Anonymous wrote:Good suggestion on having a bird bath!!! I've never had a feeder because I thought the seed drop would attract rodents. Is a bird bath better, or do all kinds of wildlife visit (I don't want raccoons and possums)>

If you have your standard bird bath, unless there is a drought, it won’t attract anything besides birds and squirrels possibly. If you have a stream or a pond, that could attract other wildlife.

Good suggestion on having a bird bath!!! I've never had a feeder because I thought the seed drop would attract rodents. Is a bird bath better, or do all kinds of wildlife visit (I don't want raccoons and possums)>

This thread is funny. I too had a bird feeder that brought me a lot of joy. Until a neighbor's cat figured it out and started killing birds weekly off my feeder. (It's a bird feeder very high up on my 2nd story deck). DCUM told me how awful I was for having a bird feeder and that I was a bad person.

Add a bird bath! It is pure joy seeing them come visit and splash around every day.

Anonymous wrote:
We have devised a bird bath that uses a pump to keep the water moving through it. It is a fabulous bird attracter. The birds line up to use it.

I bought a solar fountain and put it in the bird bath. Unfortunately, I don't think the birds care much, one way or the other. That one gets about as much traffic as the one with nothing but some rocks in it.

We have devised a bird bath that uses a pump to keep the water moving through it. It is a fabulous bird attracter. The birds line up to use it.

We have 6 bird houses hanging in our trees. And a bird bath. Don't happen to have a bird feeder.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a long-term bird enthusiast, happy to welcome another into the fold! If you don't already have it, get the Merlin Bird ID app; it's awesome.

The Merlin bird app changed my life in a small, but very positive way. It has enlivened my interaction with nature any place I am. Library parking lot? Hello, robins! College admissions office porch? Hello, house wrens!

And the sound id part is awesome! DH & I will be on the back patio and say "Oh, its a Robin! What is that one?" Whip out the app and it a few seconds know that it is a House Wren.

I love the sound ID. Last year, I identified over 100 species of birds through the sound ID, mostly on my walks.

Anonymous wrote:Gross. Birds carry a lot of disease, and draw additional pests.

But the bird feeder is outside not on my kitchen counter.
The sun's UV rays will kill and disease so long as you do not lick the feeder.

Anonymous wrote:Gross. Birds carry a lot of disease, and draw additional pests.

+100000000

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a long-term bird enthusiast, happy to welcome another into the fold! If you don't already have it, get the Merlin Bird ID app; it's awesome.

The Merlin bird app changed my life in a small, but very positive way. It has enlivened my interaction with nature any place I am. Library parking lot? Hello, robins! College admissions office porch? Hello, house wrens!

And the sound id part is awesome! DH & I will be on the back patio and say "Oh, its a Robin! What is that one?" Whip out the app and it a few seconds know that it is a House Wren.

Anonymous wrote:Gross. Birds carry a lot of disease, and draw additional pests.

This is what I expect to see from DCUM. Why do you have to rain on her parade?

I haven't gotten into birds yet because I am too busy yelling at the bunnies and squirrels that are trying to eat my garden. My focus is still on the ground, but I am sure birds will have my attention sooner than later.

Get a Bird Buddy. So worth it.

Anonymous wrote:Highly recommend getting into native plants if you want to attract more unique birds. You can grow native honeysuckle or bee balm on a deck and get hummingbirds better than a feeder. Plus you don't have to clean it (though they do need water in dry spells).

+1 I love my little backyard ecosystem since going native. But I love my bird feeder too. If you're enjoying the bird feeder, consider a squirrel picnic table. Yes, that's a thing and it brings me great joy

Get a bird buddy!!! It’s the best