Attracting Birds Into Your Garden

Wild birds differ from state to state and area to area. These birds are part of your local ecosystem and provide valuable services to the plants and animals nearby. You will often see small birds like sparrows flitting around in the early morning, singing songs. But what you might not see is that they are actually dive bombing the insects that are hovering around the trees and grass. Those cute little singing sparrows are actually eating up their breakfast!

What do other wild birds eat? Well to answer that question you can always do a bit of research at your local library or on the Internet. There are a multitude of websites available with information on the wild birds in your area, and what they eat. Or, you can always get out there and just watch the birds. This is called "birding", and it is what people who love wild birds like to do. Birding is a great way to enjoy the wild birds in their natural settings, while also learning more about them.

Another great way to enjoy wild birds is to attract them to your own backyard. Most people do this by setting out some seed in bird feeders throughout the yard area. Wild bird seed can be commercially made and found at any local grocery store. Or it can be home made using a mixture of natural unsalted seeds. But what kinds of wild birds eat the seeds?

Again, if you do a bit of research about the birds in your particular area you can decide what kind you want to attract. Once you have decided you simply take note of their diet and set out the appropriate food for those wild birds. The commercially prepared seed at the store will usually be made for the birds in your area, and the package will include a list of wild birds that the seed mix should attract. A great way to start off is to buy one of the commercially prepared wild bird seed mixes for your area and set it out in your yard using a few methods.

One way to set out your wild bird seed is to simply fill up a wild bird feeder. These bird feeders should be available at your grocery store right alongside the seed. The feeders should tell you what kinds of seed will atrract which birds. Simply fill up the feeder and hang it or set it out in your yard. Another way, and one of the most fun by far, is to take a pine cone or similar item from your back yard and spread a thick layer of peanut butter all over it. Then you roll the peanut butter covered pine cone in a plate of your wild bird seed. Birds love this method and it might even convince them that your yard is not a bad place to stop off for a while.

Whether you decide to buy the wild bird food or make up a mixture of your own, remember to treat the birds in your area as just that: wild birds. Never try to touch them or hand feed them. The best way to enjoy them is to sit back and watch them enjoy the food and other goodies you set out for them. Lastly, be sure to follow the guidelines and rules for wild bird feeding in your area. It never hurts to call up the State Wildlife Service to ask questions regarding your bird feeding escapades