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Did you ever wonder why your neighbours seem to have an array of birds visiting their garden year-round? If you are interested in having these feathered friends grace your yard, talk to the neighbour to see what they are doing or do a little trial and error attracting on your own.
Either way, you are going to find that attracting birds to your yard is a relatively easy process and you may already be doing so if you have trees and shrubs that offer berries for them to feed off of. Find out the kind of birds that are common to your area. Place a few bird houses on posts in the garden or perched on the fence. Incorporate some bird feeders and a bird bath and the next thing you will know, is that you are being regularly visited by all kinds of feathery friends.
Housing birds can be done either by making your own bird house from a pattern or purchasing them. Commercial houses come in a variety of sizes, shapes and color. Some houses are made specifically for certain types of birds. Be sure to do your homework.
Choose food for your clientele. Read the packages carefully to determine that the type of seed you are buying is going to keep the majority happy. The last thing you want is waste and mess, which will happen if the feed you purchase contains what is known as fillers. The gourmet seeds cost a bit more, but the result is worth it when you entice more than your common local birds to your feeders. Gardeners who love birds, but hate the thought of pulling weeds, grasses and plants produced from wasted seed that has germinated, will also gravitate towards these types of seeds because they contain no shells, thus, no germination if dropped to the ground.
Now that you have picked out the feed what about a feeder? All mixed feed will have seeds that come in various shapes and sizes. It is important to choose a feeder that will allow the oddest shape seed to flow through smoothly. When you are refilling the feeder, clean out any old seed to avoid rot and bacteria. Clean the feeder thoroughly three or four times a year. Keep your feeders full throughout the year. Some people think that once spring and summer are here, they don't need to feed the birds; however, this is a time when eggs are being laid and young are hatching. The extra nutrition added by the food in your feeder will also encourage the mothers to bring their young for a treat when they learn to fly.
To attract birds to your feeders, remember to include water nearby. You can do this using garden fountains and ponds or even a bird bath. Whatever you choose, these areas too, need to be kept clean and refreshed often, to ward off disease and keep the birds coming back.
Place your feeders and bird baths in an area that is easily accessible by you and not by predators such as larger birds of prey and cats. For your enjoyment from either inside or out situate your feeders in your garden, on your deck and where ever you can watch them from the various rooms in your home.
Ann Edall Robson, owner of Comfy Country Creations is a quilter, avid gardener and freelance writer.
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