There are hundreds of bird-themed gift ideas that can be great gifts for birders, and while the spirit of the gift is more important than the actual item, conscientious gift-givers should avoid the worst gifts for birders in order to offer a truly meaningful, appreciated gift to the bird lover in their life.

8 Worst Gifts to Give Birders

While the best and worst gifts will vary depending on any birder's needs and preferences, the worst types of gifts are generally bad for most birders, and include…

• Pet Bird Equipment or Food: Not all birds have the same needs, and pet birds have different nutritional needs and use different supplies than wild birds. Pet bird food does not offer wild birds the nutrition they require, and toys and other items intended for captive birds can actually be hazardous to wild birds.
   
• Novelty Bird Houses: While cute bird houses with cat themes or elaborate designs may be attractive and can appeal to many different interests, they don't always appeal to birds. Unless a house has suitable ventilation and drainage, as well as a way to be thoroughly cleaned after each nesting season and the proper entrance hole size, it is not a good gift for birders.
   
• Elaborate Feeders: Intricately designed bird feeders may be beautiful to look at, but they can be ugly to clean or fill, making them less suitable for birds and less attractive to birders, no matter what their outward appearance. More specialized feeders can also be less useful in the backyard, where fewer birds may be able to use one unique feeder.
   

• Hummingbird Food: Premixed hummingbird nectar or nectar concentrate may seem to be the ideal gift for a hummingbird lover, but red dyes, additives, preservatives and other chemicals included in artificial nectars can be detrimental to hummingbirds. Instead of a commercial product, give birders a simple bag of sugar with a classic hummingbird nectar recipe to use.
   
• Cheap Birdseed: Inexpensive birdseed mixes can be a great bargain and may seem perfect for any backyard birder, but filler grain and poor quality seed is not appropriate for any birds and may just be wasted under the feeders. Instead, give a smaller quantity of higher quality seed such as hulled sunflower seed, Nyjer or peanuts that can appeal to many backyard birds.
   
• Expensive Equipment: While top birding optics and cameras for bird photography cost a pretty penny, they don't always make the best gifts. Birders tend to prefer trying out equipment before selecting the models and designs that best suit their needs, and unless a birder has been very explicit on their gift wish list, it is best to leave these purchases for their own shopping sprees.
   
• Bully Bird Gifts: Not all birds are equally welcome in the backyard, and items that focus on the least wanted backyard birds can be some of the least wanted gifts. Novelty gifts that are specially geared for house sparrows, European starlings, common grackles, rock pigeons and other less welcome birds are not the best choices for most birders.
   
• Beginning Gifts: While every birder has to start this hobby with just one spark bird and earn their wings through plenty of practice, by the time they truly identify themselves as a birder, the most basic beginning gifts – simplified field guides, beginning feeders, etc. – are likely to be too simplistic to be of much use. The exception, of course, is if they truly are a beginning birder, then a novice-oriented gift can help nurture their passion appropriately.

Choosing the Best Gifts

No matter how long a birder has been birding or how active they are in the avian world, there are always great gift options that acknowledge their love of birds. To avoid the worst birding gifts and choose more useful, appreciated gifts instead…

• Consider the Type of Birder: Is the gift recipient a backyard birder? Give them high quality feeders and nutritious seed to use. Are they a twitcher? A field guide for a far away destination can be ideal. Are they more into ornithology? Opt for a gift that delves deeply into the world of birds, such as a more specialized research book.
   
• Remember Their Favorite Birds: Every birder has species they enjoy more than others, and specialized books that focus on those species – bluebirds, hummingbirds, ducks, etc. – or novelty gifts such as jewelry, clothing, mugs or figurines can be fantastic gift options that suit each birder's personal preferences.
   
• Help Birds: A gift of bird conservation is never a bad idea for any type of birder, no matter what their experience level or preferred type of birding. A duck stamp, membership to a conservation organization, habitat preservation gift or similar item is thoughtful and will help them enjoy their birding long past just one day's gift exchange.

Gift giving doesn't have to be stressful, particularly where birding gifts are concerned. By understanding the worst types of birding gifts, it's easy to avoid choosing an inappropriate item and instead offer a truly thoughtful, appreciated gift to any birder.

Photo – Gift Packages © JD Hancock