Solar Bird Feeders: Add Wildlife And Beauty To Your Garden

The advantage of having a bird feeder is that it obviously attracts more bird life to your home's garden. The solar component adds the extra element of providing your garden with night time decoration in the same way as other solar lights.

Look For Quality Products

Solar bird feeders are exposed continuously to the elements, so choosing a good quality product is essential. In order to get the best value for money, the body of the feeder needs to be well made and durable. This also applies to the solar panel, the circuitry connected to it, and the battery inside the device.

While these hidden electronics are beyond our ability to test in the store, the quality of the product can be judged by the warranty it comes with. Products with little or no warranty are unlikely to survive for long, which then results in the feeder either being thrown away or losing its lighting function. A feeder with a 5 year warranty, for example, is likely to function properly for a long period as the onus will be on the vendor to replace the unit if it malfunctions.

Use a Good Quality Battery

Most solar garden products are sold with low capacity batteries. Typically these are 700mAh Ni-Cd batteries. While these may function for a short period, they will eventually need to be replaced. Replacing the battery with a high capacity brand quality unit such as a 2500mAh Ni-MH as soon as the unit is purchased is a sensible idea. This will result in the light functioning for longer at night and will also reduce the likelihood of battery leakage which can cause damage to the circuit in the feeder.

Check the Solar Panel Cover

After the feeder has been in your garden for a month or so, inspect the clear plastic covering of the solar panel. This should remain transparent, barring dirt accumulation. If the panel's cover becomes frosted or darkened from exposure to the elements the panel will not function effectively and the unit should be replaced.