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| Birding | |||||||||||
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Benefits Getting Started When and Where Backyard Birding What to Feed the Birds Sources Online |
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It's absolutely
for the birds! Birding is a fascinating,
ever-changing activity that increases our awareness and appreciation of natural
wildlife. This inexpensive, easy-to-learn pastime has much to offer: |
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| Getting
Started |
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| Getting started in the sport of birding could hardly be simpler. Few activities offer such rewards with so little expense and preparation. Here's all you need: | |||||||||||
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| When and Where | |||||||||||
| If you're planning
a birding "expedition", best results can be had with these three
simple words - Get Up Early!
You will see, and hear, ten times as much in the first hour or two of the day than you will at midday. The evening is also a good time as birds do their last minute foraging for the day. Different birds appear in the evening as well....listen for the rushing sound of the nighthawk in pursuit of the evening mosquitos, the late afternoon trills of the varied thrush looping through the forest, or the late evening hoots of nearby owls. |
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Good sightings of wildlife are often found at the "edges" - where field meets forest, hedge meets lawn, streamside meets glade. Birds seek the feeding opportunities they can see over an open area, while needing the protection of a covered canopy. |
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| Another
way to locate birds for sighting is to let them come to you. Look for a natural
area which is off the beaten track and a likely refuge for wildlife. Wooded
areas near a water source are ideal. Find a dry, comfortable place to sit which is concealed somewhat by the natural flora. The main thing is to be comfortable, so you don't have to move any more than necessary. Try to maintain absolute silence for fifteen minutes or so. It's likely that wildlife will re-enter the area once the sound and signs of your presence are gone. |
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| Backyard Birding | |||||||||||
| Even the homebound can cultivate and enjoy an interest in birding with a few simple enhancements to the backyard. Birdbaths and birdfeeders come in all shapes and models. Here are a few tips: | |||||||||||
| Birdbaths
- Shallow. Birds prefer puddles to tubs. The deeper baths are more fussy to clean and can become stagnant and unfit for birds. - Running water. Birds much prefer dripping or running water. A feeder with fountain is not just decorative, it will attract many more birds. - Small. A small birdbath is likely to be cleaned more often. As the birdbath becomes fouled with droppings it becomes less healthy for birds. Diseases are transmitted through the bird population, and clean baths and feeders are the best prevention. - Location. Birds are most comfortable when near an escape route. The cat is the problem. The pedestal should not be set among shrubs, bushes or in tall grass. Nearby overhead branches are ideal. |
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| Birdfeeders Birdfeeders come in a great variety of shapes and styles with specific designs for attracting different species. Here are a few considerations for any kind of feeder: |
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Easy
to clean. Feeders will get a buildup of seed hulls, bird droppings
and moldy clumps of seed. The feeder should be simple, easy to take apart
and reassemble, and easy to clean. Line the underside of the roof with tin foil to deter bees from nesting in the feeder. Small, but with a large roof. No matter how good the design, birdseed is often wasted in large feeders. Moisture is the main cause, clumping seed together and plugging hopper feeders, or blocking the ports on tube feeders. Even if you have a large feeder, it may be best to fill it only partially. Choose a feeder with a large roof which will help keep the seed dry. Visible. The location of your feeder should give birds the advantage over cats and squirrels, and give you a good line of sight from inside your house. Feeders should be set back from shrubs which provide hiding places for cats. Birds will avoid feeders that do not exhibit a clear surround and a ready escape flightpath. Don't locate feeders near a large window, though, or in the flight path of kids' play where frisbees or balls will scare the birds away. Height. Different birds feed at different levels. Wherever you place your feeder, be sure to scatter some seed on the ground in different locations to attract and feed ground-feeding birds. Scatter ground feed in the open, giving the birds a chance to flee from cats. |
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| Cleaning
the birdfeeder It is recommended that you clean your feeders once a month, especially if the feeder is covered with bird droppings or if the birdseed is getting moldy. Use a spray bottle of bleach and water, with a ratio of nine parts water to one part bleach. Do not save or reuse seed in the feeder which may be damp or starting to mold. Scrub out feeder with a dish brush, and be sure the feeder is dry before adding new seed. Complete the job by raking up old birdseed and droppings on the ground beneath the feeder. |
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| What to Feed the Birds | |||||||||||
| The first and most
important consideration in feeding birds is the quality of the feed. There are many types of birdseed and not all of them appeal to all backyard birds.
The best tip is to choose seed which appeals to the birds already in your yard, as this will increase feeding activity which then attracts other bird species. Birds have smaller, more delicate systems, and are therefore more susceptible to toxins found in herbicides and pesticides. Care should be taken to ensure that the birdfeed you choose is organic. Feed which is hulled, such as sunflower, safflower and peanuts is less likely to have direct chemical contamination. Sunflower Seeds - The best seed for birds is sunflower, especially black-oil sunflower which is high in oil and has a soft, easy to crack hull. Less expensive than the grey and white striped sunflower seeds, black oil sunflower seed attracts many of the most sought after birds. It is also available "hulled", which eliminates the mess of hulls accumulating beneath the feeder. Hulled seeds, however, are more likely to spoil if exposed to moisture. Proso Millet - This seed comes in red and white varieties, with white millet more preferred. Higher quality seed mixes show a minimum of the red variety. House sparrows and starlings, considered to be a nuisance at feeders, will be attracted to millet, so cut back on millet if these birds are taking over the feeder. Niger - Small black seeds, fairly expensive, which attract smaller bird species such as finches, redpolls and crossbills. Plastic tube-style feeders are recommended for this seed to reduce waste and spoilage. Peanuts - Attract a broad variety of birds, from jays to nuthatches, cardinals and woodpeckers, chickadees and titmice. More expensive than most birdseeds, peanuts should be offered in smaller amounts to reduce waste by spoilage. Corn - Common in many bulk seed mixes, corn can be offered finely cracked, whole kernel or even on the cob. Smaller grinds will attract smaller birds. Corn will attract starlings, which some consider more of a nuisance at feeders. Safflower - The hulled seeds, a by-product of safflower oil production, are popular with many bird species without attracting starlings and sparrows. More expensive than sunflower seeds, safflower adds good variety to your mix. |
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| Feeding Tips | |||||||||||
| Sources | |||||||||||
| More information about birding, and products online can be found at: | |||||||||||
| American
Birding eNature Bird Watchers Digest Birder Birding BC,Canada |
Virtual
Birder Western Birder Birding America Maine Birding Birds of North America |
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