Saint Francis Birdfeeders for Your Backyard Nature Preserve

Why the particular attraction to St Francis? He grew up in a well to do family in Assisi, Italy, and was something of a lady's man. But after a change of heart, he founded the Catholic order of monks named after him, the Franciscans. He and his followers gave all they had to the poor, begged for food, and chose to live in very humble settings to co-exist with the wildlife around them.

This resulted in a number of stories that have been told over time. He is supposed to have subdued a wild and ferocious wolf that was terrorizing both the animals and the people in a local village. He made peace with the animal, and the local villagers actually fed it after that.

But the most endearing image is that of St Francis preaching to and tending to the local birds. Legend has it that he preached to them and they would listen until he was done. It is this image that it is the source of much of the garden statues, bird feeders and St Francis face bird houses.

Most St. Francis feeders feature a small statue of St. Francis, often with one or more birds perched on his shoulders. The actual bird feed is either in a mock basket that he is holding, or in a larger tray at his feet.

The statues may stand about 20 inches in height. Some shorter ones are made to be hung on a wall or a fence, out of harm's way where there may be cats or squirrels running about the area. These are often made from a combination of resin and stone, which gives a sculpted look to the feeder, but can be molded easily, and the result is much lighter in weight.

You can also find plaques that have a relief image of St. Francis, once again these are made to be hung.

For more information on this beloved saint, check out Wikipedia on St. Francis of Assisi.