Simply For The Birds

Anyone who has dedicated a lot of time and energy into bird watching undoubtedly has a bird house in the back of his or her yard. If watching birds is your passion, you might even have two or three bird houses scattered around your property. But if you’ve been watching your feathered friends for many years, it can be pretty boring buying the same old bird house. There’s something nice and classic about the wooden bird house, but don’t forget to also check out some more interesting and different options.

Especially in recent years, bird houses have truly become diverse and different. So if you’re sick of the standard A-frame wooden bird house, look into some hand painted resin options. Coming in a variety of sizes and styles, you can now feed the birds in houses that resemble everything from a backpack to a shoe. But you don’t have to sacrifice bird health or safety for these whimsical feeders. Rather, they come with everything you need for happy birds such as drainage holes, nesting chambers, and plenty of ventilation.

You might not know it, but if you live near any kind of forested area, there’s a good chance that bats frequent your own backyard.  While there tends to be a negative stigma about these flying rodents, bats are some of the most helpful creatures in the animal kingdom.  Bats help control the populations of pesky bugs and insects, and their droppings also provide excellent fertilizer for plant life.  Having bat houses in your backyard is quite beneficial to the plants in your garden.  Bats sleep all throughout the day in the bat houses, and at night, will go out and hunt bugs and insects.  If you’ve seen a creature flitting about at night, there’s a good chance that it is a bat, as birds tend to return to their nests. 

Bats are also a treat to watch, and kids and adults will enjoy seeing them flit about at night diving after bugs and insects and making their distinct squeaks.

More often than not, it seems that birds aren’t attracted to the birdbaths that owners place in their yards.  This can be attributed to several different factors, and some of them have little to do with the environment itself.  However, if birds feel that they’re in an area that’s too open, they’re more liable to avoid the birdbath for fear of being spotted by predators.  It’s a good idea to make sure there are shrubs or bushes with leaves near the birdbath to provide cover if needed.  You might also think about placing a water wiggler in the birdbath.  Moving water is known to attract birds, and a water wiggler might be just the thing to encourage the avian population to use your birdbath.

For the sake of the owners and the birds, make sure your birdbath stays clean.  This will prevent mosquitoes from nesting near the edge of the water, and as we all know, mosquitoes can carry a host of dangerous diseases, and are an overall nuisance to people and animals.

As I was looking out my window this late winter day, I observed much bird activity.  There were Robins grubbing for insects, Hummingbirds flitting around, House Finches taking a rest on the bare branches of a nearby tree and ducks splashing in the pond.  As spring draws near, we will start seeing the arrival of even more birds - Bluebirds, Orange Orioles, Goldfinches and Ruby Throated Hummingbirds.  It made me think that not only flowers bring spring colors, but our backyard friends do as well.

We can easily attract these colors of spring by providing nesting material, water, birdhouses and seed feeders.  Now is the time to get prepared for their arrival.  Don’t procrastinate; spring will be here before we know it!

Providing nesting materials for the birds that will be arriving soon, is a great way to watch the birds building nests.  Watch them come and peck out a bit of the nest material and fly off to where they are building their nests.  If you add nesting boxes and seed feeders, you will increase you chances of having the Nesters build closer to you.  Watch the fledglings open their mouths in anticipation when they see their parents coming with food. You will be able to watch them grow and if you are lucky - their first flights.

There is nothing more rewarding than to be a part of providing for the birds.  If you haven’t tried it, you should!

By placing your feeders so that they are in view of your windows, your whole family will be able to enjoy the feeding antics of the birds.  Place bird feeders at different heights and have the bird seed easily accessible so that the younger generation can take an active part in providing for the birds.  Remember to keep your bird feeders and the ground underneath clean of old seed.  Old seed can harbor disease.

Birdbaths provide an important element for the health and welfare of our backyard friends.  Keep the birdbaths in sight of the windows and also near some trees or bushes so the birds can make a get away if they are feeling threatened. Be sure to keep the water fresh and clean to ensure the continued use by the birds.

Suet is comprised of animal fat and other ingredients such as raisins, currants, dates, bird seed, chopped peanuts, bread crumbs and sunflower seeds. Suet provides a supply of energy to help birds survive through the winter months by generating body heat.  Use wire suet feeders for low maintenance.

Suet can be used year round to aid in breeding and nesting season and during nesting season.

Whether you live in a house with a yard or an apartment with a deck, you can enjoy watching the birds if you provide them with the essentials.  Food, shelter and a source of water. 

Apartment residents can use deck mounted birdbaths, window bird feeders and hanging birdhouses to bring the birds what they need. 

If you want to put up a Purple Martin bird house, you must do it just right or you will never attract them.  Once they do come, they will continue to come year after year unless some change is made in your situation that discourages their return.

Here is a brief overview of what is required to draw Purple Martins to your house:

• Place house in center of the most open space available – 30 to 120 feet from your house

• There shouldn’t be any trees taller than the Purple Martin house closer than 40-60 feet

• Mount the houses on poles 10 to 20 feet high

• Boat docks make excellent locations for mounting martin houses.

If you are serious about bringing Purple Martins to your yard, do your research first before mounting the houses.  It will pay off in the end.

If there are lots of chickadees in your area, you can get a birdhouse for these birds.  There are different chickadee bird houses to choose from so you can get the one that you like.  There are ordinary looking birdhouses and there are more whimsical houses that are really fun to look at.  But all the houses are just as functional as any house.

You just have to make sure that they have the right size nesting cavity and entry hole.  Some houses have side openings so you can clean them out easily.  The birdhouses should be mounted at least 6-10 feet off the ground.  You can use a post or back mount to secure them on a tree.