Hangers and Poles make Winter Bird Feeding Easy!

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Now is the time to start thinking about how you’re going to enjoy your birds this winter. When you have to tramp through deep snow and blowing winds to fill your feeders, some of the fun goes out of bird feeding! But the birds do need our help. What to do? Here are a few tips.
Many times our largest feeders are stationed out in the middle of the yard on immovable poles or posts. These feeders can be filled on nicer days, but often these feeders go unfilled because it’s just too difficult to get out there and do it. Rather than let the birds go hungry, why not invest in a couple of poles and hangers that can be used to move feeders closer to the house and also in position for better bird viewing?
The time to buy the poles and get them into the ground is now—before the ground freezes! With a little forethought, you can be enjoying beautiful bird views all winter long from the comfort of your house—and filling feeders will be easier than ever!
Bring birds up close to decks and porches with handy deck brackets
These days, the deck, patio and porch are integral parts of a home’s living space. In winter, these areas can be cleared of snow and made bird- friendly all year long by using hangers that easily clamp to a deck rail. Some clamp-on hangers offer multiple places to hang feeders, while other, single arm hangers feature a particularly striking feeder. For patios, use multi-armed hangers with ground stakes that can be pushed into the ground around the patio or porch’s seating spaces. The trick is to get them into the ground before it freezes!
 
Wall mount your feeders outside a frequently viewed window—no ground space needed!
Wall-mount hangers take up very little wall space, but really add impact. Most swivel on their hangers so that you can move them to the most ideal position. These work extremely well on the outside of a kitchen window over the sink, or outside the window of a breakfast nook. Think of the places where you spend a lot of time in the house and think of how pleasurable it would be to watch birds while you're there! Washing dishes is certainly not drudgery when you are viewing beautiful birds chirping and fluttering outside your window—and close enough to see every detail!
 
Another great place to put a pole and feeder would be at the end of a walkway, or along the side of the driveway. These are areas that are frequently kept clear of snow and makes reaching and filling feeders much easier. Keep seed handy and close by.  If the seed is located in the garage, use a container that deters mice and other critters from getting into it.  Another great idea is to freeze your five pound seed bags and suet.  Frozen seeds and suets are fine for the birds and freezing kills off any flour moths that might be present.  With a few new feeders and a couple of versatile, movable poles, you can be enjoying your winter birds like never before!
--R. Brune
Duncraft, Inc.  102 Fisherville Road   Concord NH  03303
800-593-5656

We have been using the Five Position Wall Brackets attached to our deck posts for two years. We actually have three of them with the three different Droll Yankee Squirrel Proof feeders. We have also attached thistle feeders to two of them and a hanging bird bath to the other. We purchased the All Seasons Heated Bird Bath and inserted 4 "Eye type" screws into the top rim, purchased some chain and "S" hooks and have it hanging. We don't have a rail on our decks due to glass panels so the only way to accomplish my need to feed and water birds was using these brackets and to hang the bird bath. The birds absolutely love the heated bird bath as they can easily hop from feeder to water. The brackets prevent seed from ending up on the deck and the Droll Yankee feeders prevent the squirrels from emptying them. The only problem we have had with both the brackets and the Droll Yankee feeders is freezing in place, but a little warm water on the brackets loosens them to move. The metal on the Droll Yankee feeders makes it a little tricky with having to wiggle them back and forth. A different type of top would probably be better on these feeders.

Posted by Deb VandeBunte on Thursday, January 7, 2010 10:55 AM

Thanks so much for your comments, Deb! Visit our new blog at http://www.duncraft.com/blog. You'll find this article and lots more!

Posted by Duncraft on Thursday, January 7, 2010 11:03 AM

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