Backyard Birding

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By special guest author Doug Harling, Fountain’s Bird Whisperer

Backyard birding is one of the world’s favorite hobbies, second only to backyard gardening. The two go hand-in-hand, and can be practiced by nearly everyone. From suburban gardens to apartment balconies, birds can be enjoyed year round with a little preparation and consistency.

Food

Provide store-bought seeds and fruits. Encourage the growth of plants that provide berries, insects, and pollen.
 

Water

This can easily be overlooked, but is the most important thing for birds in our dry climate. Fill bird baths or dog bowls with fresh water where they can get at it easily, and heat it in the winter. Simple birdbath heaters are available online or at your local garden store. Heated dog bowls will also work. To have birds that stay in your yard year round, make sure they are comfortable in winter.

Cover

Birds need cover in every season to protect them from weather extremes. Evergreens are ideal, because they don’t lose their leaves in winter. Don’t cut back those old shrubs until spring.

Place to raise young

Trees, shrubs, and nesting boxes will provide safety for growing families. Young birds need a different kind of habitat than adult birds.
 

Sustainable Practices

How you manage your garden can be the difference between a few birds stopping by your yard or many birds making your yard their home. To have a summer habitat full of birds, maintain a good winter habitat. With winters so cold here, many people who love their backyard birds just kind of forget about them when winter sets in.

Not all birds migrate. Plus, our area is the migration destination for some northern species. By keeping heated water in your yard in the winter, places to take cover, and plentiful food all winter long, birds will feel comfortable making your backyard their home in the spring and summer months. Consistency is the key.