Create a Backyard Bird Sanctuary

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Backyard birds seem to capture our attention more than any other type of wildlife. Spotting a bird hovering near a birdfeeder can brighten the dreariest winter day, and the cheerful chirp of birds signals the arrival of spring. There are several things that can be done to increase the number of birds that visit your yard.

The easiest way to attract birds to your yard is to provide the food they need. Some birds survive on insects while others prefer nectars, fruit, nuts, berries, or seeds. Once you have determined what type of birds you want to attract, you can select the appropriate type of birdfeeder.

The next hurtle to overcome is deciding where to place your bird feeder. There are several things to consider, size of your yard, type of feeder, and climate.

Place your Birdfeeder in a quiet, yet convenient spot that has year-round access. It will need to be refilled regularly, even when the weather is bad. Another thing to consider is visibility. Birdfeeders are as much for our benefit as it is for the birds. I'm a bird watcher. I want to see the birdfeeder when I glance out the window.

While visibility is a consideration, there are other things that come into play when selecting the perfect spot for your birdfeeder. It should be placed near natural cover such as trees or shrubs. That will give the birds a place to hide when predators such as cats and raccoons wander into the yard. Evergreens offer excellent year-round shelter. While nearby shelter is good, don't place the birdfeeder too close to the trees and shrubs. Cats will use a tree as a jump-off point and turn your favorite warbler into a midmorning snack.

Another thing to consider is the squirrels. Sometimes I think gaining access to a birdfeeder is the squirrel's lifetime occupation. They will go to great lengths in their efforts to claim the birdfeeder as their own. Your best option is to place the birdfeeder about 4 yards from any tree or obstacle and at least six to eight feet off the ground. Another option in dealing with the pesky squirrels is to give them their own feeding ground. They love dried corncobs and watching their antics can be entertaining.

Placing your birdfeeder in a sunny spot on the east or south side of the house will provide the most protection from chilly winter winds. Many people find that they have fewer birds in the winter. Some of that loss may be because their birdfeeder is too exposed. Sometimes a few feet one direction or another can make all the difference in the world.

Providing shelter from the wind is important, but don't place it too close to the house. Birds can become confused by the reflections of trees or sky in a window and think they are flying into open space. Window strikes kill an alarming number of birds every year. If a collision problem occurs, try moving the birdfeeder out a few feet. Anti-window strike decals are another option.

Finding the perfect location for your birdfeeder can be a frustrating endeavor, but your efforts will be rewarded. Birds are naturally shy creatures. It may take some time for them to shift their feeding habits to include your birdfeeder. Once they do, you will be able to enjoy their antics for years to come.

Hummingbirds are attracted by the flowers. A garden full of vibrant red, orange, and pink flowers will do more to attract the hummingbirds than any number of feeders. The feeders do have their purpose. Once they've settled in your garden, they'll look at your feeder as a reliable source of nectar. Nothing will turn them away faster than have a feeder empty more times than not.

Plant your flowers first, and then hang up a feeder.

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To create a landscape that attracts birds, a year-round food supply, shelter, and water are essential. Take a good look at your backyard. Does it provide those things? If not, there are easy changes that can be made to make your yard more appealing to birds.

Evaluate Your Yard

Take stock of what you have. Draw a map of your yard. Include buildings, sidewalks, fences, trees, and shrubs. If you already have birdfeeders and birdbaths, include them as well. Note the sunny areas and the areas that are predominately shady. Give some serious thought to what you already have. Decide what plants and trees you want to keep and which ones have to go. A mature tree offers shade and a place to hang birdhouses. Think long and hard before cutting down one tree to replace with another.

Make a plan.

Use your map to help identify barren spots and weaknesses in your landscape. Would a birdbath and a flower garden work in the left rear corner of the yard? Consider a row of blueberry bushes or raspberries instead of a privet hedge for privacy. The ideas and possibilities are endless.

Choose Your Favorites and Theirs

What birds do you want to attract? What are your favorites? Find out which type of plants and trees they prefer and add them to your landscaping scheme.

