A gardener's relationship
with birds is one of mutual benefit. The gardener provides
for a few of the birds basic needs, and the birds help to
keep down the insect population while treating us to an
unending source of entertainment. Birds take their role as
insect predator seriously. A single bird will gulp down
500 to 1,000 insects in an afternoon.
Birds have four primary needs: food, water, shelter, and a
place to raise a family. As you'll see, these needs are
easily met.
Food
Two types of seeds, white proso millet and black oil
sunflower seeds, will attract most common seed-eating
birds. These two seeds should be the mainstay in your
feeders. To broaden the diversity of birds visiting your
feeders, add species-specific seeds such as red proso
millet, black- and gray-striped sunflower seeds, Niger
thistle (for goldfinches, pine siskins and purple
finches), milo and peanut kernels (for chickadees and
white tufted titmice).
Beef suet helps birds maintain their body heat in cold
weather. Hang plastic mesh bags of suet or pinecones
dipped in melted suet from tree limbs. Woodpeckers are
particularly appreciative of this treat.
For more suggestions on feeding birds, see Leigh
Abernathy's article It's For The Birds.
http://www.gardenguides.com/articles/birdfood.htm
If you're interested in attracting hummingbirds to your
garden, see Naomi Mathew's article Creating a Hummingbird
Haven.
http://www.gardenguides.com/articles/hummingbird.htm
Water
An ideal water source for birds should be about three
inches deep and three feet off the ground. Motion and
sound will grab a bird's attention. You can create moving
water by suspending a leaky container from a branch over a
birdbath. Fountains and waterfalls are favorite hangouts
for songbirds, and misters place in the plants near your
birdbath will attract a variety of feathered visitors.
The Happy Bird catalog has safe, environmentally friendly
watering products for birds.
http://petsforum.com/happybird/
Shelter
Birds need shelter to protect them from the elements and
allow them to hide from predators. Dense, twiggy shrubs
and evergreens are the shelter of choice for most birds.
Nesting Sites
Different species of birds have different nesting
requirements, and you can find ready-made bird houses or
build-it-yourself plans for almost every species of bird.
Choose birdhouses that are weather resistant and have a
pitched roof to shed rain. There should be holes in the
sides and bottom for ventilation and drainage. A hinged or
removable roof is a bonus for you because it makes
cleaning much easier. The birdhouse should be cleaned
after each nesting season.
When hanging your birdhouse, position the entrance hole
away from prevailing winds.
Contributed by
http://www.gardenguides.com
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