Create a backyard that will appeal to birds. Planting trees and shrubs of different heights will accommodate the preferences of different birds. Check with your local gardening center on which plantings work best to create a bird friendly yard in your area. And keep in mind chemically treated lawns will make a less healthy, and unattractive environment for birds.
THE FOUR BASICS – Water, food, shelter and a place to nest
Bird Baths
Bird baths are one of the easiest ways to bring birds up close, where you can get a really good look at them. They provide fresh clean water to drink and bathe in, which can sometimes be the hardest necessity for birds to come by.
When selecting a bird bath, choose one with a running water feature (or add a water moving feature) to help keep it free of algae and other contaminants, including mosquito larvae. The sound of moving water will also attract birds from afar. Another feature to consider is either a heated bird bath or a separate heater or deicer to put into the bathe. This will keep the water from freezing in winter, when open water is scarce. If electricity is not available to power a backyard bird bath, consider adding a solar powered bird bath.
Keep in mind, the water shouldn’t be more than a couple of inches in deep. If it’s too deep, birds won’t feel comfortable and will avoid the water feature. To limit the depth, add rocks for birds to perch on.
Bird Feeders and Feeding Stations
Platform Feeders
A platform feeder is a simple tray-like system that accommodates a wide variety of backyard feeder birds, both small and large, from sparrows to blue jays to mourning doves. To attract all sorts of birds, fill the tray with mixed seed. Varieties of platform feeders are also available as mealworm feeders – a backyard bird favorite!
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