- For the Birds - (bird watching basics)

There are way too many things on my "to-eventually-learn-about" list, one of them being birds. I think birds are so amazing, so pretty, and make the most beautiful sounds! I love having my window cracked and listening to them in the morning.

Since Spring is finally here, I thought it would be fun to do a post on bird watching basics...

Bird Houses

Upcycled Handmade Bird House

1. Get a bird house with only one opening, suitable for one nest. Birds are territorial and don't necessarily like to share the room. No duplexes or apartments!

2. Birds are more attracted to weathered-looking houses, reminding them of nature. So, bright and frilly bird-houses might just remain vacant.

3. Lighter color houses are cooler and are more comfy for the baby birds.

4. There are lots of types of bird houses. Each type is more attractive to certain birds. Start with the basic house and as you learn and enjoy watching more, try some additional types.

5. Birds like open sun, don't place your bird house where there is lots of shade.

6. Placing your house on a tree invites cats, squirrels, and other small animals. It's best to put your house on a post. You can rub vaseline on the post to prevent small animals from climbing up. On the other hand, maybe you want to feed the squirrels...they are pretty dang cute!

7. You don't have to spend a lot of money on a bird house. There are lots of cute ones online, but you can also find them at Wal-Mart. I got mine at the Amish Festival for like 12 buckaroos.

Bark & Sticks Bird House by Bear Paw Rustics.

Bird Food

Black Oil Sunflower Seed is a great choice for attracting lots of birds. They sell bags of Wild Bird feed at most stores, but I would hold off and try to find the Black Oil seeds. Ace Hardware, any bird store, possibly pet stores will all have it. Bird food does not go in bird houses...you need a bird feeder...

Bird Feeders

Small Copper Top Birdfeeder by Birdscapes

There are a number of different bird feeder types to choose from. Some are better at keeping squirrels away, some hold more food, some attract specific birds. I would recomment starting with a standard hopper feeder (the kind that have roofs and look similar to houses). Wal-Mart has some really cute ones for around twenty dollars. When you start to learn more about birds and the kinds that live in your neighborhood, try out some feeders that are more tailored to those birds. Bird feeders are the easiest way to start attracting birds.

Bird Baths

Though not necessary, bird baths provide much needed water to the birds. Place it near the bird house and always make sure there is clean water in it. There are many birds that will come to your bath and never to your feeder. A bird bath simply makes birds happier and increases your chances of seeing many great birds.

Lily Bird Bath

Binoculars

 

You're gonna want a pair of these babies to better enjoy the birds. There are binoculars made specifically for bird watching, like Canon's 10x30 for $359. You can pay up to a couple thousand dollars. However, there were rave reviews on Amazon about these particular binoculars, just the right specs for watching birds, for only $55 (and they're Nikon, no less).

Field Guide 

 

The Field Guide to Birds got LOTS of great reviews on Amazon.

This book is so awesome! Each page tells about a different bird. When you punch the page number into the device on the side of the book, it plays an actual recording of the bird's song. I got mine at Costco! My kids love it too, bonus.

There is a really cool site, www.whatbird.com. There you can look up different types of birds, find the birds that live in your state, hear their songs, read their history. You can also buy a subscription, starting at $10, that will allow you to print off a field guide. I'm going to do it and print the ones off for my state and keep them in a notebook! Have fun!

"Pretty bird, pretty bird, pretty bird."

Dumb & Dumber

 

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