Another thing that sometimes makes people hesitate to feed the birds – at any time of the year – is that they are afraid that the birds will become dependent, and lose their ability to find food for themselves.  This is a myth, as birds never rely on any single source of food; and, as we all know, they have survived for millions of years on their own.  Actually, even when they have easy access to birdfeeders, they get most of their daily sustenance elsewhere.

In fact, they eat tons of insects, as a matter of necessity.  This makes it a good idea to attract them to your yard, because, along with the food that you give them, they will devour many garden pests.  So, go ahead and include birdfeeders, birdhouses, and birdbaths as part of your outdoor décor.  To draw the widest variety of birds, offer several kinds of food, in hanging, tube, platform, hopper, and post-mounted birdfeeders; and always provide ample amounts of water.

Just remember, it’s important to put them where they will afford the best viewing, and, at the same time, be the most beneficial to the birds.  For example, you should locate birdfeeders within ten feet of your house, because, for one thing, you’ll be able to see them clearly when you’re indoors.  Moreover, this helps the birds get used to being near the windows, which will decrease the chances that they will fly into them.  Then, even if they do, they will probably not have built up enough momentum to do themselves much harm.

Every once in a great while, a bird will ping off my window, ever so slightly; but I’ve never even seen one fazed when this has happened.  Usually, they just tweet a few little curses, and go on their way.  They’re probably more embarrassed than anything.  However, you can further help to prevent such mishaps, by having curtains, blinds, sun-catchers, or decals, visible in the windows.

Birdfeeders should also be positioned near a source of shelter, from the wind, as well as from predators.  Ideally, this will be a few feet from shrubs, vines, or even a brush pile, where they can quickly take cover; but make sure that it’s not a good place for prowlers to hide, for sneak attacks.

Naturally, you’ll want to watch the birds when you’re relaxing on your outdoor furniture.  Now, if you’re sitting quietly on a garden bench, or lying in a hammock, they may ignore you and go about their business, even if you are fairly close to the birdfeeder.  On the other hand, if there are lots of people around, talking and laughing, the birds will be intimidated.  Therefore, you should situate your patio chairs, lounge chairs, and porch gliders, far enough away, so as not to frighten them.

The same goes for picnic tables, outdoor dining tables, and grills.  After all, even if you wish to enjoy the birds’ antics while you’re cooking out, you surely aren’t planning to share the same eating space with them.

Obviously, there are also a few other reasons why you won’t want the birds hanging out too close to your outdoor chairs and tables; but I won’t go into detail.  Let’s just say that you should keep your patio furniture at a safe distance, and when you’re not going to be using it for awhile, protect it with some outdoor furniture covers.  Of course, this is a smart thing to do, even if you don’t have any birdfeeders, because birds are everywhere.

And that’s a wonderful thing, because they bring color, song, and joy to the world!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Birdfeeders are attractive – and, as far as I’m concerned, essential – elements of outdoor décor, as are bird houses and birdbaths.  Apparently, millions of others feel this way, too, as bird-feeding is one of the most popular pastimes in the country.

However, some people stop feeding the birds during the summer, usually because they feel that, at this time, they don’t need any help from us.  Well, that’s true in any season, because, even though it can make things easier for the birds when the ground is frozen over, they’ve survived on their own for millions of years.

The thing about feeding the birds is that, while it may give them certain advantages, it’s an incredibly enjoyable activity for people.  Moreover, in the summer, it attracts a wider variety of birds in their most colorful plumage of the year.  For example, male goldfinches are a brilliant yellow now; but soon, they will turn back to the dull, greenish-yellow hue of the females.

Providing birdfeeders in the summer is also good for the many types of birds that produce several broods during the season.  Having a steady, dependable source of food nearby will save them hours of foraging; therefore, they will be able to spend more time in their nests (and they won’t have to pay for daycare!).  Of course, as numerous studies have shown, this will also significantly decrease the chances that their babies will grow up to become delinquents.

Besides keeping the fledglings from eventually becoming jailbirds, you’ll be responsible for their first experiences at birdfeeders, once they leave their nests.  You will even have the pleasure of watching the parents teach the young birds how to use them, right in your backyard.

