A Lot To Learn About Birds

There are so many different things to learn about the birds and their habits that I wonder if it's possible to learn it all. Some people devote their whole life to watching, learning and caring for birds. I am just a hobbyist that finds bird fact very interesting and I like to know about the birds I have around my bird feeders and in my garden. I am in no way a professional on the subject, but I love to learn about them. Actually, it's just like getting to know your human neighbors. When you move into a new neighborhood everyone is a stranger, but soon you recognize people based on their characteristics, such as habits, shape, styles of walking, and the places where you see them. Paying attention to individual differences can help you identify birds, too. You can recognize many birds simply by noting their shapes, even if seen only in silhouette. Other useful characteristics are a bird's posture, size, flight pattern, and the kind of habitat in which the bird was seen. Start by learning to identify general groups of birds-- warblers, flycatchers, hawks, owls, wrens--whose members all share certain similarities. As your observation skills improve, familiarize yourself with the field marks--colored or patterned areas on the bird's body, head, and wings--that help distinguish species.


To attract birds to your yard or garden takes almost no effort on your part. Of course you need a water source, Such as a birdbath or fountain. The feeders you choose will make a difference in the types of birds that you attract. I myself have several feeding areas in my yard, Two types of seed feeders, One that the larger birds like and one that is better for the smaller birds. One thistle seed feeder that is mainly for my goldfinches, several hummingbird feeders, a fruit feeder, I put bread or whatever in the lawn area away from the feeders and in the back yard, and have a suet feeder in a nearby tree. This cuts down on the bullying by the larger birds. Not that it's always the larger birds that do the bullying. I have seen several finches chase a chipmunk away from the feeder. hummingbirds also like to lay claim to any feeder they want to claim as their own. It's a good idea to have several hummingbird feeders because they don't like to share.

You can attract birds to nest in your yard by placing birdhouses around the area too. I have many types of birdhouses too. they are in my trees, in my gardens, on my arbors, and on Sheppard's hooks scattered all over our property. The birds also choose their own nesting areas in my yard. Some choice places are not always convenient for the human inhabitants of that area though. They like the cap on my propane tank, light fixtures, overhangs, gutters, I have even had them nest in my gas grill.

One year there was a hole in my siding that a light meter was removed from and birds nested inside the wall. Every day I heard baby birds chirping loudly to be fed until they were old enough to abandon the nest at which time the hole was immediately repaired. If there is a hole where they can get in they will nest in it. They are very resourceful.