How to Bring Birds Closer

Waking up to chirping birds is a rewarding start of your day for allot of people. Many people enjoy sipping their first cup of coffee in the morning while watching the birds around their bird feeder. This makes for a refreshing start each day before we ease into our hectic schedule or daily responsibilities.

No matter the size of your yard, your landscape can be enhanced to attract your friendly fliers closer. The first thing to do is put out a source of water. Reflecting sunlight off the surface of the water will attract your feathered friends, but better yet the sound of dripping water is better.

You will want to place a few different bird feeders around your lawn so the birds have plenty of room to eat. There are many different types on the market that are inexpensive. keep your feeders and the area below clean for the health of your feathered guests.

Another thing for you to consider would be to add a bird house or two. These are always great for attracting the feathered fliers. Again their are many to choose from.

These basic tips will help make your bird watching more enjoyable. Click here for more information on bird watching

Bird Watching For Beginners: Part 2

There is no one more familiar with the sights and sounds of nature than an avid bird watcher. An experienced bird watcher is able to see a quick glance at a friendly flier or listen for a moment to the chirping and able to distinguish what the bird may be.

There are over 900 species within the U.S., so birders as they are called, learn to quickly process what they see or hear, color patterns, body shape and more. If the bird can't be identified right away, the birder must remember the key attributes so the bird can be identified in a field guide.

If you are bird watching beginner, you may feel this is impossible to reach this level of birding. If you are like me even trying to identify common birds can be frustrating at times. You need to understand the more you practice the better you will get. What I have done to attract birds to our backyard is install a bird house and a bird feeder. This has helped me to easily identify birds and also the added enjoyment they bring of watching them while they eat and play around.

Imagine the skills you are developing if your stick with it. You will hone your senses and become more observant, not just as it relates to birding but with all of nature. Bird watching is fun that developing these new skills will not seem like work at all.

Soon, you'll be able to identify the friendly flier with black, yellow and white feathers as they fly by. Your mind will automatically think about it and with no hesitation you determine it is an American Goldfinch!

Bird Watching For Beginners

Imagine the rays of sunlight peaking through your bedroom window when you first wake up in the morning. As you slowly wake up you hear chirps of birds welcoming the start of a new day. What are the singing about? What do they look like?

A great hobby to take up is bird watching. it is the second most popular hobby and only trails gardening. This hobby is all about the fascinating creatures we call birds.

Bird watching is enjoyed by people of all ages. Allot can be learned from birds such as, where they like to roost and the songs they sing. You can learn more about nature by studying birds.

Considering taking up bird watching? Visit your backyard or a local park and get started today!

More Tips For Your Flying Visitors

A couple more tips in attracting friendly fliers to your backyard:

Spraying...
Do not spray pesticides ion your lawn. What this does is kill all the insects in your lawn and mulch. These insects are the base of food for your friendly fliers and keep them coming back for more.

Trimming...
Don't trim your trees and bushes heavily in the early Spring. This will leave the berries, which attract the birds. If you trim heavily then their will be no berries and the friendly fliers will not come.

Cover...
Birds like to move around restlessly between tree branches and like to have areas where they can hide if they feel threatened.

Food...
When your fruit trees are in full bloom you will see birds that eat fruit. When your plants are blooming you will see birds that eat the insects since flowers attract the insects.

As you can see their are several little things that can be done to help attract friendly fliers for your bird watching enjoyment.

Attracting Birds to Your Backyard: Mulch is the Key

Yes bird feeders can sure attract friendly fliers to your backyard, but to really attract and keep them coming back using mulch is the key. Why do I say this? Once you spread mulch around in your backyard you will begin to attract bugs, critters and lizards, which make for good food sources for your friendly fliers along with your bird seed. This will also reduce the amount of bird seed that you will have to purchase. And, in this economy everything little thing helps.

The mulch helps keep the soil moist and cool and maintain a steady layer and this will begin to enrich your soil. Recommended mulch is your basic grass clippings, pine bark or pine straw. The grass clippings of course you can get from your grass cuttings while the pine bark or pine straw can be obtained from local tree trimmers. They normally grind up the tree trimmings and haul to the dump so you should probably be able to get this type of mulch for free. I think they would be happy to give it away instead of having to haul it away.