To get the most out of feeding and watching birds, offer an assortment of foods.  Black oil sunflower seeds are popular with many species, as are hulled peanuts, white millet seeds, and pieces of fruit, such as oranges, raisins, cherries, grapes, bananas, and apples.  Thistle (nyjer) seed is the absolute favorite of finches, and will draw flocks of them.  Safflower seeds are great, because they attract many desirable birds, but are a turn-off to grackles and squirrels.  Avoid using mixes that contain milo and sorghum, which birds will not eat.

You can never have too much suet; although some people think of it as a winter food, believe me, it gets eaten up like crazy in the summer.  I use no-melt peanut suet, because it not only brings in woodpeckers and nuthatches, but appeals to nearly every other kind of bird, too.

It’s best to use different types of feeders as well, such as hopper, platform, hanging, tube, and post-mounted birdfeeders, placed where you’ll be able to see them from inside your home.  Outdoors, situate patio chairs, chaise lounges, porch swings, hammocks, and other outdoor furniture, at a distance that will enable you to get an optimal view, without scaring the birds away.  You don’t want to do that, because they will bring you endless hours of amusement and delight; kind of like court jesters that you can respect.

Furthermore, I recently read of another bonus of feeding birds, which I – and countless other birders – have known all along.  Studies have now proven that watching birds actually improves our moods, and even makes us feel more optimistic.  I can say with certainty that this is true, because, even after those zany birds have spent the entire day gobbling up the food, I still see my birdfeeders as being half-full.

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Birds give us much more than beauty, song, and constant entertainment (and that’s a heck of a lot).  Even those that are often considered nuisances help to get rid of pests in the garden.  Starlings, for example, gobble up the larvae of Japanese beetles and gypsy moths.  So, when you see them canvassing your lawn, just sit back in your Adirondack chair, or relax on your porch swing or glider, and enjoy the rainbow of colors reflecting off their iridescent feathers.

Certainly, birds deserve to be rewarded with a reliable source of their favorite foods; and, no, putting up birdfeeders and birdhouses won’t make them dependent, and cause them to lose their natural instincts and abilities to survive in the wild.

Now, the number of birds that will come to your newly-installed birdfeeders will vary, depending upon what time of the year it is.  If the weather is warm, and natural sources of food are abundant, there may not be as many, especially at first.  No matter when you begin, your birdfeeders may stand neglected for a few days; but, once word gets around, which it will, quickly (after all, birds mastered the art of twittering millions of years ago!), you’ll be in business.

There are several types of birdfeeders, including hopper, platform, tube, hanging, and post-mounted, some of which are available in octagon, pagoda, gazebo, and log cabin styles.  Different birds like various foods; so, to attract the widest variety, offer an assortment of black oil and striped sunflower seeds, hulled peanuts, thistle seeds, suet mixed with seeds or fruit, peanut butter, and white millet seed.

It’s best to have multiple feeding stations, and to put thistle (or nyjer) seed in a separate, hanging birdfeeder, with smaller ports, specifically for finches.  This is their favorite food, and it’s difficult for them, with their tiny bills, to feed with the other birds.  In fact, you may not see a goldfinch unless you do this; but you’ll be elated when dozens of them start descending on their special birdfeeder!

Birdfeeders should be placed between five and twelve feet from shrubs, or other sources of refuge from the elements and predators.  Vines provide great shelter as well, so you can also put birdfeeders near arbors, trellises, and pergolas.

Soon, you’ll build up a regular clientele of cardinals, sparrows, tufted titmice, black-capped chickadees, finches, woodpeckers, blue jays, wrens, slate-colored juncos, mourning doves, nuthatches, and whatever else is native to your area.

Although these characters will keep you thoroughly entertained, every once in awhile, a rarely-seen bird will suddenly emerge from the woods to partake of your largesse.  While such surprise guests will surely give you a thrill, unfortunately, they often fly in for just one show, sing for their supper, then take off again.

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

We’re always looking for ways to put more color into our lives.  Indoors, we carefully choose particular types of paint, wallpaper, furniture, and other home accents, so that we can be surrounded by our favorite shades.

