White County
 Gardening
Podcast
October 22, 2009
Backyard Birds
(2:13 minutes)
Audio/Video Script:
Sherri Sanders
County Extension Agent - Agriculture
If you've ever set out birdseed and then sat back to watch birds flock to the
feeder, only to be disappointed when none showed, take heart. Attracting birds
to your yard usually takes more than simply putting out seed in a feeder. Hello
this is Sherri Sanders, County Extension Agent - Agriculture from White County.
Birds hang out in those areas that fulfill their basic needs: food, shelter,
and water. So this winter, try the following tips to make feathered creatures
your friends. It is important to know their favorite foods.
Goldfinches love thistle seed. Blue jays will eat anything. And almost all
birds love sunflower seeds. If you want a particular kind of bird to come to
your feeder, read up on what they like best, and then provide it.
Birds love water, both to bathe in and to drink. A classic birdbath fills the
bill perfectly. However, splashing water, as in a small fountain or water
garden, attracts even more. A birdbath with a heater installed during the winter
keeps birds coming back year-round.
Once you start feeding birds, keep food supplies steady. Some birds will come
to rely on your supply and will suffer if you stop providing it. Or, they will
stop coming. For best results, set up most feeders in the fall, when
overwintering birds will begin seeking out food sources.
Don't forget the importance of shelter for our backyard buddies. Birdhouses
are nice additions to the yard and will attract a family of birds. However, to
attract larger numbers of birds, plant trees and large, bushy shrubs. Think
about including trees and shrubs with small fruits, such as mulberries, which
birds love to eat.
Mother Nature is smarter than any gardener. Plant lots of perennials, shrubs,
trees, groundcovers, and edible plants, and you'll create a complex ecosystem
right in your yard. The plants will attract insects, which will feed the birds,
which will control the insects, which will protect the plants, which will also
provide food for the birds.
For additional information on this topic, contact your local county Extension
office. This has been Sherri Sanders in Searcy.
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