| As more land is used to accommodate the | | | | important, but the time period you feed and |
| ever-growing human population, yards and city | | | | the consistency of feeding is very important |
| parks become important bird habitat. | | | | as well.Many people will only feed the birds |
| Diversified landscaping and feeding stations | | | | in the winter months, which is when they need |
| offer an oasis of resources in the middle of | | | | it most, however, by feeding throughout the |
| human domain. Feeding and watching birds | | | | spring and summer months you will attract the |
| gives families the opportunity to practice | | | | migratory birds returning from southern |
| conservation right in their own yards. | | | | climates. In addition, by feeding in the |
| Children can learn and enjoy the wonders of | | | | spring and summer, parenting birds will have |
| nature right from the kitchen window. | | | | easy access to a food source for their young. |
| Children will be able to observe the hatching | | | | Food like seeds, protein rich insects and |
| of young chicks and learn how many birds help | | | | worms, flies; birds love mosquitoes, spiders, |
| control the insect population.One fun aspect | | | | aphids and ants. Do not kill all the bugs in |
| of feeding birds is learning what birds are | | | | your yard if you want birds. Flowers, shrubs |
| visiting your backyard habitat. There are | | | | and trees will encourage a rich insect life |
| several good identification field guides such | | | | in your yard that will, in turn, provide |
| as National Geographic, Peterson's East & | | | | necessary food for wild birds. If you want to |
| West and Birds of North America through which | | | | attract hummingbirds to your garden, this can |
| the wild birds can be identified. Birds are | | | | be accomplished in several ways. If you plant |
| grouped by physical characteristics. It is | | | | honeysuckle, common lilac (with purple |
| fairly easy to distinguish a duck from a | | | | flowers), red geraniums, nasturtium, red |
| songbird by just looking at body shape and | | | | petunias, red salvia, coral bells, columbine, |
| size, as well as the beak and feet shapes. | | | | fuchsia and even scarlet runner beans, there |
| These physical characteristics will help | | | | is a good chance that you will see |
| identify birds: size, body shape, colors, | | | | hummingbirds feeding among your flowers. |
| markings, beak shape, feet and wing shape in | | | | Fresh, clean water made available year round |
| flight. Birds have a variety of calls. Good | | | | is an important element of attracting wild |
| listeners can learn to tell the difference | | | | birds.The simplest and most readily available |
| between "chickadee" and "cheerily - cheerio - | | | | is a shallow birdbath. Birdbaths can be kept |
| cheeriup" calls of the Black-capped Chickadee | | | | thawed even in winter by a birdbath heater. |
| and the American Robin. The most important | | | | Most garden birds like a water source far |
| element is the type of food offered to the | | | | enough from surrounding vegetation to offer |
| wild birds. The widest variety of food | | | | surveillance against a surprise attack from |
| sources ensures the widest variety of birds. | | | | squirrels, rats, big birds. If there is water |
| Ensure that your bird feeder is kept clean. | | | | falling or dripping making sound this will |
| Old, moldy seed left in the feeder will not | | | | attract birds even more towards the backyard. |
| attract wild birds. Not only is the food type | | | | |