Deni Shull with some of the bird feeders sold at English Gardens in Royal Oak.
The Oakland Press/VAUGHN GURGANIAN
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Bird feeders are one of those outdoor elements that serve both a practical and decorative purpose.
Today's styles of bird feeders offer plenty of versatility, style and creativity for those who want to increase bird traffic as well as add a decorative touch to their outdoor space.
"The look can be traditional or unique," said Pat Stroud, owner of The Birdfeeder in Clarkston. An unusual material or shape, for example, can make quite a statement in the backyard while redwood or cedar feeders are a time-honored look.
Gil Kidd of English Gardens said some bird feeders incorporate finishes that people can use to match their home's exterior lighting fixtures, thereby creating a pulled-together, attractive appearance. Feeders with copper tops are popular, said Steve Kramar of Backyard Birds in Bloomfield Hills. Another bird feeder design takes a basic cylinder feeder and uses a wire spiral instead of a perch to create a decorative look, said Kidd.
Some bird feeders were developed to solve specific problems, such as keeping squirrels at bay. One popular bird feeder that does just that includes a motor that is activated by a squirrel's weight, causing the perch to spin and flip the squirrel off, said Kidd. Another feeder's food ports close when the weight of a squirrel is detected, he said.
When deciding where to place a bird feeder, try to keep it near trees or shrubs so birds have a place to go if they feel threatened by a predator, said Kramar.
Try to keep it close to a viewing area where you can sit and enjoy the birds, but not too close as to make the birds leery.
Having a water source, such as a heated birdbath, is also a good idea to have nearby, said Kramar.
Stroud suggests starting out with a smaller feeder to establish a bird population. Once they spread the news among their friends, then add more feeders and larger feeders, she said.
Kramar said watching birds is an inexpensive form of entertainment that relaxes people and slows down the pace of everyday life.
It's also a fabulous activity for parents to enjoy with their children, added Stroud.
"I'm amazed how many children are into bird feeding," she said.
Children enjoy seeing how many birds they can count, she said.
Great Backyard Bird Count
While you enjoy watching the birds at your bird feeder why not take 15 minutes or so to count them? The 10th annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, is under way through Feb. 19. Simply count the highest number of each species you see during an outing or sitting and then enter their tally on the Great Backyard Bird Count Web site at www.birdsource.org/gbbc. Anyone from a novice birdwatcher to an experienced enthusiast can take part in their own backyard, a local park or other favorite location. People who don't have access to a computer can drop off their results by Feb. 21 to the Holly nature center and have their results entered for them, said Sue Julian, a volunteer at the nature center in Holly Township's Sorensen Park. Last year, more than 60,000 checklists and 623 different species were reported.
