A window feeder for garden birds Birds in the garden are welcome guests for many people. Many a garden is therefore equipped with fat balls, peanut strings, and other edible things as soon as autumn sets in. With a bit of luck, the birds will come close and you can get a good look at them from head to tail.
However, with a feeder, you can get them even closer. What types are there, where should you hang them and where can you buy window feeders?
What is a window feeder?
A window feeder is a birdhouse that is stuck or hung against the window so that the birds almost seem to be in the living room. It is often made of transparent material so that you can see the birds from all sides. In the window feeder house, you put bird food such as seeds, peanuts, and the like. Holes in the bottom and a roof ensure that the food remains dry.
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Shapes and sizes
Most feeders are made of transparent plastic. The advantage is that you can view the birds from all sides. Some houses are partly made of wood and have a viewing opening at the rear.
The window feeders are available in various shapes, for example with a gable roof or in the shape of a hemisphere. Small feed silos are also available that can be mounted on the window. Window feeders are usually mounted to the window with suction cups.
What kinds of birds are attracted to a window feeder?
Not every garden bird will be comfortable enough to get so close to the house, even when a nice meal is ready. A well-known garden bird such as the great tit is not so shy and dares it. Bird species such as the blue tit, house sparrow, and finch can also be expected.
Where to hang?
It is advisable to hang the window feeder in a place that offers a sufficient lookout for the birds. Birds also like it when they can quickly take cover in case of danger. A large shrub or tree in the vicinity of the feeder can provide this. Cats lurk in many gardens. Therefore, do not mount the window feeder too low, but at least two meters high.
Don’t the birds fly against the window?
Birds regularly fly into windows. They do this because they see the reflection of the sky and trees in the window. A window feeder ensures that reflection is broken and therefore fewer window victims. Birds that come to the feeder to eat fly very focused and are not likely to fly into the window.
Make your own window feeder
You can make your own feeder with existing objects but also with wood. There are several examples on Pinterest under ‘Window Bird Feeders’.
For example, you can attach a transparent plastic document holder to the window with suction cups. Examples can also be found of the use of plastic storage boxes that serve as bird feeders. You can design your own feeder with wood and plexiglass. You can also attach this to the window with suction cups. It is advisable to make a roof on the feeder to keep the bird food dry.
Where to buy it and how expensive?
Window feeders are available on the internet in various webshops. The well-known brand Vivara has various feeders in its range, with prices ranging from $ 7 to $ 20 (2016). The Born in Sweden brand delivers a real design window feeder in the shape of a hemisphere $20 in 2016 on bol.com). The Gardman brand supplies cheap feeders in the price range of $ 4 to $ 10 (various webshops, 2016). Other brands and types can be found at foreign webshops (search for ‘window bird feeder’)
