Create a Bird-Friendly Backyard

Mary Sizemore
Library Director

“Poor indeed is the garden in which birds find no home,” opined author Abram L. Urban many years ago.  Those of us who enjoy the color, activity and music birds bring to our backyards would have to agree.  But their presence cannot be taken for granted, especially this time of the year.  To spread the word about how difficult it can be for birds to survive North American winters, fifteen years ago the National Bird-Feeding Society named February National Bird Feeding month to encourage bird-lovers to provide food, water and shelter to help birds survive the cold-weather months.

            While Hickory winters are relatively mild and short-lived, birds still need our help.  According to “The Bird Garden,” a National Audubon Society publication, surviving the first year of life is a major accomplishment for most birds.  In some species it is not uncommon for 80% to die during this period, and a primary cause is an inability to find sufficient food.  Late winter and early spring is an especially crucial period for bird feeding because most of the natural food sources have already been consumed by this time.  Our assistance is needed to ensure that not only resident birds, but also those migrating through the area thrive.  The National Bird-Feeding Society offers some practical tips for attracting birds to your backyard and for providing a habitat that will keep them coming back year after year.

• Make your yard attractive to birds by landscaping with native plants that provide natural food sources, nesting sites, and shelter from the elements and predators.  If you can, provide nesters, feeders and a water source.
  
  
• Provide food year-round, not just in the winter.  Refill your feeders regularly with the food desired by area birds.  If you do not know what food would be appropriate, check with a local wild bird shop.
  
  
• Keep feeding areas clean by washing feeders with a 10% solution of warm water and bleach at least once a month.  Scrub birdbaths with a brush and replace water every three to five days. 
  
  
• Many pesticides, herbicides and fungicides are toxic to birds, so avoid using them in areas where birds feed, bathe or nest.
  
  
• Keep cats away from birds.  Install feeders in areas not easily accessible by cats and install fences or other barriers to keep stray cats out of your yard.  Ideally, all cats should be kept indoors.
  
  
• Reduce collisions with windows by placing decorative decals on picture windows to help reduce reflection.   Also, avoid placing feeders near large windows.

These simple steps will create a safe, nurturing environment for birds – a small effort
on our part in exchange for the joy they bring us every day.

            Check out the websites for the National Bird-Feeding Society (www.birdfeeding.org) and the National Audubon Society (www.audubon.org) for more information on bird feeding, bird identification and other related topics.  And of course, the Patrick Beaver Memorial Library and the Ridgeview Branch Library have many books and audiovisuals to help you create the perfect environment for birds in your yard.