Bird watching and feeding the birds are  favourite pastimes for many of us. We have been feeding the birds at home for years and really enjoy it. It is a fun, inexpensive way to add life, colour, and sound to your yard, balcony etc.

Feeding the birds is an easy hobby to start as all you need is a bird feeder and bird food. There are different types of bird feeders, and different types of bird food.

A favourite bird food this time of year is 'Black oiled sunflower seeds'. The black oiled sunflower seeds are high in protein with a high fat content and twice as many calories than the striped sunflower seeds which is important this time of year for the birds as they need to eat enough food to convert into energy which produces the heat they need. Sunflower seeds can be purchased shelled or unshelled which is less messy.

Other bird seed that the birds enjoy are peanuts, nuts, and niger seed, all of which are high energy feed for birds.

Suet is another favourite among the birds. It provides high amounts of energy and is good for those birds who may not be interested in the bird seed. Suet comes in different combinations, such as peanut, berry, and insects.

When purchasing bird seed, choose a bird seed that is high quality with little to no fillers, as the fillers are wasted. Store unused bird seed in a cool dry space such as a plastic bin in the garage.

Choosing the feeder will depend on what type of seed you use. Some silo feeders have small openings making them good for small sized seeds such as the niger seeds. Other feeders are platform feeders where the birds can sit in or on the feeder and the seeds are placed in the platform. These are great for sunflower seeds. It is important that the feeders are cleaned regularly, to help prevent the spread of disease and to clean out any old seed that could rot and spread toxins.

Placing the bird feeders in the right spot is important. You want the bird feeders in a protected area away from the wind, and blowing snow, as well as predators such as cats. If the feeders are around trees, and shrubs the birds will rest and hide in the trees. Don't have them so close to the trees so that the squirrels can jump from the tree branch into the feeder, as they also enjoy eating the seeds. You also want to place the feeder in an area that you can get too easily as you will need to be able to refill the feeder. Also watch out for windows, as many birds are killed by hitting the window. Feeders should be placed either very close to the window (no further then 90 cm) or further away from the window (3.5 meters or more). At home we have our feeders near a hedge that separates the lawn from the bush and the feeders are 10 meters away from the house, giving us the perfect viewing.

When you start feeding the birds don't stop, as the birds will rely on the feeding station. You will want to continue to feed the birds as it is very enjoyable and is a winning solution for all involved as we get to enjoy watching the birds, and the birds in turn are enjoying the extra nutrition.

There are some beautiful bird feeders available that would make great gifts for someone who may want to get started on feeding the birds, or for someone who would like to add another feeder to their collection!

My family, staff and I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

-Jos

Jos Van Hage owns and operates two Art Knapp Home and Garden Centres in Prince George,

• Highway 16 west at Kimball Road
• Highway 97 North at Northwood Pulpmill Road