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Show wwe “THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS March Page 13 15, 2006 Birds in Your Backyard (Part I) Ornithology is the scientific study of birds. The information ornithologists gather is used to better understand how birds function, inside and out, and to learn how birds relate to their natural environment. Why Study Birds? Birds provide a terrific doorway into nature and scientific study. They are easy to see and study. They engage in fascinating behaviors i play important roles in the ecosystems that sustain life. Birds are also excellent indicators of general environmental health. Their changing populations often provide clues to the overall health of their habitat. Attracting Birds ew things are as interesting, lively, and beautiful as birds. They brighten up the dark days of winter and fill our springtime woodlands and gardens with their music. How can we repay them for giving us such enjoyment? By providing some of the things they need to survive—food, water, shelter, nest sites, and natural habitats. tant—with every passing year suitable habitat for birds is ever shorter in supply. Attracting birds is also great way to introduce young people to nature—it’s something the whole family can share How to begin? An easy way to attract birds is to put up a bird feeder. Many birds sites. Think wild! Let your backyard (or just a part of it) become overgrown with thickets and trailing vines. Our landscaping section is full of tips to make your backyard a haven for birds! Attracting birds to your property is full of rewards, but it brings challenges and responsibilities too. Feeding Wild Birds If you have a bird feeder in your backyard, you’re in good company. Bird watching is one of America’s fastest-growing hobbies, and surveys show that nearly half the households in the United States provide food for wild birds. The appeal is obvious—by feeding birds we bring them close so we can see them more easily. Their colorful, lively company brightens up our — especially through the dreary days ofw Setting up a backyard bird “(eels can make birds’ lives easier, too. In much of North America, winter is a difficult time for birds. Finding food can be especially challenging during periods of extreme cold. What should you serve your bird visitors for dinner? And how should you serve it? The shelves of supermarkets, home and garden stores, and specialty bird-feeding stores are stocked with bags, buckets, and cakes of many food types, as well as numerous differ- ent feeders. You ing the best foods There are pluses types of feeders, attract. Attracting Birds may find the task of selectand feeders a bit daunting. and minuses to different and the types of birds they with Nest Boxes Placing a nest box (sometimes called a birdhouse) in your yard or neighborhood is a great way to attract birds that nest in holes. Participants i in The Birdhouse Network, a citizen-science project of Cornell Lab of Ornithology, monitor the birds that nest in their nest boxes, gathering information such as the number of eggs in the nest, then submit the data over the Internet to Lab scientists. Other Ways to Attract Birds Looking for even more bird diversity in your backyard? Enhance your property b adding a water source, a roost box (try building your own!), or a supply of nest material. Or try all three for a true bird bonanza! As well as improving life for your local feeder birds, you’ll increase the chances that species that normally don’t visit feeders will set up home nearby. Birds need a dependable supply of fresh, clean water for drinking and bathing—few things are more attractive to them than a well-maintained birdbath. In fact, a birdbath in your yard may attract birds that don’t eat seeds and wouldn’t otherwise com feeders, such as the bathing American Robin pictured at right. Traditional concrete birdbaths sold in garden shops make nice lawn ornaments, but they aren’t the best type for birds—they’re often too deep and are hard to clean. Also, they may crack during winter freezes. The best birdbaths mimic rain puddles, which are nature’s birdbaths, by being shallow basins with a slight slope so that birds can wade into the water. Look for one that is made of tough plastic that won’t break and is easily cleaned. You can make your own birdbath using a trashcan lid, saucer-type snow sled, shallow pan, or old frying pan. Setting up your birdbath rds seem to prefer baths that are at ground level. If you’re concerned about cats, raise the bath two or three feet off the ground. Keep the water level at 1/2 to 1 inch deep at the edges, sloping to a maximum of 2 inches deep in the middle of the bath. Put some sand in the bottom of the bath to gives the birds sure footing. If the bath is the ground, arrange a branches r stones the Ww: that birds can stand on them a d drink without £5 = build nests out of vegetation, but some excavate holes in tree trunks. Still, others breed in tree holes that other birds have made. Nest boxes offer these hole-nesters a place to raise their young, especially where dead trees aren’t available. Learn where about the features of a good nest box, where to place it, and how to avoid predators. Also, try providing a water source or some nest material. They may attract birds than normally don’t visit feeders. Hole-nesting birds often use cavities as overnight shelters, too. A roosting box can help them out. In spring and summer, birds’ natural diet includes insects and spiders. During fall migration and winter, songbirds rely on fruit d seeds to survive. If a more natural approach to attracting birds appeals to you, try landscaping your yard to provide some of these natural fe Plant conifers and deciduous trees; birds use them as shelter from the elements and predators, and for nest 85 Birdwatching is the very best kind of fun: easy, ae healthful a satisfying. Taking a page from Henry D; Thoreau, we consider any day wasted ‘as we don’t go for a walk and enjoy nature. Some of the best birdwatching is in your own backyard. In most places, there are plenty of feathered neighbors and colorful birds to see every day. It’s easy to learn the birds that live around you. You’ll only need two things to start watching birds—a bird book and a pair of binoculars. If you don’t have a book yet, look on the internet for pictures of birds to help you identify those you find all around you. Parents, by watching birds with your children, you’ll be giving them a lifetime ticket to the theater of nature while building lasting memories. What is Ornithology? Larry Zini of Huntsville was able to catch this photo of a Shar Shinned Hawk on his roof. yo birdbath in the shade near trees or shrubs if possible (but not so close that cats could pounce). The shade keeps the water from evaporating quickly and keeps it fresher. t from bathing don’t fly well, so they’re more vulnerable to predators. Shrubbery nearby gives them a safe place to hide while they preen and dry off. One of the best ways to make your birdbath even more attractive is to provide dripping water. Many birds find the sight and sound of moving water irresistible. You can buy a commercial dripper or sprayer. Or make your own by recycling an old bucket or plastic container by punching a tiny hole in the bottom, filling it with water, and hanging it above the birdbath so the water drips out. Keeping the water from freezing There are several ways to keep your birdbath ice-free in winter. 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