Outside, there are even more possibilities, which include the countless varieties and hues of flowers, plants, and shrubs that are available for our landscaping, as well as those that exist naturally.  We also have scores of color choices for our patio furniture and picnic tables, which we can further embellish with other outdoor décor items, such as outdoor furniture cushions, and patio umbrellas.

Among the things that nature adds to the kaleidoscope, birds are the most enchanting; and bird-watching is one of the country’s most popular pastimes.  This is quite understandable, for many reasons.  For one thing, some birds have spectacular plumage that will absolutely take your breath away.  Then, there are the endless, beautiful tunes that they sing; and even those common little brown sparrows are a delight to watch.  Indeed, birds of all feathers can bring us joy.

While it’s a lot of fun – and great exercise – to go hiking through fields and woods to observe different species, you can bring them in droves to your own backyard, by putting up some birdhouses and birdfeeders.  Believe me, you’ll never regret this move.  In fact, once you start feeding the birds, you’ll be so fascinated, and entertained, that you will never want to stop.  They’re captivating, playful, and downright hilarious; and the more you watch them, the more you’ll want to read and learn about them.

I cannot tell you how much enjoyment these little winged creatures have brought me over the years (and, yes, I’m watching them at my birdfeeders at this very moment).  There are several types of birdfeeders that you can use, including hopper, platform, hanging, tube, and post-mounted.

In future entries, I will have some tips about using these birdfeeders, and information on the kinds of foods that will soon have them brimming with living color.

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: there are very few things that are more rewarding – or more amusing – than feeding wild birds.  It’s particularly fun for me, because, as a writer, I sit at my computer all day long, so I can enjoy the show as I work.  My birdfeeders are out on my patio; and, as far as I’m concerned, they’re as essential as my picnic table, patio umbrella, garden benches, porch swing, Adirondack chairs, and all of my other outdoor furniture.

On the table next to me, I also have bird books and binoculars, in case I glimpse a bird I’ve never seen before, or have seen only once or twice in my life.  That happens a lot when you have a birdfeeder.  Word gets around, I’m telling you – you can hear the birds tweeting each other – and they literally flock to your backyard.  As it turns out, sometimes, those rarely seen birds are rarely seen only because they haven’t had the proper enticement to show themselves.  Without it, even the most common birds can go undetected for great lengths of time.

In my case, finches are good examples of this.  I know there are tons of them around, but I hadn’t seen one in years.  Rather, I had only been seeing purple finches.  Now, I’m not complaining, because I love purple finches; but, for some reason, I hadn’t seen a goldfinch practically since I was a kid.  Well, because I offer a variety of food in my birdfeeders, and because there were purple finches out there eating it, and because I figured that if a purple one would eat it, so would a gold one, I started to think that maybe there actually was a shortage of goldfinches in my area. 

Then, one day, I read that nyjer seed is the favorite food of finches.  So I tried it, and sure enough, later that week, suddenly, there was a goldfinch at my feeder.  Well, that was awhile ago, and, now that I see dozens of them at a time, I can say with certainty that there’s no dearth of goldfinches around here.

This is just one of the many rewards of feeding wild birds.  If you want to experience all of the other delights that come with it, start by going to CedarStore.com and choosing from our selection of hopper, platform, hanging, tube, and post-mounted birdfeeders.  To further ensure that the birds will hang around, select one of our durable birdhouses as well. 

Oh, yeah, and, while you’re there, don’t forget to get a birdbath, too.  After all, no one likes a dirty birdie.

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

As I mentioned in an earlier blog, feeding the birds can be a real hoot!  It’s also humane and charitable, and it shows that you’re a real swell egg.  On top of everything, however, it’s a commitment.  Once you start, it’s important to stick with it, as your birdfeeder should be a reliable and steady source of food for the birds. 

Of course, birds can survive in the wild on their own, and have been doing so for millions of years.  Even so, there are times when they really need our help, not only in the winter, when things are frozen over, but in the summer as well, particularly during periods of drought.  So, if you start feeding them, then suddenly withdraw your largesse, you’re going to cause a real flap and ruffle some feathers!  

