KATHY’S HOME & GARDEN TIPS – BACKYARD BIRD WATCHING
KATHY’S HOME & GARDEN TIPS – BACKYARD BIRD WATCHING
Birds need three things to thrive and these are equal.
1. Water- of course birds need to drink like anything else but they also need to bathe to keep their feathers healthy and functional. Water should be changed at least every other day. This is especially important to avoid mosquito propagation. Aggravating enough as they are mosquitoes spread West Nile Virus a potentially lethal disease.
2. Cover- birds need to feel safe and there should always be cover near their food and water so they have a place to hide close by in case danger approaches. We have two bushes flanking our birdbath and trees and large bushes near the food.
3. Last but not least Food- the pet store has a wide variety of seeds for birds. We use a general seed mix for a wide variety of backyard birds. We supplement with safflower seed a favorite of Cardinals and Mourning Doves. We also add extra black sunflower and thistle for the finches. The feeders you use will determine the birds you attract. Mourning Doves are ground feeders and cannot perch. We just throw safflower on the ground for them. Most of the other birds perch so any variety of feeders will work. Sparrows seem to like tube feeders that have little posts for them to perch.
A word about squirrels there is no such thing as a squirrel proof feeder. They will get in the seed. I keep them occupied with raw shell-on peanuts. Blue Jays also LOVE peanuts. I have a couple come to my back porch and look in the kitchen window waiting for peanuts. The squirrels are so trained they practically knock on the back door.
KATHLEEN WEAVER-ZECH & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO
