Winter Activity: For The Birds!

I've already touched on this one a bit in the backyard habitat article: Once Photo Courtesy of Christy Vincent, Personal Photo Collection someone starts gardening in earnest, he/she starts to see the relationship between all living things and the environment. This is a natural extension for those of us who tend a garden. We start to take an interest in the various creatures and winged visitors who come to call.

Birds are one of The Creator's greatest gifts. Envision a world without the song of the sparrow or the sight of a robin flitting from shrub to garden. The world would be a less animated place, indeed!

Granted, birds are not always welcome at our digs. They can and often are a pain-in-the-proverbial-posterior: Pigeon droppings, birds' nests in the vents and eaves, divebombing bluejays during the nesting season, and birds that pinch the cherries and blueberries before we do. This is definitely the downside of sharing our yards and gardens with birds!

However, for all the negative aspects of sharing our yards with the birds, there are many more benefits to be gained by encouraging the winged wonders to take residence in our little corners of the Earth.

Birds contribute to insect control in a big way. No insecticide was ever devised that could do as efficient a job of insect control with as little impact on the environment as what the birds can do. Insects can and do develop resistance to insecticides but not to birds. A colony of purple martins can effectively reduce many flying insects including wasps, beetles, and some mosquitoes. Many plants visited by smaller birds benefit from pollination as the birds visit their flowers.

Psychologically speaking, birds add so much. For those of us who endure cold winters, the sight of a bird in an otherwise static and monochromatic landscape offers much for those who long for warmer days. Sometimes the song of a bird, lilting over the winter wind, can do more to lift our spirits than any anti-depressant could ever hope to do! During the cold season of the year, a few birdfeeders strategically placed where they can be enjoyed through a window view offers great entertainment during these long winter months.

Taking care of wildbirds can be as simple as placing a pan of seed on the ground or as elaborate as expensive birdfeeders, special bird seed mixes, specialized feeders, etc. Beware! Once they start to come, you will start to become more involved, and you will naturally invest a little more as time goes on! My suggestion: Start out small and slowly become more elaborate with your birding activities. Start with one all-purpose feeder. A good one would also have a suet cage on the side. Add a good baffle to keep out squirrels and racoons and provide an open source of water, if possible.

You don't need to buy the most expensive bird seed on the market but don't buy the cheapest, either. One good way to avoid buying "junk" bird food is to go to a pet store or a birding shop that has knowledgeable staff. They can educate you on what species of birds are common to your area, their food preferences, their eating habits, and what to feed your birdy buddies at various times of the year.

Birding is an activity that can help us pass the winter months. It can also help attract these winged friends to the yard throughout the year. Birds are much more helpful than destructive and add so much to our properties and lives. Invite a few to your yard. Set up nesting boxes or feeders. They will become welcome addtions to your garden!

For a table of some of our common winter birds and their food preferences, click on the link below: