There are numerous ways in which you can attract birds to your backyard. Among the various ways are the building of bird feeders, bird houses, and bird baths.

Types of Bird Feeders

There are many different types of bird feeders each designed to dispense a certain type of feed and to accommodate the feeding habits of different types of birds. Some of the features to consider when choosing the design for your feeder are:

1. Maximize the load capacity of the feed container so that you limit the amount of times needed for refilling.

2. Make feed container easy to open for refilling.

3. When incorporating a roof make sure it protects seed from rain and snow.

4. Provide drainage outlets in the feed tray to avoid accumulation of water.

5. Provide enough space for birds to perch and eat.

6. Make feeder easy to take apart and clean.

7. Make sure feed is visible to the bird .

The most common types of feeders are:

The Ground or Open Tray - this incorporates a simple post mounted tray or simply sprinkling seeds on a strip of cleared ground.

Roofed Tray - this type of feeder protects the feed from the elements, and in such a feeder the roof should be larger than the tray.

Hopper - This feeder has a tray, and a roof as well as an opening used for the gradual dispensing of the feed.

Tube - These are usually clear plastic to display the food, mounted on a post or are hung, they have multiple holes with perches around the cylinder, and usually have a bottom dish, and roof.

Mesh Bag - These are quite simple, just fill a plastic mesh bag with nuts or thistle seed, and hang it.

Birds have high energy needs due to very high metabolic rates, particularly smaller species. To survive, they must eat an amount equal to between 40 and 75 percent of their body weight. This is where you can help by using feeders you can provide food to meet the dietary needs of the birds during periods of severe weather such as droughts and snow storms where the amount of food available to the bird is greatly diminished. The best time to feed birds is in early autumn. It is important that if you start to feed the birds that you continue doing so through the winter because the birds will begin to rely on the food source you are providing. Water should be provided year round but is most critical during the winter.

The types of feed that would be the best to use in your feeder are:

Seeds - These are the most popular with sunflower seeds being the most popular among most birds.

Nuts - Most types will be eaten by birds, but unsalted peanuts are the best.

Suet - This is hard fat trimmed from the kidneys and loins of beef and lamb which birds love plain in the cold months. In the summer it's best to melt small pieces in a pan and pour it onto seeds, nuts, dried fruit , etc..

Cereal and Grain - These should be soaked or crumbled up, and oats, breads, cakes, cookies, pastries, and corn flakes are other appealing feeds for birds.

Fruits and Vegetables - These include dried peas, and lentils, apples, oranges, but currants and sultanas are the most popular.

Animal Products - Small pieces of meat, bone, cheese, and other kitchen scraps are included under this category.

Types of Baths:

All birds need water for drinking and bathing. The best place for your bath is near a feeder. There are a few things to keep in mind when buying a bird bath which are:

1. It should be shallow with gradual slopes so the water is no deeper than about three inches.

2. Make sure surface is not slippery.

3. Concrete is on e of the best materials to use, and ceramics should be avoided because it will crack if the water freezes.

The sound of running water is very attractive to birds and this can be achieved by the use of drip hoses and mist fountains. Since water is critical for the birds during winter you can purchase an electric water heater designed for bird baths so that the water doesn't freeze. It is also important to periodically clean the bird bath with fresh water and a brush.

Types of Houses:

Birds are very particular when it comes to choosing a home. Each species has it's own specific needs.

Getting a bird to adopt your bird house is not easy, and even the colors you use will affect your houses habitability. Some things you should keep in mind when building your bird house are:

1. Build the chamber or platform according to the size of the bird your trying to attract.

2. Place the house in a site comparable to the bird's preferred habitat.

A lot of what you should know when building your bird house can be found by simply watching the bird in nature, observing its behavior and nesting habits.

The most common types of bird houses are:

Platform - preferred by such claustrophobic birds as the robin, they can be mounted on a pole, cradled in a tree, or hung on a wall.

Open Box - can attract a variety of bird types based on the size, etc. of the house.

Enclosed - are the most common, they can attract the widest variety of birds.

Multi-Compartment - The least appealing, these attract the fewest bird species one of which is the purple martins.

