Birds add Color and Liveliness to Yards

Whether located in cities, towns or rural communities, birds add color and liveliness to yards and gardens. Several different types of birds have become accustomed to civilization and living in close approximation to man.

Attracting Birds

Birds can be attracted to your yard and garden through the careful placement of birdhouses, or nesting boxes, bird feeders, and bird baths. Birds are attracted where provisions are made for their feeding and bathing. To keep birds around, provide bird houses.

Bird Houses

Bird Houses should be mounted at a height of about 5 or 6 feet. Mounting to low will increase the risk of predators. Mounting to high will invite sparrows, and make cleaning out the nesting box more difficult. Birdhouses should be cleaned out after every nesting, to encourage the next nesting. You should space bird houses at least 20 feet apart to prevent fighting over nesting area and empty nesting boxes.

Bird Feeders and Bird Baths

Feeders and baths should be placed more than 20 feet away from birdhouses. Placing these to close to the nesting area will prevent nesting. Place these closer to the watching area with the bird houses in the far distance.

Do not place bird houses, feeders, or baths close to any area where pesticides will be used.

Attracting feathered friends to your yard is an enjoyable pastime. Few urban dwellers enjoy this pastime but can if they devote a little time on placing a few birdhouses where space is available and use bird feeders and bird baths around patio area. With a little work, the reward will be bird songs and color in motion for your yard and garden.