Watching colorful cardinals stop by in your yard can be a wonderful pastime. Read more about the benefits of bird watching when you click here. The trick is to attract the birds’ attention and make them choose your garden over your neighbors.
Many bird watchers know that many birds are attracted to feeders that have plenty of seeds. Another thing is to provide cover, nests, and flowers that they will love. People living in the cities can also attract feathered friends as many species can visit the homes which are near well-wooded parks.
Other species like the nuthatches never wander far away from oaks and other massive trees. Other predators like the tawny owls love to penetrate deeper into the city gardens. Some of the ways that you ensure a steady stream of visitors are to meet all their needs no matter what time of the year it is. You can accommodate and change the food accordingly for both the seasonal visitors and the full-time residents of your garden.
Provide Home and Security
Source the bird seeds from reputable manufacturers. The stores near your area can provide you with sunflower seeds and other varieties that can give birds the energy that they require. You can try different seed mixes and feeders and see which ones work best for your feathered visitors. Most goldfinches may prefer the niger seeds while the greenfinches adore sunflower varieties.
Don’t Put Bad Food
If you have multi-purpose pet food, it should be placed far away from the feeders. Don’t leave peanuts cluttered around your garden and empty the fillers if they contain multi-purpose treats for your pet dog. Don’t feed the birds with too many breadcrumbs as these are not nutritious for them.
Desiccated coconut can make your visitors’ stomach swell, so you should avoid this. Avoid providing sugary treats and putting cooked oats as they tend to solidify and dry the beaks.
Get a Beautiful Bird Bath
Urge the canaries to see your garden as a convenient place to stop and do their routines. These are very convenient as the cardinals can have the chance to take a bath or drink water when they are extremely thirsty. You can get water baths from the best stores that will provide you with a durable bird bath planter.
Some will let you create a bird bath garden that blooms with plants. Add foliage like dusty miller and coleus to create a fairy garden design. You can check the best online stores that provide high-quality bird baths when you visit the right page.
Water is essential for seed-eating birds, especially during the wintertime. Keep an eye on the bath and see to it that it’s not frozen. If it is, a little defrosting can go a long way, and they will surely love your garden, among others.
Get them High-Quality Homes
You can make them feel safe by reducing their opportunities to get exposed to predators like sparrowhawks and cats. You can choose from sites like bird houses for sale and see which ones are ideal for your feathery friend. Some of the cottage houses are so detailed and have charming accessories that you can attract wrens and robins effortlessly.
Avoid using nets in the garden, especially if it’s the season for breeding. It would help if you also placed the feeders far away from your house to minimize them from colliding with your windows. Besides, the mini houses can also add a festive touch to your garden, especially if they were strategically placed around it.
Some of the qualities of houses that you may want to consider include the following:
- It should not have any perches as predators may use these to get to the young ones.
- The entrance or the holes should only be large enough for the residence. Try to see your target species and see if they can enter their nest boxes effortlessly.
- You should be able to clear the old nests totally and quickly.
- There should be small drainage holes on the roof to act as air vents.
Let them Build their Own Nest
It would be great for the owner if the kestrels and other smaller species will live in the nest box that they have bought. The bluebirds, chickadees, and martins may love it if you are picky with the location of the box. The water sources should also be near, and they should have access to food nearby.
If they prefer to construct their own nest with the help of grass, twigs, lichen, and mud, then let them be. Make sure that when you find their nests, they are in a safe place where your pets won’t be able to find them. Typically, the female ones will choose a safer place and build a nest that is specific to their typical style.
They Love Berry Trees
You can encourage the birds to take shelter during rainy or sunny days in your garden if you have berry treas. Some species are known to love hawthorn, holly, and honeysuckles, and if you have these in your yard, you can be sure to have visitors all year round. You may also want to add shrubs like berberis, cotoneaster, and pyracantha for variety.
Monitor your Visitors from a Distance
If you want to know if all the work and arrangements that you have done are worth it, you can try to monitor the number of finches or woodpeckers. Read more content about woodpeckers here: https://www.massaudubon.org/learn/nature-wildlife/birds/woodpeckers/about. Count as many wrens as you can each day and see if the numbers drastically increased.
In cold winter weathers, you need to know if your garden has made an impact on kingfishers and wrens in your area. Join a watcher’s group to see how well you are doing with your yard. You can also get helpful tips from experienced people who love to watch woodpeckers in their yards.
It would be best if you kept your binoculars in a place that’s handy. If you are not careful, you will miss the show as the birds are known to fly and disappear quickly from view if you are not paying attention. If possible, capture the moments with your camera and show the photos to the young or the older adults.
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