Tracy Hill and her staff at Wild Birds Unlimited help patrons connect with the beauty of nature through bird watching.
The past year has seen a stark increase in visits to her store.
“COVID-19 has definitely helped bring people and nature together,” Hill said.
During the most confining weeks of the lockdown, a lot of people discovered the calm, peaceful pastime of bird watching.
“We’ve been thrilled so many people have become interested in feeding backyard birds,” Hill said. “It is a joy and pleasure for us to share our love of the hobby with those just starting out. Our entire staff is trained to help provide answers and design the perfect set up for each customer’s unique situation.”
Hill and her staff want to help birdwatching beginners avoid the following newbie mistakes.
1. Using bottom-shelf bird feed
Cheaper bird feed is usually loaded with fillers such as milo or wheat that are unattractive to most birds.
“Our products are the highest quality, made in the USA,” Hill said. “We take great pride in offering the freshest bird seed, received every week from our supplier, in special blends for the birds in our region.”
2. Only using one type of bird feed
Different birds have different dietary habits that require different types of feed. In order to attract a wide variety of birds to your yard, use a few different types of feed.
Wild Birds Unlimited provides both the feeders and the bird feed for Aldridge Gardens. According to Hill, the gardens are a wonderful place to get an idea of the wide variety of birds in the Birmingham area.
3. Forgetting about water
If consistently providing several types of feed just isn’t in your budget, choose one that will appeal to the birds you’d most like to see and add a bird bath instead of a second feeder.
Different birds need different food, but all birds need water. The bath won’t get as much traffic as the feeder, but you can attract a variety of birds simply by providing a clean source of water.
4. Not protecting bird feeders
“Squirrels have young in the spring, and they are looking for food sources just like birds,” Hill said.
In order to keep squirrels and other critters out of your yard, take steps to repel them.
“We have a line of bird food that contains capsaicin, making it extremely hot. Birds don’t have heat receptors, they don’t know the difference, but squirrels, raccoons and opossums learn very quickly that they can’t eat these foods,” Hill said.
“We also have the best squirrel-proof feeder on the market, The Eliminator. It is weight activated, so when the animal gets on the feeder, access to the food is shut off.”
5. Giving up too soon
“Bird feeding is a lot like fishing: you must have patience,” Hill said. “Birds are visual creatures and wary of anything new. You have to give them a chance to locate and become accustomed to a new feeder.”
For more tips on birdwatching, visit Hill and her staff at Wild Birds Unlimited or check them out online at wbu.com/birmingham.
