Delight in the"magic"
of wild birds!

CREATE A "BIRD-FRIENDLY" YARD . . . Provide a Backyard Buffet for wild Birds!

We believe there are few things as pleasing and beautiful as birds. We bet you agree! Inviting wild birds to our gardens brighten each day, especially on the gloomy winter ones.

Birds bring color and song that enhance our lives and help reduce the stress of modern life. What can we do to repay them? We think the best way is to make our yards bird-friendly.

Dawn has brought a new day
and another chance to view Mother Nature!

hummer T2Wild Birds Look there! . . . a flash of irridescent feathers draws attention to a hummingbird feeding just outside the kitchen window. Across the yard brilliant goldfinches glitter in the sunlight while they comically hang upside down at a nyjer seed feeder. Here come two blue jays who'll not rest until the last peanut is hidden away for later. What a great way to begin the day . . . up close and personal with nature.

Good Reasons to Attract Wild Birds

We provide food and water for wild song birds to enjoy them up close. But there are other really good reasons to attract wild birds to our yards.

Urban areas are constantly expanding which alter or destroy natural areas. By creating an inviting environment in your garden you can make a difference by helping birds survive.

Each new "urban oasis" helps increase the number and variety of birds in your area.

Remember that bird watching is one of the best ways to help kids to learn about and respect nature.

If you care about birds like we do . . . these are enough reasons to feed them. In return, the pleasure of doing so is all ours . . . their beauty, song and entertaining habits make the effort so worthwhile. Providing a bird-friendly yard has never been so important.

Backyard Birdwatch PM

So Let's Get Started With a Basic Plan to Attract Birds . . . The Backyard Wild Bird Buffet!

WILD BIRD FOOD

The first course on our menu of attracting some feathered friends is Wild Birds Seed. It is the essential ingredient to begin a successful backyard program. What you decide to feed will determine the wild birds you'll attract. Like people, they all have food preferences and you bet they will let you know if they approve of your menu.

WILD BIRD FEEDERS

Next ingredient needed are feeders. But what kind of feeders do you need? Again, it depends on the birds you want to attract. Deciding which Bird Feeders will work best for you will be determined by the space you have . . . but don't forget to think of the bird's needs first!

Functional feeders are the best choice and should be made of durable materials. Well-designed feeders will keep the seed clean and dry so it won't spoil. When you choose Bird Feeders be sure to look for those that are easy to fill and keep clean.

WATER
Along with food . . . there must be water! An essential element in your backyard menu is water. Providing access to fresh water year round is important to birds and will help attract them to your yard.

Birds must have water daily in a sizeable quantity for drinking and bathing. Bird Baths help some birds to their keep feathers in tip-top shape. Access to water should be available in all seasons, including winter. If wild birds can't keep their feathers clean and well-groomed they will not stay warm.

Bird Baths come in many styles and will attract birds that feeding stations alone cannot. Not all species eat seed . . . the nectar and insect eating birds won't have a reason to stop if you are only putting out seed feeders.

SHELTER

Once birds are enjoying your well-planned feast you'll want to keep them coming. And what better way than to encourage breeding. It is wonderful to watch young being raised. By adding nesting sites and nestboxes to your yard you'll attract more birds. Maybe you'll even be lucky enough to see babies fledge . . . taking their first flight.

Nestboxes . . . otherwise known as Bird Houses are designed for particular species. Important differences in Bird Houses are size and depth of the entrance hole and the interior dimensions. Choose Bird Houses made of natural materials such as white pine, cedar or even exterior plywood.

WHAT ABOUT FRUIT BEARING PLANTS? CAN THEY HELP?

Providing food in feeders is the way most of us attract birds. It is definitely a must-do if you have a yard sparse of plants that attract and protect birds naturally. Even if you do have an abundantly planted yard it won't necessarily provide the nutrition birds need.

You can add variety to the "feeder food" you offer to attract a wider variety of species. So if you have sufficient space consider planting some fruit-bearing trees and shrubs. Plants that hold their fruit through the winter can add a critical food source for birds that don't migrate. Visit Bird Food Plants for a list of plants that are attractive to birds. You'll find some other tips there, too.

ARE YOU A BIRD FEEDING "NEWBIE"?

Visit the links below for more information and the products to help you get started.

It's pretty easy to get started. Here is a simple plan to begin . . . get a Hopper Feeder and a Bird Bath. Just fill the feeder with black-oil sunflower or a quality seed mix and put some water in the bird bath. Be sure to keep fresh water in the bird bath and keep it clean. Moving water is very attractive to birds. Visit Bird Baths for details and some simple ways to add movement to the water.

Consider adding a tube feeder filled with a different kind of seed for small perching birds. Visit Tube Feeders to discover the different styles, and those perfect for enjoying the acrobatics of colorful Goldfinches. For feeders designed for specific types of feeding visit Specialty Feeders. Specialty Feeders. And for goodness sake get some Nectar Feeders for hummingbirds. No backyard should be without them!

Getting started can be just that easy. You'll be on your way to a lot of fun. And you'll receive a lot in return each day you have a chance to enjoy wild birds up close and personal. The extra bonus? You'll have opened yourself to a relaxing and very rewarding hobby.

For a list of wild birds that commonly visit backyards please go to Backyard Birds.

David's Wild Bird Club
We have a special feathered friend to introduce. You'll discover all about him by joining David's Wild Bird Club. You can also visit Parrots to find out who he is and about all about his friends.

David's mission is to keep you updated. He'll share bird watching information, tips, specials on products you may be looking for, and interesting contributions from other members. To join, just add your first name and email address to the form below and you'll be part of our bird loving family.

Yes! David, I'd love a FREE membership to your Private Club!

Thanks for joining! David sends his greetings and looks forward to keeping in touch.

GET THE DETAILS. We invite you to look further at the information within birdwatchin.com. Just click on any of our links to get more detailed information to help you watch and enjoy wild birds. We'd love to have you visit often so please BOOKMARK us and remember our website name is BIRDWATCHIN.COM . . . we actually left off the "g" on purpose!

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Delight in the"magic"of wild birds!

Delight in the"magic"
of wild birds!