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.

In North America alone there are 835 species of birds that will spend at least part of the year there. Birding is reported to be one of the fastest-growing outdoor activities all around the world, and it is your choice to where you go and watch them. Right now more than 70 million Americans enjoy feeding and watching birds from there backyard.

The easiest way to get started in Bird Watching is to bring the birds to your back yard, this allows you to see them up close.

Some ways you can attract birds into your garden include:

Proper bird feeding all year round.
Growing specialized plants in your backyard to attract them.
Provide nesting sites or a birdhouses.
Provide them with water either through a bird bath or providing water specially in extreme weathers.

Once you have attracted the birds you could get involved sketching them ot trying to catch that perfect picture, or you could just sit back and enjoy bird songs.

Some of the basic tips for bird watching are:

Try to observe the birds so they don’t know you are there. Move slowly, make as little noise as possible, and keep your distance.

Going too close to a nest or repeatedly scaring a bird off its nest can cause the parents to abandon their nest leaving the eggs vulnerable to predators. On no account try to touch the eggs or the young birds as this can also cause the parents to abandon the eggs or chicks.

If you follow these simple tips birds will be attracted to your backyard and will keep coming back year after year.
By Gavin Dye

Gavin Dye is author and webmaster at http://www.birding-online.com where you can learn all about bird watching.

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!