{"id":9128,"date":"2018-06-22T12:50:04","date_gmt":"2018-06-22T12:50:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/birdhousesupply.com\/?p=9128"},"modified":"2018-06-22T12:50:04","modified_gmt":"2018-06-22T12:50:04","slug":"creating-a-back-yard-sanctuary-that-birds-love","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/birdhousesupply.com\/blog\/creating-a-back-yard-sanctuary-that-birds-love\/","title":{"rendered":"Creating a Back Yard Sanctuary that Birds Love"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Wild birds, those tiny, feathered dinosaurs, bring all manner of goodness to a backyard. Even the drab ones have their own beauty. The songs of some birds are transporting to hear, and even the caw of a crow or the call of a bluejay can be comforting. Birds eat harmful bugs and are always fascinating to watch. Here are some tips to attract birds for some backyard birding:<\/p>\n

First, Be Good to the Other Critters<\/strong>
\nTo attract birds, it helps to support the other creatures that visit the backyard. Cut down on pesticides and herbicides, and try more natural means of controlling pests. Don\u2019t automatically consider weeds as the enemy. Some have interesting flowers and foliage and produce berries that birds like to eat. One pest that does need to be controlled is feral cats or even domesticated cats. They kill billions of birds every year. If the household has a cat, keep it indoors or bell it to warn the birds. Call the local animal control department to help deal with the feral cats, and keep the backyard a refuge for the local birds. Many have had success with cat enclosures<\/a> and cat fencing that keep cats out of your sanctuary.<\/p>\n

Food<\/strong>
\nBirds eat a great range of foods. Some eat only small arthropods, others eat seeds, others eat\u00a0berries\u00a0and other fruit, and some eat grains. Some birds eat all of these things or eat a combination of them. Hummingbirds love nectar, though they do need animal protein for their babies. Not only this, some birds will only take supplemental food from planters hung above the ground while others only feed on the ground. The trick is to provide a variety of bird food for a variety of birds. Plant or encourage plants such as blackberries, elderberries, mahonia and even pokeberry. Plant red or orange tubular flowers such as monardas for hummingbirds and other nectar-loving birds.<\/p>\n

Bird feeders provide supplemental food and are much appreciated when natural food sources are scarce. Since birds have different ways of feeding, the homeowner should offer different types of them to attract different birds. Whatever bird feeder is used should be placed in an open area so the birds can look out for predators. Do not put too much food out at once as this can attract pests, and fungi can grow on leftover seeds left out in the rain and damp. Feeders should be cleaned regularly with warm, soapy water, rinsed thoroughly and allowed to dry completely before they are put back in service.<\/p>\n

What to Feed<\/strong><\/p>\n