Homeowner Forum / Lawn and Garden / May 2007

(ARA) - Due to rising human population and suburban sprawl, land for
bird habitats is decreasing. With the ever-increasing abundance of
concrete and asphalt comes the disappearance of food sources and
nesting grounds for birds. The good news, however, is that you can
help.

Homeowners can do their part by creating a sanctuary for birds in
their own back yards. By landscaping especially for our feathered
friends, you can make a little bit of the world feel like home for
birds.

Food is probably the most important factor to consider. When
landscaping for birds, it's beneficial to have multiple sources of
food. Feeding stations are guaranteed to attract birds to your yard.
One way to satisfy birds' appetites is by providing feeders in your
yard filled with clean, wholesome seeds and real fruits and nuts.
Premium products, such as Wild Delight's Nut N' Berry, contain foods
like pistachios, peanuts, cranberries and raisins and are a great
choice for your feeders.

If you're worried about the leftover mess that can occasionally occur
with feeders, try using a zero-waste bird food such as Wild Delight's
Deck, Porch N' Patio to keep your outdoor living area clean. Don't
have a bird feeder? Use a concave rock to place seed on. It creates a
natural-looking feeding stop for lots of birds such as jays and
tanagers.

Besides feeders, trees, plants and flowers all provide sources of food
for birds to eat. Trees like mulberries, birches and maples not only
provide seeds and fruits, but also attract and support a lot of
insects that birds such as bluebirds like to snack on. Flowers such as
sunflowers offer seeds that most birds love, while red bee balms and
impatiens are some of the flowers that supply nectar for birds such as
the hummingbird. Natural vegetation provides a number of food sources
for your backyard buddies, but it's still a good idea to have multiple
feeders as a guaranteed-to-be-in-stock food source.

Birds need to eat, but they also need water. Not only do water
features add beauty to your yard, they serve a number of uses for your
feathered friends and attract hard-to-get birds like warblers. Since
birds have acute hearing, they can hear a drop or ripple in the water
from a great distance away. Sprinklers, drippers, misters and hoses
will all have birds collecting in your yard.

Remember, to ensure that the water features in your yard are safe for
bathing and drinking; keep the water shallow. Birds feel safer in
shallow water. It allows them to fly off quickly in the presence of
danger. Use water features with rough surfaces rather than smooth ones
in order to ensure secure footing for the birds. They won't go for a
dip if they don't feel safe.

While food and water are essential to think about when landscaping for
birds, shelter is just as crucial. It provides protection from weather
and enemies, and offers a safe place to nest. Feeders and water
features near shelter attract more birds because they serve as a
safety outlet if an enemy should approach or bad weather closes in.

As a means of shelter, trees are one of the most important features to
have in your yard. Not only do they provide food, but they offer an
abundance of places for birds to nest and find shelter. Vines and
shrubs like English ivy, honeysuckle and trumpet creeper provide dense
growth, offering birds a great nesting area. It's also an excellent
idea to put up birdhouses or nest boxes to attract birds such as
chickadees and woodpeckers. One thing to remember: be diverse.
Planting a lot of different trees, bushes, shrubs and hedges will
attract a wider variety of birds and offer more options for shelter
and nesting sites.

Landscaping may not have always been intended for birds, but now it
can be. Put up feeders, plant vegetation, add water features and let
your yard get a little wild. Put out the welcome mat to your feathered
friends and let them know that in your yard, landscaping is definitely
for the birds.

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Courtesy of ARAcontent