Add Variety

Plants can provide birds with food in many forms; fruit, seeds, flower buds, nectar and sap. Shrubs and trees are important to birds, not only for shelter during inclement weather, but also for nesting materials and of course, nesting sites. A large variety of plants will attract the largest variety of birds.

Choose Carefully

Species native to your area will survive and thrive in the climate, lighting and soil conditions in your backyard. They also offer the foods best suited to birds in your area. Tropical plants will not survive harsh northern winters, but some fruit and nut trees will need the cold dormant down-time to produce the following season.

Give Them Shelter

Birds prefer to settle in areas that imitate their natural environment. Areas of thick, dense growth where birds can nest, perch, and escape from predators will do that.

The key to successful landscaping is to add plants gradually. Take your budget and time constraints into consideration. If you let your landscape evolve slowly, you will keep frustrations to a minimum. You will also be able to document how each change affects the number and variety of birds visiting your backyard haven.

Providing a water source is another thing that needs to be taken into consideration when creating a backyard haven for birds. Some birds, like martins, will not settle in an area without a natural water source. If you live next to a river, lake or pond, consider yourself lucky. For the rest of us, the birdbath is our best option.

There are several things to consider when selecting a birdbath for your backyard bird sanctuary. Birds, like many swimmers, want to ease into the water. A shallow birdbath with a sloped bottom is the best, and the water should be no deeper than 3 inches in the center. If you already own a deep birdbath, raise the bottom with rocks and pebbles. The rocks will make it harder to clean but it will be more appealing to the birds.

Birds, like people, can lose their footing on a slick surface. Glazed birdbaths are pretty, but they will not attract as many birds as the classic cement birdbaths.

The splash and gurgle of moving water will dramatically increase the number of visitors to your birdbath. Hummingbirds will not wade in standing water but will repeatedly zip through the spray from a fountain or dripping water.

You can purchase a birdbath with built in drippers and fountains, or you can create your own dripper. Hang a small bucket with a ½ inch hole in the bottom above the birdbath. Plug the hole with a piece of cloth and fill with water. The cloth will act as a wick allowing a steady drip of water.

The location of your birdbath will have a drastic impact on its popularity. If it is too close to shrubbery, even the prettiest sounding birdbath will be ignored. Cats have been known to use shrubbery to conceal their presence until the bird's feathers are weighed down with water. Their flight to safety will be slowed giving the cats an unfair advantage. So, place your birdbath at least five to ten feet from landscaping bushes.

The ideal location is directly under some branches that hang within two or three feet of the birdbath. That way the birds have an escape route even if they are weighed down with water. Placing the birdbath on a pedestal adds another layer of protection from predators. It also makes it easier to see from the house and you don't have to stoop to clean it.

The birdbath water will need to be changed at least every few days, so make sure it is within easy reach of the hose. Use a stiff bristled brush to shrub out the algae and removing droppings before refilling with fresh water.

Keep yourself in the picture. If you have narrowed down the placement to two equally good sites, choose the one with the best view from the house. Once your birdbath is in place and filled with cool, clean water, pop some corn and settle back into a comfortable chair. The show is about to begin.

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The type of birds that will nest in your yard will be determined by the habitat you have created. If your yard is full of trees and dense shrubs, you will attract forest-loving birds such as chickadees, titmice, and nuthatches. Although cardinals, doves, and orioles, don't nest in birdhouses or boxes, the trees and shrubs will attract them to your yard.

Some birds, such as the Eastern Meadowlark, prefer the open field and will ignore a tree filled yard. If you are working with limited space, determine the type of birds you want to attract before settling on a landscaping plan.

Whether you limit your backyard landscaping to just adding a birdfeeder or bath, or create a haven that rivals the best nature preserve, you have taken the first step.

Bird watching is a fun and addictive hobby. It doesn't matter if the birds come to you or you go to the birds, once they have caught your attention, you will become a lifetime birdwatcher.