An inexpensive tip for your attracting fliers for your bird watching enjoyment.

Selecting Your Perfect Bird House

In selecting a bird house you first need to consider the size of your lawn or garden. You don't want to get your lawn or garden overcrowded with friendly flier attractions. The selecting of a bird house will depend on the type of birds present in your area.

Bird houses of old were more apt to be made of wood, such as a beach house, a cottage with a thatched roof or church where today you can find more houses made of poly resin and molded into different shapes, such as a bear, a horse or even a crocodile. In selecting a bird house you need to make sure it is well ventilated, has a slanted roof and holes in the floor for water drainage. You also want to make sure the house doesn't have a perch in case larger birds are stalking the smaller birds and wait for them to come out. A bird house should make your friendly fliers feel safe and secure and give them a place to raise their young.

With many bird house styles available you should be able to find one that will fit your liking.

How to Squirrel Proof Your Bird Feeders

Squirrels are entertaining to watch, but not when their invading your bird feeders. With that being the case here is a couple ideas for squirrel-proofing your bird feeders.

• Try to place your feeders where it is difficult for the squirrels to get to them. When possible, place feeders high off the ground and away from trees, buildings or anything that a squirrel might be able to climb to get to your bird feeders. Remember squirrels can jump pretty far.
• Squirrels can easily climb the poles that most bird feeders are attached to. A cheap way to help prevent squirrels from climbing a mounting pole is to add a squirrel baffle. Feeders that are hung, a baffle can be placed above the feeder so these furry creatures can't climb down to the feeder.
• Another idea is to use a wire cage that can be used around a tube feeder. The spacing of the wire will let smaller birds in to access the feeder, but bigger birds will not be able to reach the feeder. Same goes for the squirrels.

These are just a few ideas to keep those pesky furry creatures away from your bird feeders.

Tips to Keep Bird Feeders Clean

Bird feeding is very popular for people. While feeding birds brings bird watching enjoyment many people forget about keeping the feeder clean. Birds will come to a clean bird feeder more often than a dirty one.

On a periodic basis take a wearing rubber gloves use a stiff brush with a mixture of water and mild dish detergent. You will want to scrub the feeder thoroughly making sure to remove all the old debris. Once this is done mix mix warm water some bleach and wash the feeder. This will kill any germs. Then dry off the feeder if possible before placing new bird seed in the feeder.

While cleaning the bird feeder is important don't forget to clean the area beneath the feeder. For the seed scattered on the ground it will be necessary to shovel or rake up the left over seed. if this is not done on a consistent basis the bird food will begin to rot and mold will develop.

Location of bird feeders are best if they are placed under a roof. This will keep rain and snow out and help with preventing of rotting and developing mold. Granted this reular upkeep is not a great job, but it will keep your friendly fliers coming back.

Bird Feeders & Houses Bring Enjoyment for Your Bird Watching Pleasure!

Regardless if you live in the city or the country you can make your yard a paradise for bird watching. By selecting and placing bird feeders and/or houses at strategic locations in your lawn or garden you will begin to attract a variety of birds. There are numerous styles, shapes, sizes and colors of feeders and houses that will make your decision-making difficult and the easiest way to research and shop is online.

If you add a bird feeder to your lawn or garden you first need to know what type of birds are common for the area in which you live. This research will help you determine what kind of birdseed to purchase to attract friendly fliers. When locating a bird feeder you need to make sure it is placed in a strategic location for your bird watching pleasure.

Again as in selecting bird feeders, you need to consider what types of birds are common for your area.. This will determine the size and style of the bird house for your lawn or garden. As in the placement of a bird feeder you will want to place the bird house in a prominent are for your bird viewing enjoyment.

The addition of either a bird house or bird feeder will certainly allow for countless hours for your bird watching enjoyment!

BEACH HANGOUT BIRDHOUSE

"Decorative birdhouses are a great addition to your lawn or garden. Beachcombing birdies will belly up to this adorable wood snack shack!
Just like a favorite seaside hangout, complete with straw roof, signs and 'barstool' perches. Decorative birdhouses are made with different material, but this one is made of wood and measure 8 1/4' x 8 1/4' x 7 3/4' high."

