In the News - November 2009
Backyard habitats can be havens for birds
SEARCY, Ark. - Having a full bird feeder with no birds around may seem like
preparing a home-cooked meal but having no one around to eat it. Simply putting
out birdseed is only one facet of creating a backyard bird habitat, said Sherri
Sanders, county extension agent-agriculture with the University of Arkansas
Division of Agriculture.
"Attracting birds to your yard usually takes more than simply putting out
seed in a feeder," she said. "Birds hang out in those areas that fulfill their
basic needs: food, shelter, and water." Backyard enthusiasts should try to
fulfill these needs.
Garden variety seed may not always be the answer. Some birds are picky.
For example, 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," said
Sanders.
Still other birds require different sources of food.
"Hummingbirds feed on nectar and insects - they are not seed eaters," said
Becky McPeake, an associate professor of wildlife with the Arkansas Forest
Resource Center at the U of A Division of Agriculture.
In Arkansas, hummingbird winter migration generally ends in October, with
hummingbirds returning in March. People may wonder whether or not to take their
feeders down. "The concern is that the birds are staying near the feeders and
not migrating to warmer climates," said McPeake.
Hummingbirds know when to migrate, so keep feeders up in case of stragglers.
"There may be some late migrations of hummingbirds passing through Arkansas, and
those birds could appreciate the feeder."
Birds have other needs, such as water.
"Birds love water, both to bathe in and to drink," said Sanders. A classic
birdbath fills the bill perfectly. Small fountains or water gardens that have
splashing water, however, will attract even more birds. Install a birdbath
heater to keep feathered friends coming back year round.
Creating shelter for birds gives them a habitat they’ll return to again and
again.
"Birdhouses are nice additions to the yard and will attract a family of
birds," said Sanders. "However, to attract larger numbers of birds, plant trees
and large, bushy shrubs." Consider including trees and shrubs with small fruits,
such as mulberries, which birds love to eat.
Remember to 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,"
said Sanders. For best results, set up most feeders in the fall, when
overwintering birds will begin seeking out food sources.
Some believe bird-feeding should be stopped, said McPeake.
A literature review conducted by The Wildlife Society, an association of
wildlife professionals, indicates supplemental feeding can be harmful to birds
by concentrating them unnaturally, leading to increased risk of disease
transmission and predation.
According to McPeake, clean your seed feeders periodically with a mild bleach
solution. Trees and bushes within 15 to 20 feet will give birds escape cover
from predators. Having bushes and other hiding places too close to feeders
benefits cats and other predators, she warns.
Building a natural habitat at home can be a sort of compromise - it attracts
birds around the home while providing a complex ecosystem for them to thrive in.
"Mother Nature is smarter than any gardener," said Sanders.
The Cooperative Extension Service is part of the University of Arkansas
Division of Agriculture and offers its programs to all eligible persons
regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability,
marital or veteran status, or any other legally protected status, and is an
Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
November 13, 2009
By Benjamin Waldrum
For the U of A Division of Agriculture
Media Contact: Elizabeth Fortune
Extension Communications Specialist
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2120
efortune@uaex.edu
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