A Few of My Favorite Backyard Birding Tips

We feed and care for wild birds for severalWater sources can be a pond, bird creek,
reasons. It could be as simple as giving somethingdrippers, misters and of course the birdbath.
back to nature. You may enjoy the sights andBaths should be no deeper then 2" and have a
sounds of birds or discoveredcourse surface to assist in sure footing.
that backyard birding is good for your health byShiny glazes are slippery and all to often, an
relaxing you and lowering blood pressure.unsuspecting fledgling will slip and drown.All of
If you are like me, backyard birding is a passion.those fancy designs on the bottom of some
Yes, I love birds. I enjoy the sights and sounds.birdbaths are magnets for dirt and algae.
They bring my yard to life. Birds are entertaining,Yes, all the crud finds its way to the cracks and
educational, and good for the environmentsin between stones etc. Now your job becomes a
surrounding us.I've been feeding and caring forbit more difficult to keep it clean and all to often
backyard birds for more then 40 years. I'vewe will ignore the through scrub down.Water and
learned a few things along the way and writefood sources need to be in the open without
about and share backyard birding tips. Here areunder growth yet within 10 to 15 feet of
someprotection.What is backyard birding without
easy and practical tips to assist you in enjoyingprotection and habitat? I could have the best food
your birds more.If I could have but one feeder, Iand best water sources however, without
would choose a well built Hopper feeder. A feederprotection and habitats few birds will show and
that is practical and functional. It must be easy tomy kind deeds will be ignored.By planting for birds
clean and fill with plenty of drainage holes. Myand wildlife I encourage avian life into my world.
feeder must be large enough to encourage andBirds now hang around and nest in my habitats.
attract the birds I want. Hoppers allow a greaterMy little world is filled with color and music
variety of birds to feed.My one choice of foodeveryday of the year
would be black oil sunflower seed. Oilers areI relax more. I am entertained and educated at
preferred by the largest variety of birds (eventhe same time. Life is good!Ronald Patterson has a
some nuisance birds). Oilers have an oil content uppassion for wildbirds. He's been feeding and caring
to 49% making them a high source of proteinfor birds for more then 40 years. Ron is a
and energy for my feathered friends. A HUGE"Wildlife Habitat Naturalist" and "Michigan Certified
BONUS about sunflower seeds............... EuropeanNurseryman." He also lectures and writes about
starlings can't crack and eat them. That's correct,birds and other wildlife.
starlings don't have the ability to crack aHis expertise and knowledge on birds, habitats,
sunflower seed and leave my feeder alone.Toand plants makes him the ideal person to help you
prevent seeds from growing everywhere and tolearn to garden for birds.
minimize the ever present chipmunkRon Patterson's writes a weekly newslettere
surprise from popping up here and there I willcalled "Backyard Birding Tips." You can sign up
microwave my birdseed about a minute pertoday and have Ron give you friendly and often
pound. Steam cooked so the value remains.humorous advise on Attractting, feeding and
Another option is to place window screening undercaring for wildlife.
my feeders to minimize the mess. I can pick it upGo to:
and shake it off at my leisure with no shell pile orup for Ron Patterson's newsletter today and
germinating seeds.Clean fresh water is a must andstart learning from one of America's backyard
will attract birds faster then setting the table forbirding experts.
them.