Backyard Birding

Many birding enthusiasts love to watch birds where ever they are. 

For this reason, many turn their backyards into a bird haven. This is fairly easy for anyone to do and provides the pleasure of looking out your back window and spotting an array of birds without having to leave your house. There are several steps you can take to make your backyard a bird paradise.  There are both short term and long term steps to be taken to accomplish this. There are also several factors to consider.

Food and Shelter
First you need to make sure that your backyard is a suitable place for birds to dwell. If you house your dogs or cats in your backyard then it might not be a bird friendly environment. You really don't want to come out one morning with the hopes of birding only to discover Rover covered with feathers. Also it's not fair to your existing pets to have birds zipping in and out of your backyard while expecting your pets not to take a swat at them; it's in their nature to do so and really not fair to penalize them for it. You need to make sure that it will be a safe environment for the birds before trying to attract them.

You can then start with a bird feeder or bird house.  It's important to note that depending on the bird's preferences, different bird houses will attract different birds. Some birds may not adapt to bird houses. You can do some research to see what type of bird house to get. The location of the bird feeder or bird house is also critical, chose a place that is safe. Once you get a feeder or bird house up it time to fill it with some food to attract the birds. Again, the type of food you put out will attract different types of birds. You may choose to offer a variety of food to attract many kinds of birds.

Water
Now that you have the food covered, there are many options for providing water to you feathered friends. Many feeders have a place to put water.  Another option is to install a bird bath, bird fountain, or some sort of pond. Birds aren't too picky; anything that they can access that retains shallow water will make them happy. You can choose something inexpensive or choose to add to the value of your backyard and put in something that might be a little more costly, but adds to the appeal of your home. Just remember to change out the water regularly if you choose a method that offers standing water. It's also important to clean feeders and watering areas to avoid the spread of diseases between birds.

Plants and Trees
Now that you have the easy tasks complete, it's time to think more long term.  Take a good look around your backyard. Are there trees, shrubs, and flowers? If your backyard is pretty bare there are plenty of things you can do to attract birds that will keep them coming back. You need to provide them with an appealing habitat, plus you can make your backyard look great in the process. Plant a variety of small trees and bushes. There are many types that certain types that offer food and nesting opportunities to birds depending on where you live.

For those in the Northeast a great bush to consider is the Highbush Blueberry which is a shrub. This bush can draw up to as many as 30 different species of birds such as the Brown Thrasher and Gray Catbird. It's a pretty shrub that will eventually offer berries to the birds when it matures.  It also provides them with great nesting opportunities.  The Eastern Red Cedar is a great tree if you have a large backyard.  This tree can grow up to 65 feet and is a great home for many birds like the Ruffed Grouse and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.  The Eastern Red Cedar provides nuts and can attract many species.

For those in the Southeast the Arrowwood Viburnum is a shrub that produces berries in the late summer months. It's an attractive plant that also offers great nesting sites to various birds such as the Eastern Bluebird and American Robin. The Southern Magnolia is a beautiful tree that can grow as tall as 90 feet. It's a fruit producing tree that matures in the fall. The Southern Magnolia attracts different species such as that of the Red-bellied Woodpecker and the Northern Mockingbird.

For those in the Central Plains and Praries the Big Bluestem is a beautiful grass like plant that produces seeds as well as nesting opportunities for over 24 species of birds such as the Sedge Wren and Meadowlark. It's a plant that provides great cover and attracts many different song birds. The Gray Dogwood is a large shrub that can grow up to 9 feet. It provides fruit berries to birds such as the Northern Cardinal and Eastern Bluebird.

For those in Western Mountains and Deserts the Mesquite is a multi-stemmed shrub which can grow up to 15 feet and a single stemmed tree that can grow a tall as 40 feet. It provides seeds, cover, and nesting grounds to birds such as the Gambel's Quail and White-winged Dove.  The Rocky Mountain Juniper can be considered either a shrub or a tree and can grow to 30 feet.  It provides nutlets that offer birds such as the Northern Mockingbird and Evening Grosbeak great coverage.

For those in the Pacific Coast the California Wax Myrtle is a shrub or small tree that can reach 35 feet. It’s a great source of food that produces fruit all year long, even during winter months. A bird to can benefit from this plant is the Yellow-rumped Warbler and California Towhee, amongst others.  The California Wild Oak is a beautiful shrub-like tree that can reach 85 feet.  You definitely need to make sure you have the room for this tree. It offers nuts and fruit to birds such as the Western Scrub Jay and Chestnut-backed Chickadee. It creates great coverage for the birds and is a very easy tree to maintain.

Depending on your area, another option for trees are fruit trees. This way both you and the birds can benefit.  Great trees to consider are lemon, apple, and cherry. They offer birds the sweet blossoms followed by fruit. The birds can get their food from the tree and you can have a freshly grown apple when you like. It's a winning combination for all and a great way to grow your own fruit.

Flowers are another great idea that will not only attract birds, but will make your yard look great. This is especially a good idea if you are interested in attracting humming birds.  Humming birds love the sweet nectar that flowers provide.  It's good to plant a variety such as sunflowers, marigolds, and poppies. You can even look into adding vine-like plants that will add to the ambiance of your yard as well as attract birds. In the end, you garden will be breathtaking. You need to make sure to be adding native plants that will survive in your area and that birds will be comfortable with.

National Wildlife Federation
Once you have created your bird paradise you have the option of Contacting the National Wildlife Federation. They encourage home owners to create wildlife gardens for birds and other animals. They recognize the importance of giving back to wildlife what progress and development have taken away.  When you are done creating your backyard you can check to see if  it matches the guidelines of the National Wildlife Federation.  If it does then you can get a National Wildlife Federation display that shows your contribution to the environment.

After all that work you now have a backyard that will attract birds for many years to come. You just might wake up to the sounds of birds chirping happily in the morning hours.  You can sit and watch the birds while you eat your breakfast or drink your coffee. You can enjoy all the aspects of birding while sitting in your pajamas. Life is now great for the birding enthusiast