We all have our own motivations for feeding wild birds—reasons unique as the personalities of the birds at your feeders. Droll Yankees Business Development Manager Kevin Brandt is responsible for maintaining relationships with Droll Yankees retailers and distributors across the US.
See also: Why I Feed Birds: Droll Yankees Marketing Director Feeds Birds For Her Kids
When he’s not working, Kevin enjoys the variety of beautiful birds that visit his backyard. The ease of attracting birds with a good bird feeder is what makes the hobby accessible, and that’s what keeps him refilling his feeders time and time again.
Getting to Know Your Natural Neighbors
I’ve fed birds for many years, and here’s why: It’s a great way to get to know more of your “natural neighbors.”
We all get to see squirrels, rabbits and other small animals in our daily lives. For the most part, when you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all. Not so with birds. There are so many different species of birds, and with the various species come color, size and character. Having a bird feeder in my backyard allows me to see the beauty of birds that otherwise I’d never get to see: the bright reds of a cardinal—the vibrant yellows of a goldfinch.
See also: How to Attract Cardinals to Your Bird Feeder
Over the past few weeks I’ve had a blue jay visiting my backyard. I’ve experienced seeing blue jays in the past, but they’re not as common in my area as cardinals, finches or sparrows. The shades of blues overlapping the pigment breast, white underbelly and appointed black lines gives the colors of this bird incredible definition. Not to mention they’re a bit larger than most other birds I see coming around. And they’re territorial—typically when the Blue Jay is around, there are no other birds in sight!
I have several vantage points from inside my home looking out to my backyard. So whether it’s during breakfast, sitting at my desk, or walking from one room to the next, it’s become a habit of mine to take a look for activity at the feeder. It’s a hobby that doesn’t require a lot of time, and it’s a never-ending journey of learning more about the various types of birds that inhabit our world.
