Attracting birds to your backyard isn’t very difficult. There are many different varieties that would love to make your backyard their new home. Birds will need a habitat that provides them with the essentials of life: food, water and shelter from predators. If you can create such an environment, then you will be able to easily attract birds to your backyard.

How to Attract Birds to Your Backyard with Native Plants

One of the best ways to attract birds to your backyard is by planting native plants that offer food sources to the birds. Plants that provide fruits, seeds and flowers are ideal for attracting birds. Plants native to your area will require little care since they do so well in the native soil and climate.

Another plus to adding native plants to your backyard is that they provide a place for other wildlife to live. Not only will you attract birds to your backyard, but also butterflies, frogs, lizards, insects and maybe even a squirrel or two.

How to Attract Birds to Your Backyard with Feeders

By strategically placing feeders in your backyard, you can attract birds especially during the winter months when other food sources are limited. Feeders will need to be maintained and placed in areas that are easily accessible.

There are many types of feeders available to you when you are trying to attract birds to your backyard. Some of the best feeders to use for this purpose include sunflower seed tubes, suet feeders, thistle feeders and hummingbird feeders. Let’s take a closer look at each of these types of bird feeders.

How to Attract Birds to Your Backyard with Sunflower Seed Tubes

Sunflower seed tubes are very easy to maintain and use. Plus, they are wonderful for the purpose of attracting birds to your backyard. You just open the top of the tube and fill it with any prepared birdseed.

Black-oil sunflower seed is often considered the best bird feed to use in these types of feeders. It will attract many common backyard birds. Birds that often visit sunflower seed tubes include titmice, chickadees and goldfinches.

How to Attract Birds to Your Backyard with Suet Feeders

Suet feeders are filled with suet, which is a bird food made with animal fats. The suet feeder consists of a wire cage in which the feed is placed and the birds will peck it out with their beaks.

Suet feeders are not recommended for warm weather as the food can spoil due to the animal fat ingredients. This feeder is great to attract birds to your backyard during the cooler fall and winter months. Birds that often visit suet feeders include woodpeckers and nuthatches.

How to Attract Birds to Your Backyard with Thistle Feeders

Thistle feeders are made to distribute thistle, hence the name. They are very useful to attract birds to your backyard, especially birds with smaller beaks such as goldfinches.

How to Attract Birds to Your Backyard with Hummingbird Feeders

Hummingbird feeders will attract birds to your backyard during the spring, summer and fall months. Once hummingbirds find your feeders, they’ll remember where the food supply is located and you’ll see them often.

The best part about hummingbird feeders is that you can make the feed yourself. You don’t have to buy expensive hummingbird feed because it’s only sugar and water. Just mix one part sugar to four parts water and you’ve got a cheap and easy hummingbird food. You’ll enjoy the hummingbirds that visit your backyard for most of the year.

How to Attract Birds to Your Backyard with Strategically Placed Feeders

Placing your feeders in the correct spot is essential to attract birds to your backyard. We’ve all heard horror stories of the bird that smashes into the window and dies. To prevent this from happening, place feeders far enough from your home so that birds don’t come in contact with windows.

Another thing to consider when it comes to feeder placement is a resting place for the birds. Place a feeder near an evergreen tree or bush to give them a place to rest and provide cover from predators.

How to Attract Birds to Your Backyard with Well Maintained Feeders

Maintaining bird feeders is a necessity if you want to attract birds to your back yard and keep them healthy and coming back. You should wash and sanitize your bird feeders at least once every month to prevent the spreading of avian diseases, mold and parasites.

If you follow these guidelines, you will attract birds to your backyard in no time. Make sure to watch out for house cats which can mean the end of your backyard bird haven.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 30th, 2008 at 1:08 am.