Sally Scalera
Brevard County Horticulture Extension Agent
3695 Lake Drive -- Cocoa FL 32926 -- 321-633-1702
Attracting birds to your yard
February 5, 2011
Many people enjoy watching birds, and there are a number of things you can do to encourage birds to inhabit your yard.Most people know about putting out a bird feeder and birdbath, but there also are a number of plants that can be added to your landscape to provide food and shelter.
For those interested in using a bird feeder, the most popular grains are striped, oil and hulled sunflower seeds; finely cracked corn; white proso millet; safflower seeds and thistle seed.
If you buy commercial seed mixes, you most likely will have a lot of waste. The birds will pick out the grains they like, throwing the rest on the ground. The seeds then germinate, causing you more work.
By using separate feeders for the different types of grain, you will cut down on waste and competition at the feeders.
To enjoy a bird feeder, be sure to place it in a spot that is easily visible from your house. To protect the birds from stray cats, place the bird feeder 10 to 20 feet from thick shrub or tree cover.
Some other items to keep in mind include:
- Providing enough food for two to three days.
- Protecting the food from rain. Wet grain molds quickly, which is unhealthy for birds.
- Maintaining the feeder throughout the year.
Birds also require water for drinking and bathing. If you can provide clean water about three feet off the ground and approximately 15 feet from shrubbery, you will attract a lot of birds.
When choosing a birdbath, look for one that has a gradual slope to a depth of two to three inches. Do not fill the birdbath to the rim, because the birds need a dry edge on which to perch. Most commercial birdbaths don't attract birds because the sides are too steep.
If you already have a commercial birdbath, you may want to add some sand or pebbles to create a gentle incline and provide traction. Birds will not use a birdbath if the bottom is too smooth, because they need a rough bottom to provide safe footholds.
The sound of moving water especially is attractive to birds. Many stores and catalogs offer complete kits for birdbath fountains.
A simpler method is to punch a hole in the side (not the bottom) of a bucket and hang it above the birdbath. Cover the bucket to keep out debris and prevent evaporation. Make the hole small enough so only 10 to 20 drops will fall, per minute, into the birdbath.
Another way to create moving water is by creating a thin jet or mist of water that shoots vertically into overhanging branches and then drips back into the bath.
Birds are most active from sunrise to 10 a.m. and again from the late afternoon to early evening. To reduce your costs and wasted water, use a timer to operate the mister.
The water in the birdbath should be kept clean and available on a consistent basis. A scrubbing every few days will rid the birdbath surface of algae, which thrives in bird-fertilized water.
To make the birds a permanent part of your yard, increase the plant diversity in your landscape so it provides food and cover.
Trees: Tough bumelia, blue hornbeam or ironwood, hawthorn, seagrape, sugarberry, fringe tree, persimmon, green ash, dahoon holly, American holly, yaupon holly, southern red cedar, southern magnolia, sweet bay, red mulberry, Simpson stopper, water tupelo, black gum or Tupelo, red bay, sand pine, slash pine, spruce pine, longleaf pine, pond pine, cherry laurel, black cherry, turkey oak, live oak, cabbage palm, winged elm
Shrubs: Beautyberry, stoppers, Florida privet, Christmas berry, wax myrtle, winged sumac, sand blackberry, elderberry, Walter's viburnum
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