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Create a Bird Sanctuary
...in Your Own Backyard
By Bill Askenburg
Looking through my kitchen
window into my backyard,
I anxiously watch the last patch
of snow slowly shrink day by day.
Along with the melting snow, so
do the effects of this particularly
bitter New England winter.
With spring, I also welcome
the return of a few of my favorite neighbors - Red, Black cap
and Goldie. Spring has finally found New England, and so
have the birds.
Our Mourning Doves are back, carefully rummaging through
the seed spilled on the ground by our wily gray squirrels. The
cardinals are not hard to spot, as the male is ablaze with his
showy red coat. And finally, I see my favorite-feathered
friend, the Goldfinch, searching for thistle. His breast is just
beginning to show the bright yellow colors that make him the
jewel of the neighborhood.
Backyard birding has become a welcome addition to my life,
since moving to New England. The great thing about it is that
anyone can invite birds to their yard, regardless of where they
live, or how large or small their property is. And with the
abundance of different species of birds in New England, most
people who start to feed the wild birds quickly find themselves
hooked.
For those of you who have not yet introduced yourselves to
the joy of backyard birding let me assure you it is one activity
that requires very little, but yields a great return. With just a
bag of seed and two shallow containers, you can fill your
backyard with life and activity. To maximize your backyard
birding opportunities, take into account that birds need the
basics – food, water, safety and shelter.
I provide a few varieties of food in my backyard, which in turn
attracts different species of birds. Thistle seed attracts finches
and chickadees. A nut and berry mix attracts woodpeckers
and a sunflower/safflower mix attracts cardinals, wrens, doves
and blue jays. Each of these food types requires a different
feeder, but most cost less than $10. Place your feeders in a
variety of locations, such as at ground level, eye level,
suspended in a tree or mounted on a pole. Be sure to place it
in a near a window where you can view your daily visitors.
Another way to draw birds into your yard is by enticing them
with water. The easiest and least expensive way to provide
water for birds is in a birdbath. Make sure that the water is
clean and changed frequently. However, the optimal water
source for birds is a water fountain, with water circulating via
an electric pump into several multi-level containers. Make sure
that there are sufficient shallow areas, no more than one or two
inches deep. The sound and motion of water is hard for birds
to resist, and will entice them to drink and bathe.
The next thing to consider is shelter and safety. The natural
vegetation in your yard will provide protection from predators.
I will also offer nesting areas and materials, as well as in some
cases food. Ideally, a backyard bird habitat has a large
variety of plants including ground cover, shrubs and trees. This
variety of cover will create a comfortable environment for
many different species of birds.
I also like to provide a variety of houses for the birds. These
are basically substitutes for natural cavities in trees and rocks.
Houses range in size from very large, multi-chamber homes, to
very small, single-chamber houses. When choosing a
birdhouse, make sure that features include ventilation and
drainage holes for the nesting box, a removable panel for
seasonal cleaning and is constructed of “bird friendly”
materials. You might be surprised how quickly the birds will
respond to a birdhouse. I have seen birds building a nest in a
box just hours after I placed it in my backyard.
New England offers an ideal environment for backyard
birding…it is truly one of the great things about living here.
Create your own backyard bird habitat – and you’ll have your
bird neighbors come back again and again each spring.
Bill Askenburg moved to New England three years ago from
Atlanta. He started New England Birdhouse, a company that
creates custom handcrafted birdhouses made to the unique
likeness of their customers’ homes. For more information,
please visit their website, www.NewEnglandBirdhouse.com or
email Bill at bill@newenglandbirdhouse.com.
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