Bird watching is an inexpensive hobby that anyone can enjoy whether they live in an urban setting or in the country. Many guide books offer tips on how to attract and view our feathered friends but there are a few basics everyone should know before they begin. About four in five Americans watch birds and one in four will travel to watch birds.
Bird Feeding And Basic Tips
One of the best ways to draw a variety of birds into your backyard is to invest in a bird feeders. Bird feeders come in many shapes and sizes and most are affordable. To attract many different birds, fill the feeder with black oil sunflower seeds. Niger seed will draw finches. A small suet cage will attract woodpeckers and other insect eating birds. During the warmer months, halved citrus fruits often will draw Baltimore orioles. Some birds will eat at the feeder while others prefer to feed on the ground. Keep food at multiple levels to attract and feed birds.
Keep in mind that bird feeders also will draw squirrels who will feed at the bird feeder. If this is acceptable, then no action is required but many bird lovers object to the squirrels' presence. Squirrel resistant feeders are available but the clever little animals often find a way to dine. If squirrels become a problem, consider a switch to safflower seed, something most squirrels don't like as well.
Veteran bird watchers know that sooner or later they will spot a sick or injured bird. It's not unusual - birds are at risk for disease and changing weather conditions. If more than a few are found at one time, however, check into the situation. Make sure that the food is not spoiled and that it is dry. Don't let piles of seed hulls stack up beneath a feed because they can draw rats and mice. Clean feeders often and if you use chemicals on the lawn, make sure that the chemicals are watered into the lawn so birds won't be affected.
If a bird flies into a window and drops to the ground, don't despair. Birds are often stunned with such a drop and need a little time before they can fly away. Offer assistance by keeping curious children and pets away. If you think a bird might be injured with a broken wing or other injury, contact a veternarian for advice.
Baby birds sometimes fall from the nest and the best response is to do nothing. Most fledglings will be able to fly back to the nest in time. Do keep children and pets away and if you must handle the bird for its own safety, wear gloves.
Hummingbirds are often the delight of bird watchers. The delicate birds require special feeders that provide nectar. Humingbird feeders and nectar are available in many retail stores. Native plants with red flowers and trumpet vines can also draw humingbirds.
Dangers Of The Bird World
It's inevitable that some larger birds may find a birdfeeder and come to dine. Discourage crows, starlings, and other such birds by flapping cloth at them. A strategically placed scarecrow may keep crows at bay. Hawks will sometimes hunt birds while feeding but the number of birds they kill is quite low. Many bird affectinados enjoy watching the hawks but to discourage them, remove the feeder temporarily and they might seek other sources. Never trap, shoot, or poison hawks because to do so violates state and federal laws.
If birds often crash into a particular window or if some birds - northern cardinals and mockingbirds in particular - attack a window, put a stop to it by pasting something opaque on the window. A poster, newspaper, streamers, wind chimes, or balloons will do the trick and turn birds away.
One of the newest dangers to our feathered friends is West Nile Disease. The disease is transmitted by mosquitos to birds and is now found in most of the 48 continental United States. Birds may develop immunity over time but at present there is little bird watchers may do. If more than one dead bird is found without cause, contact local authorities so that it can be tested for West Nile Disease.
Other options for viewing birds can be found in zoos, some museums, and aviaries. Some states have conservation areas where birds can be viewed in the wild. Check local listings for venues to watch birds and enjoy the show.
Keeping cats indoors can help birds. Even domestic cats will hunt birds. Even having cats declawed and wear a collar doesn't always prevent cats from hunting birds.