Some of the best birdwatching happens in your own backyard! Get kids interested in birding with these five unique products, curated by Holly Dentico, English Gardens Birding Buyer.

1. Hummingbird Ring

“New for 2018, bring the birding action right to your child,” says Holly. Kids will love feeding hummingbirds right from the palm of their hand with this easy to use feeder ring.

As the world’s tiniest bird, hummingbirds are one of the most fascinating creatures. They pollinate flowers by rubbing their forehead and face in each flower as they eat the nectar. Look for hummingbirds starting in early April. 

2. Nature’s Window Four Seasons Wild Bird Food

“This bird seed is great to have on hand with kids around,” says Holly. “Keep your feeders full for endless entertainment or use it in various crafts.” Use Nature’s Window Bird Food to create this simple and fun Orange Bird Feeder: 

Ingredients:

• One Orange
• 3 Pieces of String, Cut into 24” Lengths
• Mixed Bird Seed

Cut off the top ¼ of the orange. Score the inside so you can scoop out the orange sections. Pour out any juice. Punch three holes near the top edge, equal distance from each other. Thread the string through each of the three holes and tie a knot. Take the three long strings, raise them over the orange and tie together. This is so that the orange can hang from a branch. Fill with bird seed.  

3. Seed Bell

Shaped seeds is a great novelty and encourages kids to get interested in birding. “The bell is a fun addition to any garden and kids can watch birds feed for hours,” says Holly. 

4. Squngee

The Squngee can amuse both bird and squirrel lovers! “Like the name suggests, this feeder is essentially a bungie cord for squirrels to jump on and feed,” explains Holly. “Simply hook the feeder from a branch and attach cobs of corn.” 

5. Colorful Annual Flowers

“Gardening is proven to have a positive effect on children’s health,” says Holly. “Encourage your child to plant annuals that attract hummingbirds!”

Annuals that attract hummingbirds include:

• Petunias
• Salvia
• Snapdragons
• Fuchsia

Overall, providing food, water and shelter is necessary to attracting birds to your yard. Here are some tips from English Gardens experts and the National Bird Feeding Society to attract birds:

• Provide shelter from the elements and predators with trees and shrubs. Set up the food source and water close to this area.
• Keep feeders cleaned and filled with quality bird food. Clean feeders and the areas around them at least once a month.
• Move feeders periodically to prevent buildup of waste.
• Scrub birdbaths with a brush and replace the water every three to five days.

“Bird watching is a great hobby for younger children! Talk to an English Gardens associate for more information about any of our birding products,” says Holly.