When it comes to providing a place for birds in your area to splash, bathe, play, and drink, a bird bath can please both the feathered and human inhabitants of the property. Bird baths serve as a huge draw to entice birds of all types to your yard, and in turn, the birds receive a necessary place to refresh themselves on hot summer days or chilly winter nights. Before you purchase a bird bath, first consider where you will place the bird bath in your yard or garden to ensure the specific style you wish will fit the outdoor space. Read more »
Would you like to take up the hobby of bird watching? You can start right from your own garden. Here are some tips to get you started
Start Bird Watching From Your Backyard
Whenever you go outside what is the one type of wildlife you are most likely to see? Birds. No matter where you go in this world, apart from areas permanently covered in ice, you will see birds. Anytime of the day in any weather, in the city or in the countryside, there will be birds nearby, even if you can’t see them, you’ll probably hear them. Read more »
If you want to attract birds into your backyard, provide them with a supply of water. Water is an essential element for all forms of life, and by having a bird attracting source of water in your garden you can encourage many different kinds of bird activity.
Our Feathered Friends Need Water Too
There are so many ways to attract wild birds to your yard. One of the best ways to bring all types of birds a little closer is by providing them water. There are many birds that do not “snack” on birdfeed, so adding a water source will attract many kinds of birds. The easiest and most cost effective method to supply water for birds is to get a birdbath. Your local garden supply store should have a large variety of birdbaths available. If you are pinching pennies, you can also make one yourself out of a garbage can lid. It serves the same purpose and birds really don’t discern between the attractive birdbath, from the trash can lid you have on the ground. However, there are many very elaborate baths you can purchase from ones that regulate the temperature of the water and some offer a regular flow of fresh water. Keep in mind that birds like shallow water. If the water is to deep, they start to feel in danger. The ideal height of water is 2-3 inches. Remember to change it every few days as water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes and they will lay eggs in your birdbath. The bottom surface of your birdbath should be rough, not smooth. This gives the bird good traction. You might want to consider putting a few large rocks in there to allow smaller birds to perch. Another method is to provide a farm pond. It is a small pond, which can be stocked with fish. A great advantage to this is that you will attract fish eating birds, like Herons. It is also easy to maintain. By planting bushes around the pond, you will attract even more birds as birds love to nest and hide in such brush. Whatever method you choose, you will find more wild birds stopping in for a “drink” everyday. Just sit back, relax and enjoy the view!
By Sharon Stajda
For more information about birds and their habitat, please visit How To Study Birds or Our Birds And Our Gardens.
Bird watching is a peaceful, tranquil pastime and a great way to get in touch with nature. It does not always work out to take a special trip to watch bird, and so the next best solution is to encourage birds to come to you. This article gives you some good ways you can attract birds into your own back yard.
Looking for ways to attract more of God’s beautiful feathered creatures into your yard? Great! It’s really not hard – give the birds what they need, and they will come.
The first thing the birds need is food. A simple bird feeder with mixed seed can provide your birds with food, or you can go for something more complex, to attract more species of birds.
Bird feeders attract a variety of birds
Thistle seed will attract many species of birds, such as some finches, that other wise would not come. Likewise, you may want to put out suet, or other “special” foods to attract more birds. Of course, during the summer, put out a hummingbird and/or an oriole feeder.
The second very important thing birds need is shelter. Birds have many predators out to catch them – everything from hawks to cats. Some people will go so far as to build brush piles in their yards to shelter birds, but that is rather unsightly, to say the least. An easier solution is to plant a flower bed filled with some evergreen bushes, ground cover, etc. It will look great, and provide a haven for birds.
Another thing that you can offer birds is a bath. You can provide them with a typical water bird bath, or you can provide them with a dust bath. A dust bath can be as simple as a patch of sand underneath the bird feeder. Nothing fancy is required!
Last, but not least, you’ll probably want to provide your birds with nesting houses – a safe, dry place for the to raise their families! Of course, be sure that you choose appropriate houses for the species of birds that you have nesting in your yard. If you’re fortunate, you might get to watch a pair of birds raise their young – few things are more exciting to watch.
In summary, give birds what they need and want, and they will come to your yard – and you can enjoy their colorful beauty.
By Adam Thompson
Be sure that you’re outfitted with a pair of binoculars from Nikon or Olympus to watch your feathered friends with!
Bird watching is growing in popularity as a hobby that gets people outdoors and increases appreciation of nature, as well as being a great stress reliever. This blog will help you to be equiped with all you need to enjoy this great recreational pastime.
