Everyone has yard birds whether they like it or not. The types of yard birds that are attracted to your yard depend largely on the area you live in, the type of environment you create for the birds and the activity surrounding your backyard.
How do I attract yard birds?
Yard birds are not picky. They want to have their basic needs met and you can help them meet these needs by providing them with food, shelter and water. Once you decide which of these items you want to provide for the birds, all you have to do is go to your pet store and purchase a bird feeder, bird bath or bird house.
Bird feeders are great for yard birds because they give them a constant source of food. However, if you get a bird feeder for your yard birds, keep in mind that any group of animals that share a feeding place have an increased incidence of spreading disease. This means that you need to make sure your feeder is kept clean. Clean it at least once a week with non-toxic cleaning material and, if you live in a humid climate, change the seed at least once a week. Wet seed will grow mold, which is a toxic substance for birds.
Bird baths are a great way to attract yard birds especially if you live in a cold climate. Birds that don’t migrate and live in cold climates have a hard time finding clean, non-frozen water when the winter months roll around. Your bird bath shouldn’t be any deeper than two inches in the center and should have a constant source of moving water. You can achieve this by getting a water heater that prevents the water from turning into ice.
Finding the right feeder
If you can only supply yard birds with one item, opt to supply them with food or water. They will have an easier time finding shelter, but food and water can become scarce, especially if you live in a cold climate.
Finding the right bird feeder for your yard birds is important because if you get the wrong feeder or the wrong food, you will probably attract more squirrels than birds. While we can’t tell you exactly what each yard bird will eat because there are just too many birds to go through them one by one, we can advise you to do some research before you get a bird feeder. Find out which birds are most likely to come to your yard and then find out what kind of food they like. For example, woodpeckers love suet and goldfinches love thistle feeders. Getting yard birds to your backyard is not difficult, as long as you know exactly who you’re trying to attract.
