Tag: backyard birding

Feed the Birds

My kids have been watching Mary Poppins lately. Do everyone’s kids pick a movie and just watch it so many times you can’t stand it? I did that as a kid so I sort of understand. But gee whiz. 

In any case, who doesn’t love the song Feed the Birds? And now is precisely the time of year we need to be feeding the birds and helping them out.

Over the last few years I’ve purchased two of these squirrel buster bird feeders and have to say I am quite impressed with them. I was gifted one by my boss as well that is even snazzier. And at some point last year I bought this window bird feeder that I simply find incredible. It’s like I’m in my very own national geographic special every single day. I can honestly say I never knew that birds hold seeds with their little feet to eat them.  Did you?

Anyway, I think you get the point. I have developed a love and appreciation for birds that I never expected to. I love hearing their songs and seeing their beautiful feather patterns.

pileated woodpecker at bird feeder
blue jay at bird feeder

And if you are a gardener or homesteader, attracting birds to your property is a huge benefit.  They eat bugs, weed seeds, certain pests, and they can help pollinate. The type of bird seed you buy doesn’t really matter that much. Just ask at your local nature store what they recommend. The only warning I have is to please put the feeders high enough up so that you aren’t luring birds to their death by a cat lurking below.

Bird Beauty

We all have our own reasons for gardening. Self-sufficiency. Passing on skills from elders. Connection to nature. Regardless of motivation, I would say it’s always important to zoom out. See the bigger picture unfolding in front of you. A facet of gardening I never expected to appreciate as much as I do is bird life. I am certain that all my plants and flowers attract more bird life than if I didn’t garden.

I see them every morning and in the afternoon flying in and out of my garden, stopping at the feeder, and chasing each other from tree to tree. The most frequent are goldfinches, nuthatches, titmice, juncos, sparrows, cardinals, orioles, bluebirds, red-billed woodpeckers, and of course robins.

But a bird whose magnificence is truly breathtaking and I don’t think I ever saw in real life before last summer is the hummingbird. It will take your breath away every time. 

We bought a hummingbird feeder like this for our front porch.  I wasn’t sure if it was too close to our activity for the birds to feel comfortable frequenting it. But within a few days, Sha-ZAM! The sound of hummingbird wings fluttering is unmistakable. Like a mini-helicopter going by you.

If you’d like to see more hummingbirds in your yard, here are few ways to attract them.

  1. Get a feeder.
  2. Plant trumpet shaped flowers.
  3. Plant bright red flowers – cannas and gladiolas.
flowers that attract hummingbirds
flowers that attract hummingbirds
flowers that attract hummingbirds

I say all this to say, whenever we can pause and look around, I’m almost certain you’ll notice something you hadn’t before and it will impress you.