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One
of the benefits of a garden
is the wildlife it attracts.
And, most birds are voracious
eaters that are glad to keep
the insect population down.
Did you know that one bird can
eat 500 to 1,000 insects in
an afternoon? So anything you
can do to attract birds will
make your garden healthier and
you’ll be entertained,
too!
To
attract birds to your garden,
you’ll simply need to
meet a few of their needs:
Consider
placing a variety of bird feeders
and food in your garden. Platform
feeders attract ground birds,
hanging feeders are for perching
birds while suet holders entice
insect-eating birds. Suet is
especially important during
the winter as this helps birds
maintain their body temperature
by adding fat to their diet.
Hang plastic mesh bags of suet
or pinecones dipped in suet
(or peanut butter) from the
limbs of trees. White millet
and black oil sunflower seeds
will attract the most common
seed-eating birds. Add other
species-specific seed like niger
seed (to attract goldfinches,
pine siskins and purple finches)
or peanuts (to attract chickadees
and tufted titmice). Various
gourmet mixes are available
like Lyric Supreme, Delight,
Chickadee, Woodpecker and Finch
Mixes.
Birds
feel more secure if they have
shelter to protect themselves
from the weather and other predators.
Plant native trees and shrubs.
You may also want to add nesting
boxes or bird houses and other
materials for birds to raise
their young. This should be
done in early spring. Clean
houses or boxes after each nesting
season.
One
of the most important things
to include in your garden is
water. This is especially true
during the winter months. Use
a bird bath heater to keep water
from freezing. Ideal water sources
are 3 inches deep and 3 feet
off the ground. Moving water
is a magnet for most birds and
will attract them from great
distances for a drink or bath.
A mister, dripper or circulating
pump can be added to a bird
bath or other water feature
during most of the year.
Because
birds live in many different
habitats, the greater variety
of plant material you can offer
in your backyard will determine
how many birds are attracted
to your garden. Consider native
plants, plants with berries,
fruits, sap and nectar for year-round
food sources as well as nesting
materials.
We carry a complete line of
bird feeders, houses, seed mixes
and suets as well as garden
accents, accessories and plants
you will need to start attracting
birds to your backyard. Stop
by today!
Suet is a high-energy formulation
of animal fat and other ingredients
to attract insect-eating birds.
Suet is a quick source of heat
and energy for birds and has
been used as a good substitute
for the insects that birds usually
feed upon, but are not plentiful
in cold weather. Suet can be
offered all year long but is
especially important in winter.
Providing
suet in a wire basket or mesh
bag is an easy, low-maintenance
bird feeder. You refill only
once every week or so, you never
need to scrub the feeder, and
you can leave it in your yard
year round. Presenting suet
in your backyard will also attract
a greater variety of birds for
your enjoyment. Some of the
backyard birds that enjoy suet
include: Woodpeckers, Chickadees,
Bluebirds, Mockingbirds, Warblers,
Kinglets, Titmice, Nuthatches,
Jays, Robins, Starlings and
Wrens. Be sure to suspend your
suet feeder close to the trunk
of the tree approximately 5
to 6 feet from the ground.
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