Do You Hear the Birds?

It's springtime and the birds have returned! Every morning, just before dawn, the birds begin their musical montage. Do you hear them at a distance? Want them a little closer? Follow these tips and you'll have all kinds of colorful flying critters around to serenade your mornings.

The number one thing to attract birds is food. Just about any bird seed you find at your local market will do, but sunflower seeds and thistle are very popular with many species. Have a couple feeders in different spots for the best effect. To help with species diversity try suet, peanut butter and fruit, as these appeal to a variety of birds.

Next, a bird bath will help provide an enticing atmosphere for the birds you wish to attract. A shallow pool is all that is required. A nice pedestal bird bath also makes a nice yard accent. Make sure you rinse and refill your bath as necessary.

The final ingredient to attracting birds is to provide a safe area for them to feed. Feeders protected by trees and bushes are helpful, and of course, if you have cats it is recommended that you keep them away from the bird haven you’ve created.

Another potential way to attract birds is to provide housing or housing materials. For those birds interested in a move-in condition home, a bird house or nesting box is a nice touch. For those do-it-yourself kinds of birds, try providing a little basket of straw, dry leaves, dry grass, moss, small strips of yarn or string, and small twigs for building nests.

Have fun creating your little (or big) bird sanctuary! They will appreciate the effort and you can enjoy their natural beauty and song.