Bird watching has become a backyard hobby for many people and bird feeders are the best way to attract these birds. Different birds are attracted to different seeds. Acorns, for example, attract chickadees, jays, quails, and woodpeckers. Millet, on the other hand, attracts doves, finches, pheasants, native sparrows, and Carolina wrens.

Seeds from a black locust tree will attract quail while magnolias will draw in towhees, red-eyed vireos, and woodpeckers. Willows, on the other hand, will bring in grosbeaks, grouse, and redpolls. One of the newer technologies in bird feeding is the tube feeder. These tubes are easy to use and release seeds slower than other methods, so they save you money. Also, larger birds with bigger appetites do not use tube feeders. Solidified bacon fat, interestingly, will attract several species of birds including bluebirds, jays, and ravens. A collection of bird species love insects such as ants and an anthill can be a very attractive backyard feature.

Hummingbirds and orioles are drawn to aloes and agaves while amaranth attracts juncos and tree sparrows. On the other hand, bluebirds, catbirds, great crested flycatchers, jays, mockingbirds, tanagers, thrashers, thrushes, and waxwings like amelanchier (juneberry, shadblow, shadbush, and serviceberry) and make a good looking addition to any yard. Versatile and attractive, amelanchier species can be found anywhere in North America.

Both humans and birds like berries, especially ripening blackberries. The best time to offer these in your feeder is when they can’t be found anywhere else. The winter season creates a demand greater than the supply. Strawberries will attract catbirds, prairie chickens, crows, grouse, quails, robins, and sparrows while raspberries will attract bobwhites, bluebirds, buntings, chickadees, orioles, band-tailed pigeons, titmice, and waxwings.

A bird-friendly backyard is likely to be attractive to birds looking to raise a family. The friendly attributes include sources of water, food, grit, and salt. Predator control includes keeping your felines away from the birds and keeping snakes, raccoons, and opossums out of your yard. Sufficient covering is needed for a roosting place and nest sites. If you have cats it is important to keep at least three yards of short grass around the bird bath so the bird can spot the cat and get away in time. From inside, cats can still enjoy the birds by perching on their favorite piece of furniture (available at www.catdograt.com) and viewing the feathered flyers without endangering them.

Bird baths are a successful way to attract birds, especially in the summer. These yard decorations have been popular for a hundred years. If you learn to chisel you can create baths from large rocks or boulders. A bird bath is a great place to focus your binoculars, if you have them. Bird watching is best if you can get one to feed out of your hand. Chickadees can be trained to feed from your palm. If you’d like to attract cardinals, grosbeaks, nuthatches, or titmice, get a sunflower. An excellent selection of bird feeders, bird houses, and bird baths can be found at www.decoryard.com.