ATTRACTING BIRDS: Birds are delightful and beneficial neighbors.  Their cheerful songs, colors and lively activities add much joy to our lives. They also help control many insect pests.  You will soon begin to appreciate seasonal patterns among the birds in your yard. You will become aware and appreciate how all living things, including people, are interconnected and dependent on the same environment for their well-being. Birds have very simple needs. They need places where they can feed, sing, court, nest, rest and hide. Every time we cut a tree, drain a marsh, build a house, construct a highway or build a shopping center, we are robbing some bird of these simple needs. We are doing these things at a rapid rate throughout our country, and throughout the world. You can help birds by creating a sanctuary for them in your yard. One important thing you can do is landscape your yard with diverse plantings: trees of different heights, conifers, shrubs, and vines. You might consider encouraging the growth of native wildflowers and grasses. Many birds depend on dead or dying trees for the insects they harbor, or for their cavities, which provide roosting and nesting cover. Where it is safe to do so, allowing dead branches or trees to remain in place will attract chickadees, nuthatches and several woodpecker species. Bird houses, feeders and a water bath can supplement the plantings to make your yard more attractive to birds. Plants provide food, nesting sites, song perches and shelter. Providing nearby shelter will give birds a chance to avoid both natural predators like Cooper's Hawks, which have become much more common in recent years, as well as nonnative predators such as free-roaming cats. 

Bird Feeders: There are many types that you can easily build or purchase. In general, birds prefer feeding on the ground, or from a tray or platform feeder either hanging or set on a pole near a sunny, sheltered area. When placing feeders near your home, consider the fact that collisions with windows are estimated to kill as many as one billion birds per year. To help prevent collisions, place feeders either within three feet or at least ten yards away from windows, apply window film or "clings", or hang colorful strips.

Bird Foods: Offer the birds a variety of foods from mid- to late October through April. Natural food is often scarce in March and April, especially if the early spring is cold and snowy. Providing food on a limited basis in the summer will keep certain species in your yard. It is particularly interesting to see cardinals and other seed eaters bring their young to the feeding area. Birds are unlikely to become so dependent upon your feeders that they ignore more nutritious insects or other natural foods when they are available. In most suburban neighborhoods, closing down your feeders temporarily in winter is also unlikely to harm birds, as they are well aware of other places to feed. It is important to clean up feeders and feeding areas regularly, especially during winter and spring thaws. Droppings and moldy seeds are breeding places for disease-carrying agents that can harm birds.

Sunflower Seeds: A popular seed, attracting strong-billed birds like blue jays, cardinals, grosbeaks, chickadees, and woodpeckers. Sunflower seeds are rich in oil that converts quickly to body heat. The smaller, blacksunflower seeds have a higher oil content, and are preferred by the birds over the striped variety.

Sunflower Hearts and Fines: "No waste" or mess from hulls. Birds whose bills are not strong enough to break sunflower hulls can get plenty of nutrition from these. Attractive to a variety of birds: chickadees, nuthatches, goldfinches, jays, cardinals, grosbeaks, crossbills, juncos, doves and more.