When selecting the site for your feeder, house, or bath remember the following:

1. Birds prefer border areas such as where a lawn meets the edge of a grove of trees.

2. To better enjoy the sights of your birds you can move the feeder gradually closer to your house as the birds become accustomed to using it.

3. The entry to the bird house should be placed away from the direction of the wind and rain.

4. Avoid sites that receive extreme sunshine.

Other information that's for the birds:

If you have an interest in birds you may want to check out The Carroll County Bird Club. This group meets the second Wednesday of each month at Carroll Community College at 7:30 pm. They provide bird walks that are led by local experts. For more information call Barbara Gaffney at 1-(410)-875-4006 or Bob Ringler at 1-(410)-549-6031.

Wild Bird Rescue which is an all volunteer network of licensed wildlife rehabilitators, veterinarians, transporters, and other interested individuals dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and return to the wild of sick, orphaned and injured birds and small mammals in and around central Maryland. The mission of the group is to 1. Provide a wildlife rescue resource for central Maryland. 2. Prevent cruelty and abuse of wildlife. 3. Provide training to volunteers interested in participating in wildlife rescue. 4. Educate the public on the effects of human interference on wildlife. 5. Promote public respect for wildlife. 6. Provide advocacy for wildlife safety issues. This group responds to over 1000 referrals of injured wildlife per year from The Department of Natural Resources, The Baltimore Zoo, The National Aquarium, The Humane Society, Animal Control and the public at large. The Wildlife Hot line they provide is answered 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and is used to respond to emergency calls, answer questions about wildlife and provide advice and education to individuals who find wildlife in need of help. This group is there to educate the public as well as to work with state and federal agencies and other private organizations to reduce or eliminate manmade hazards to wildlife. Volunteers are always needed for a variety of jobs. The group also will accept any donations that you can give whether its money, medical supplies, pet supplies, feed, seed, cages, pet carriers, etc.

If you would like more information such as on becoming a member, volunteering, donating, etc. please call: 1-(410)-288-4546, or write to: Wild Bird Rescue. 8139 Cornwall Rd. Baltimore, MD 21222. The Wild Bird Rescue is all volunteer, non-profit organization who can use you any help you can give so please reach out a lending hand.

Meadowland Habitat Management is a program that has been implemented by the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE) that acknowledges the 550 miles of transportation line rights-of-way (the area under electric lines), covering more than 10,000 acres in nine Central Maryland counties and Baltimore City which are used to bring electricity to it's customers, has other uses such as homes for rare, threatened , and endangered wildlife, and native vegetation. BGE in association with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources has created meadowlands and shrub communities on some of the rights-of-way. These areas have been planted with native grasses and wildflowers in hopes that they will reseed themselves naturally in the future. The importance of these meadowlands is that meadowlands attract an abundance of wildlife such as wild turkey, cotton-tailed rabbit, songbirds, white-tailed deer, red-tailed hawks, and owls, and the wildflowers attract a variety of butterflies.

If you have any questions or comments you can call 1-(410)-281-3510.

The Maryland Wild Acres Program, which is funded by the Chesapeake Bay and Endangered Species Fund, is a program designed to help you to invite wildlife into your backyard by providing you with ideas that can help you enhance your wildlife garden or to start one. Enclosed in the backyard wildlife information packet, that you receive when you send for a Maryland Wild Acres Application, are fact sheets on: building bird boxes, what to feed birds, how to attract butterflies and hummingbirds, and building a backyard wildlife pond. You also get much more by filling an application such as: a Maryland Wild Acres Certificate, A colorful sign that tells everyone of your involvement with Maryland's Wild Acres, and also any future information that can be provided on backyard conservation.

For more information including how to receive your Maryland Wild Acres Application please call: 1-(301)-974-3195, or write to: Urban Wildlife Program. Maryland Forest, Park, and Wildlife Service. Tawes State Office Building. Annapolis, MD 21401.

Sources:

Boswell, Thom. The Bird Feeder Book. Sterling Publishing Co.,Inc. New York. 1993.

Does Something Wild Live in Your Backyard? brochure by Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

Wild Bird Rescue brochure.

Meadowland Habitat Management brochure by BGE.

 

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