sides. You can make a DIY plug using logs. Shape it into a circular shape that resembles a log roll. Include plugs that can be drilled on the side of the suet. Most birds prefer this way of clinging to a vertical log because this is their way of feeding when they are out in nature.
4. Suet Ball
Most people may prefer plugs but suet balls are also a popular option for many homeowners. The suet is formed into a ball that is accessible to all kinds of birds that visit the backyard. There are small and large-sized balls available and each of them requires different kinds of feeders. Several large suet balls should be placed on a wire with lots of spaces in between them. The wire should also provide perches for the bird to feed properly. The small balls or also called nuggets can be placed on wire meshes of platform feeders. Along with nuts, the nuggets can be easily gobbled up.
5. Cylinders
Suet can be shaped into cylinders. The suet is packed using a binder. The cylinder is normally drilled with a hole on top so that a rod can be attached to it. Packed suet lasts longer compared to jus loose bird seeds. The natural binder consists of gelatin so that the food won’t be kicked. The typical cylinder should have the major food groups that birds crave including mealworms, seeds, berries, fats, and nuts.
When shopping with birdfeeders, you can visit your local pet store to look for other types. You can also consider the amount that the feeder can handle, if it’s easy to clean, the price, whether the food is visible from a distance, and if the feather is protected from all kinds of weather including rain or snow. You can also check online for other tips in choosing the right bird feeder for your backyard.
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