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Garden Gardening
Attracting Wild Birds
Attracting Wild Birds
by Lily Smith
As more land is used to accommodate the ever-growing human population,
yards and city parks become important bird habitat. Diversified
landscaping and feeding stations offer an oasis of resources in the middle
of human domain. Feeding and watching birds gives families the opportunity
to practice conservation right in their own yards. Children can learn and
enjoy the wonders of nature right from the kitchen window. Children will
be able to observe the hatching of young chicks and learn how many birds
help control the insect population.
One fun aspect of feeding birds is learning what birds are visiting your
backyard habitat. There are several good identification field guides such
as National Geographic, Peterson's East & West and Birds of North America
through which the wild birds can be identified. Birds are grouped by
physical characteristics. It is fairly easy to distinguish a duck from a
songbird by just looking at body shape and size, as well as the beak and
feet shapes. These physical characteristics will help identify birds:
size, body shape, colors, markings, beak shape, feet and wing shape in
flight. Birds have a variety of calls. Good listeners can learn to tell
the difference between "chickadee" and "cheerily - cheerio - cheeriup"
calls of the Black-capped Chickadee and the American Robin.
The most important element is the type of food offered to the wild birds.
The widest variety of food sources ensures the widest variety of birds.
Ensure that your bird feeder is kept clean. Old, moldy seed left in the
feeder will not attract wild birds. Not only is the food type important,
but the time period you feed and the consistency of feeding is very
important as well. Many people will only feed the birds in the winter
months, which is when they need it most, however, by feeding throughout
the spring and summer months you will attract the migratory birds
returning from southern climates. In addition, by feeding in the spring
and summer, parenting birds will have easy access to a food source for
their young. Food like seeds, protein rich insects and worms, flies; birds
love mosquitoes, spiders, aphids and ants. Do not kill all the bugs in
your yard if you want birds. Flowers, shrubs and trees will encourage a
rich insect life in your yard that will, in turn, provide necessary food
for wild birds. If you want to attract hummingbirds to your garden, this
can be accomplished in several ways. If you plant honeysuckle, common
lilac (with purple flowers), red geraniums, nasturtium, red petunias, red
salvia, coral bells, columbine, fuchsia and even scarlet runner beans,
there is a good chance that you will see hummingbirds feeding among your
flowers.
Fresh, clean water made available year round is an important element of
attracting wild birds. The simplest and most readily available is a
shallow birdbath. Birdbaths can be kept thawed even in winter by a
birdbath heater. Most garden birds like a water source far enough from
surrounding vegetation to offer surveillance against a surprise attack
from squirrels, rats, big birds. If there is water falling or dripping
making sound this will attract birds even more towards the backyard.
Birds are dependent on flight for safety; they are most vulnerable when
they are "grounded" to rest, feed or nest. To a bird, protection means
staying both comfortable and safe. Again, a wide variety of plant
vegetation and trees will find the best range of habitat for birds. The
selection of plants and their arrangement in the landscape are important
in making a bird feel at home. Protection from cold winds and driving rain
allow birds to maintain body heat, and keep healthy. Birds that are
exposed to cold, wet and windy weather are very vulnerable to exposure and
resulting death. Without protective cover near by, wild birds will not
frequent bird feeders even if they are the best feeders with the most
desirable seed.
Build nest and bird houses for birds to raise their families and provide
them with shelter. When the birds will feel that there is a shelter
provided to take care of the baby birds they will build their natural
nests and start living and heave their family.
If you specially want to attract humming birds then take care that your
feeders are full because they will begin moving south as early as July but
it will take several months for the birds to begin to reach the southern
U.S. and they can use your feeders during the trip. They eat lots of
protein in their diets too and that doesn't come from sugar feeders and
they need insects too. It is important to leave your feeders up and full.
Migrating birds need all the quick and easy nourishment they can find to
sustain the incredible energy demands of migration. It is vital that
hummingbirds fatten up for their extended trips, particularly those
crossing the Gulf of Mexico. For several weeks after your regular summer
hummingbirds have left your flowers and feeders, migrating birds could be
quickly passing through your gardens unnoticed. Leaving your feeders up
for at least three weeks after seeing your last hummingbird is essential.
About the Author
Lily Smith is the owner of Online Mall of Information
Please visit www.Net-Buy-E.com for
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