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