Bird Houses-Feeders

Birdhouses are intended to provide a safe shelter for nesting birds to raise their young. With this in mind, a house should only be provided in early spring and should be closed or removed after the young have left the nest. They become nothing more than a bird vacant wasp breeder once the young have left. They need to be placed in a safe area where cats and other predators can not climb.

Providing the right kind of situation can be very entertaining. You can attract all types of birds and watching them raise their young is quite amazing. Be sure to clean the house each season to remove any possible disease and mites. Placing them on a greased pole is one of the safest ways to mount them. I like to place mine near a bed that also provides food like berries.

Bird feeders should only be provided at specific times and in specific locations. Generally it's ok to use a feeder at the worst time of winter or in early spring when there is little natural food available. I prefer a tubular feeder hanging from a tall pole that you can grease to deter squirrels. The best seed to use is black oil sunflower. Using any other seed can be a real mess, the droppings will come up everywhere. I try to place my feeder far away from my beds to prevent any seed from coming up.

A feeder will attract tons of species for those that like to bird watch. I like to provide a birdbath to further attract a variety of birds. Be sure to keep both feeders and baths clean daily to prevent disease. Hummingbird feeders, which contain nothing more than sugar water, should also be changed regularly.

To encourage these birds to remain after the feeders and houses are removed, try planting and providing elements that will keep their interest. There is a huge variety of plants that attract birds for both food and shelter. Providing any type of water is also necessary to keep them coming back. I have had several generations of bird families return to my yard year after year knowing they will have a safe and plentiful environment.

Bird houses-feeders can be fun and educational if used in the right way. Follow the simple steps and in no time you will be enjoying the color, sound and beauty of birds.