It seems that not even celebrities are immune to the simple pleasure of bird-watching, especially when it comes to the creatures that grace our own backyards. Jennifer Garner is the latest figure to prove that, in some ways, Hollywood stars can be just like the rest of us after excitedly revealing her new hobby.
'I just became a birder, and it turns out my yard has the prettiest birds in all of California. So, I have a little modeling agency for dark-eyed Jukio and Oat Titmouse and California too-whee. I don’t know what to tell you – they’re gorgeous,' she says. Choosing plants for birds is one way to encourage such creatures to our yards; however, we can help our cause further with a smart feeder that not only attracts birds but films them, too. And what better way to see it in action than with the footage filmed in Garner's own yard?
In the Instagram footage, Garner shows her Birdbuddy Original Smart Bird Feeder at work. The solar-powered bird feeder comes with a camera that notifies users of any feathered visitors via an app before organizing the images into a collection that's easily viewable and shareable. Equipped with artificial intelligence, it recognizes over 1,000 bird species (yes, even the ultra-rare ones we always wondered about).
The Bird Buddy smart bird feeder has a modern bird-friendly design with a protective roof. It comes with a clear back that offers the birds a better visibility of the seeds, thus quickly attracting them to the feeder.
Garner's Bird Buddy feeder is an impactful way to invite birds into our yard and enjoy their presence long after they depart. However, we can still follow the actress's new hobby via more traditional methods. For instance, we can create natural bird feeders with things like suet treats or orange peels. However, we can also encourage birds with a regular feeding routine, as Nicholas Watts, the owner of Vine House Farm bird food, explains.
'Birds will be more likely to visit your garden if they know there is a reliable source of food, and one way to demonstrate that to them is to set food out at the same time every day. This can encourage repeat visitors which can help to fill up your garden with a wider variety of birds,' he says.
It's also important to monitor our feeder hygiene levels to limit any contamination that could be harmful to the birds. 'Wash your feeder at least once a week to help stop the spread of diseases and protect your local garden creatures,' Watts adds.
Garner's feeder aside, we also recommend these alternatives (all of which come with a camera). It's what the actress would want for us, after all.
Lastly, while we may be in the depths of summer currently, Watts warns that we should adapt the food we use in our feeder throughout the year—especially in states that have particularly cold winters.
'Winter means birds use more energy to keep warm and move around during the day, so your local birds need all the strength they can get to make it through the period successfully,' he says.
'Fat-rich foods like suet and sunflower hearts keep birds going so laying these out before and during the bird watch encourages them to your garden and keeps them going for longer once they leave.'