'DINER' BIRDHOUSE

"Decorative birdhouses make a great addition to your lawn or garden. This endearing 'Diner' birdhouse comes complete with log roof, colorful signs and tiny tables. Decorative birdhouses can be made from different materials, but this one is made of wood and measures 9 3/8' x 7 7/8' x 9 1/2' high."

GAZEBO BIRDFEEDER

"This birdy gazebo holds plenty of food for famished flyers behind its stained-glass panels. Gazebo birdfeeders make for great bird watching enjoyment for your lawn, garden or in front of a window. It is constructed of wood and comes with a rope hangar. 8 1/4' x 7 1/4' x 10' high."

GINGERBREAD STYLE BIRDHOUSE

"Decorative birdhouses come in all different sizes and this birdie heaven is no exception. This multi-level birdhouse 'condo' offers lovable lodgings for several avian households. Thatched roofs and colorful trim make this a happy holiday retreat!
Decorative birdhouses are great for the lawn, garden or in front of a window for your bird watching pleasure. This gingerbread style birdhouse is made of wood and measures 10 1/2' x 5 1/2' x 12 1/2' high."

VICTORIAN CHURCH BIRDFEEDER

"Decorative birdfeeders are a nice addition to your lawn or garden. In this birdfeeder the pretty painted panels of glass glow softly in the sunlight, brightening this classic Victorian-style birdfeeder.
Decorative birdfeeders come in different sizes and normally made of wood or plastic. This decorative birdfeeder is made of wood and has glass panels. 6 3/8' x 6 3/8' x 12 1/2' high."

SODA FOUNTAIN BIRDHOUSE

"Decorative birdhouses add color to your lawn or garden. Styled after an old-fashioned corner drugstore, this nostalgic birdhouse is a sweet retreat for weary birds.
Decorative birdhouses are a nice addition to your lawn, garden or in front of your favorite window. This birdhouse is made of wood and measures 9 1/2' x 7 7/8' x 9 3/4' high."

FREESTANDING VICTORIAN BIRDHOUSE

"Decorative birdhouses are unique additions to your lawn or garden. This lovely little luxury villa for feathered flyers overflows with Old World charm!
This freestanding birdhouse has a sturdy freestanding pole with base. Decorative birdhouses are made of a few different materials, but this one is made of wood and measures 9 3/8' x 8 3/8' x 29 1/4' high."

VERDIGRIS GAZEBO BIRDFEEDER

"This gracious hanging birdfeeder has the elegant appeal of timelessly weathered copper! It's lightweight molded plastic is virtually indistinguishable from an expensive metal garden sculpture.
This birdfeeder is squirrel proof, which will save you on bird seed. Gazebo birdfeeders instantly add a classic old-world appeal to your outdoor sanctuary! Gazebo birdfeeders are suitable for your garden, lawn or especially in front of your window for you bird watching enjoyment. This yard birdfeeder is made of plastic and measures 14 1/2' diameter x 15' high."

GARDEN GAZEBO BIRDFEEDER

"Treat your feathered friends to a room with a view in one of our gazebo birdfeeders! Tiny diners are sure to appreciate the ambience of this stylish hanging mini-gazebo birdfeeder.

Gazebo birdfeeders create a luxurious birdie bistro. This Gazebo birdfeeder is made of bright-white wood with metal and glass and has a verdigris-finished roof with stained-glass panels. It measures 9 3/4' diameter x 10 1/2' high."

WHITE GAZEBO BIRDFEEDER

"Gazebo birdfeeders are an elegant edition to your lawn or garden. It can also be hung in front of a picture window for your bird watching enjoyment. This gazebo birdfeeder is tastefully trimmed with gingerbread mouldings and greenery.

Gazebo birdfeeders make for a lovely spot for birds to dine! This is a squirrel-proof feeder if placed properly in your lawn or garden. This birdfeeder is durable and long lasting and made of wood and plastic. It measures 8 1/2' diameter x 10 1/2' high."