Although each species has its own food preferences, finches, sparrows, downy woodpeckers, tufted titmice, slate-colored juncos, black-capped chickadees, and cardinals, thrive mostly on seeds during the winter, when fruit, insects, and many other natural food sources are scarce.  Even in the warmer months, when other food is available, they, along with many of their fair-weather friends, will be regular visitors at your birdfeeders. 

It’s best to have multiple feeding stations offering different foods.  Sunflower seeds are by far the favorite among the largest assortment of birds; but always use black oil sunflower seeds, which, besides being easier for smaller birds to crack open, have a high fat and oil content that gives them the energy that they need to survive under inclement conditions.  To set the widest variety of birds a-twitter, you should also provide hulled peanuts, thistle seeds, suet mixed with seeds or fruit, peanut butter, and white millet seed. 

It also helps to use many styles of birdfeeders, such as hopper, platform, tube, and fly-through designs.  You can find all of these birdfeeders, as well as an assortment of birdhouses, at CedarStore.com.  Best of all, some of them ship in as few as two business days, so, before you know it, you’ll be all set up and enjoying hilarious daily performances of those rollicksome, frolicsome birds, as you relax on your porch swing, glider, rocking chair, or hammock.   

Oh, yeah – don’t worry if you see only one or two birds the first day you put up your feeders, because the birds will immediately begin tweeting each other, and the word will spread quickly.  You know, I just realized that it kinda makes sense that the newest, fastest way of relaying information uses bird references.  Apparently, they’re the original masters at mass communications; that’s why, when asked how they came upon a bit of insider information, people often say, “a little bird told me.” 

So, rest assured, in no time at all, the entire bird community will be flocking to your backyard diner.  In fact, it will soon become the trendiest place in town, where every-birdie who’s any-birdie will want to be seen!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

It’s spring!  It’s spring! The bird is on the wing!

My word!  Absurd! The wing is on the bird!

I can’t take credit – or blame – for that one.  It’s just something that I heard a long time ago that has a habit of coming back to mind every once in awhile.  Like in the springtime – go figure.  But I think about birds every day, as I am not only an avid bird-watcher, but a bird feeder as well.  Or, I should say that I feed birds – my birdfeeders are out on my patio, along with my patio chairs, picnic table, porch glider, and some other outdoor furniture.

If you’re not a feeder of birds, I highly recommend it!  It is absolutely one of the most rewarding things you can do, for yourself and the birds.  I’m telling you, those little “tweethearts” (okay, I will take responsibility for that one, for better or worse) are a never-ending source of amusement. Even now, I’m watching the hilarious antics of a couple of mourning doves.  They come here every day, and, without fail, as soon as they land, the bigger one puffs himself up (it HAS to be the male!), throws out his chest, squares his shoulders (if, indeed, birds have shoulders), until he actually looks like Foghorn Leghorn, and starts chasing the smaller one around, mercilessly and relentlessly.

The thing that makes it so funny is that they run around on foot for long periods of time instead of flying.  I figure she’s saving her strength, because he follows her everywhere, so it doesn’t do her any good to fly away.  At times, he even appears to be trying to prevent her from eating, but eventually they calm down (after he tires himself out) and then they spend quite awhile out there eating.  I guess it’s just a dove thing. 

The great thing is that every bird has its own brand of comedy.  I oughta know.  As a writer, I sit here at my computer all day, in front of a picture window that looks out on the wooded hills, and sometimes I just suddenly realize that I’m sitting here with a huge grin on my face.  Of course, in many cases, it’s because I’ve just written something that’s side-splittingly funny, but a lot of the time, it’s because the birds are so comical.  And I never know, from day to day, what kind of bird will come a-swoopin’ to visit my feeders. 

Indeed, feeding the birds is the surest way to spot species that you’ve never seen in person (or bird-son, I guess).  To get started in “birding,” just visit CedarStore.com, choose from the great selection of hopper, platform, hanging, tube, and post-mounted birdfeeders, and soon you’ll be watching Rufous-Sided Towhees, Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers, Brown-Headed Cowbirds, Phoebes, Flycatchers, and Finches (and so many more birds) larking about in your own backyard.

Uh, oh.  My cuckoo clock just reminded me that I’m going to be late in getting this blog posted.  Now, that’s one bird that’s NOT funny!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy