This entry was posted on Sunday, July 20th, 2008 at 5:01 pm and is filed under Bird Information, Feeding. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
July 20, 2008
Well, believe it or not, you too can have a bird in the hand! If you regularly feed birds, you might want to get to know them up close. All it takes is patience, persistence, and well, MORE patience.
To start with, it is helpful to have a few bushes for the birds to fly to when frightened, and it also gives them a place to perch while closely observing you. It is also advisable to begin after birds have been regular visitors to your bird feeders.
Start in early fall by putting out seed in the feeders at the same time of day when you wish to try the hand feeding. After filling the feeder, stand or sit about 12 feet away for a few minutes. It is important to remain very still. If you use a chair be sure it is the same one each day and in the same spot. Do this until birds fly readily to the feeder nearby. Once they become accustomed to your presence, go a foot or two closer to the feeder each week. Soon they will come to the feeder while you are standing right next to it.
The next step is to then remove all of the seed from the feeder and hold your hand next to it with food in your up-turned palm. Stand quietly and wait. Don’t give up! The bird in the bush will eventually come to your hand.
You can be sure that the birds are watching and soon even the more timid ones will come to your hand. Eventually your feathered friends will rush to greet you, wanting a handout.
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