Wild birds play a vital role in the overall health of our planet. They are a key component in our local ecosystem and attracting them to your garden can offer many benefits.
Birds are a natural form of pest control as they enjoy eating up a variety of insects. They can help control unwelcome critters like mosquitoes, spiders, grubs, slugs, and more. Birds are critical in flower pollination. Hummingbird’s sip and spread nectar, which helps create bolder blooms and a thriving harvest. Other birds spread seeds they have eaten and disperse them around the area. In fact, many plant species rely almost entirely on birds for their propagation.
Birds are educational, interesting, and taking the time to sit and observe them can be extremely helpful to reduce your stress level. Let’s show our feathered friends some support with these 3 simple ways to help wild birds.
#1: PROVIDE A FOOD SOURCE
Bird Seed & Feeders
Help attract beautiful Texas birds to your garden with Calloway’s Premium Bird Seed. Check out the birding headquarters at your neighborhood Calloway’s and Cornelius. We have a variety of seed blends that will attract several different species of birds.
Calloway’s Premium Wild Bird Blend combines premium seeds such as white proso millet, black oil sunflower, and red milo to create a special mixture of seeds that are a favorite to Cardinals, Finches, Sparrows, Chickadees, Mourning Doves, and more. Enjoy the ease of filling your feeders with our new 20 lb size!
Calloway’s Premium Fruit & Nut Blend, formally called Calloway’s Songbird Mix, is a wonderful blend of premium seeds that birds love! With a mixture of fruit and seeds such as black oil sunflower, safflower, peanut pick outs and cranberries; birds like Robins, Cardinals, Chickadees, Nuthatches, and Sparrows, will flock to your garden.
Calloway’s Premium Hot & Spicy Blend is a delicious mix of seeds, spiced with capsaicin, and full of nutrients. No need to worry about squirrels snatching them up! This will keep those critters away.
Calloway’s Premium Shell Free Blend features just the seeds and no shells. Feed the birds with the seeds they love, without having to clean up. With ingredients such as sunflower chips, oat groats, and hulled millet, you can provide the best for Sparrows, Blue Jays, Cardinals, and more.
The proper bird feeder is key to ensuring your local birds are able to snack easily. The Perky-Pet® Yellow Finch Tube Feeder has superior durability and an extremely functional design. The easy-to-remove cap and base makes filling and cleaning this feeder a breeze. The wire mesh design helps to resist squirrel damage and the bright yellow color will attract nearby birds like Finches.
Refill your bird seed easier with the Stokes Select Easy Fill Metal Thistle Bird Feeder. Its spring-loaded, push-button top opens effortlessly with one touch! The newly designed metal seed tray has a wide perch rim that helps to keep dropped seeds off the ground and allows larger birds to feed comfortably. Explore our selection of feeders designed to keep these squirrels away like the 2 Port Squirrel Resistant Feeder. The metal roof locks to help keep unwanted squirrels out!
Hummingbird Feeders & Nectar
Want to attract more hummingbirds to your landscape? Help your garden thrive with these beneficial pollinators! Help keep their bellies full with quality feeders and nourishing nectars. The More Birds® Gem Hummingbird Feeder is durable and stylish. It features an intricate hexagon-cut glass nectar bottle with a metal basin top in a beautiful rose gold finish and 5 red flower ports. The wide opening makes it easy to fill, and the feeder provides hummingbirds a place to rest while eating.
Suet Cakes & Feeders
Heath® Crafted Suet Cakes are made with the highest quality blends of all natural ingredients and no artificial flavoring. They can be used all year long and they won’t melt during the remainder of our Texas summer. Pair the suet cakes with the proper feeder. Suet Feeders are cage style feeder with an adorable little roof to help shield the food from rain or snow.
Want to make your own suet cakes? It’s easy! Here is a quick recipe to get you started.
Homemade Suet Cakes
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 cup peanut butter or peanut butter substitute
- 1 cup lard
- 2 ½ cups oats
- 2 ½ cups corn meal
- 2 ½ cups Calloway’s Premium Bird Seed of your choice
DIRECTIONS:
- Melt lard and peanut butter.
- Stir in oats, corn meal, and bird seed.
- Pour and spread mixture into a pan and refrigerate overnight.
- Cut into squares and place into suet feeder for the birds to enjoy!
#2: GIVE SHELTER FOR THE BIRDS
Just like you and me, birds need a place to relax and get some rest. Bird houses are functional, decorative, and an easy way for our local birds to get a little peace and quiet. At Calloway’s and Cornelius, we have a variety of styles to fit the look of your outdoor space!
Natural
Whimsical
Ceramic
#3: PROVIDE A WATER SOURCE
Invite flying friends to your garden with a birdbath. Birds need water to drink and bathe in. Water also helps them insulate their feathers against the cold. Birdbaths help other friendly pollinators and will provide them all access to a refreshing water source. Are you ready to get crafty? Try making your own birdbath!
How-To Make a Birdbath
SUPPLIES:
- Terra cotta pottery and a large saucer
- Decorative stones
- Strong adhesive or all-purpose glue
STEP ONE:
Clean the base of your terra cotta pottery. Using adult supervision, apply a thick coating of glue to the base. Place the saucer on the base, settling it into the glue. Leave for 24 hours to ensure the glue dries completely.
STEP TWO:
After the glue has dried, add large stones and pebbles to the saucer. This will help create a space for birds and other beneficial pollinators to perch so they can take a drink of water.
STEP THREE:
Place the birdbath in a suitable location in your garden and fill it with fresh water. Sit back and enjoy nature as you watch the different species visit their new watering hole.
SHOP WITH EASE
At Calloway’s and Cornelius, we have everything you need to support our wild birds!
Shop our neighborhood stores or shop online for Curbside Pickup or Delivery! Stop by today to get inspired and explore our entire selection of premium plants, pottery, gardening tools, and more!
Have questions? Ask our Texas Certified Nursery Professionals; they are here to help!
