Learn How to Attract Birds to Your Yard

Attracting Birds to Your Yard

Attracting birds to your yard is seldom as simple as just putting out a birdhouse or a bird feeder. If birds fly by your yard, drop in for a few hours and then leave again, they're trying to tell you that your yard does not have enough food for them and lacks shelter and water. Small birds eat all day during the winter and drink lots of water in the summer. In any season birds will only stay in your yard full time if the environment meets their needs. The best ways to assure a constant avian population in your yard are to provide the birds with supplemental food and water, to give them nesting places like birdhouses, and to maintain the correct natural environment in terms of trees and shrubs.

Food

Try to choose trees that provide seeds, berries, fruits, nuts, grains, nectar and other foods as well as adequate shade and protection. Trees that attract birds and provide them with food include the Cherokee Chief and Japanese Flowering Dogwoods, crabapple, oaks, hickories, buckeyes, chestnuts, butternuts, hazel and walnuts. Chattanooga Blue Spruce provides excellent nesting and perching sites. In selecting shrubs, think both in terms of food and shelter. Virginia Sweetspire, for instance, when planted in hedge rows provides protection to the birds against predators.

Also rethink your outdoor pest control strategy. Let the worms and insects be bird food and don't poison that food supply by using insecticides. With a well-planted yard you can minimize the presence of insects that annoy you or harm your plants because the birds will take care of them for you thus becoming your gardening allies.

Water

If given a choice birds prefer a source of water that drips, splashes, or moves in some way. Rather than having a traditional stagnant birdbath, consider a backyard fountain, frog pond or water garden. Birds need water in the winter as well although not as much. Be sure to keep the outdoor water supply free of ice. In some colder regions heated birdbaths are available that will keep the water just above freezing.

Continue to : Ideal Information on How to Attract Birds