If you feed them, they will come...

The first season I lived at the lake I was a little disappointed not to see or hear more birds. After all, the suburban location backyard I'd just left had hummingbirds and cardinals and wrens everywhere. What's up with the seven rural acres with a lake I have now?

Call it one of my "Duh" moments! Birds were not very noticeable on the property because no one had actually lived there full time for the last 2 years and the people that had lived here were more interested in shooting things than feeding them. Based on the lack of birds I initially found, maybe being called a "birdbrain" is then actually a compliment?

As you can see from the picture above, five years later, I have lots of feathered visitors on, in, and around the lake. Some bring their families...some even start their families here. The family shown is the second started on the lake so far. Some are back here now 18 months later, as adults (I believe this to be true but can't prove it...they all look alike to me!)

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How to attract birds to your backyard or outdoor living space...

In a word, food.

Birds like to eat and for their size they eat a lot. They have to. Their metabolism is so high, near-constant feeding is all but a requirement.

They are also creatures of habit. If they find a food source and they find it there consistently, they will stay - barring any inbred migratory patterns. This is even more important if you want your birds to stay in your environment over the Winter months. They will rely on the food you provide and you bird's survival will be threatened if food available to them in Summer is not there for Winter as well.

Regarding bird migration, I wrote a review of "Winged Migration" if you are interested in learning more about birds and their migratory patterns - this is a show a bird lover will not want to miss.

The geese shown above and the 70 or 100 others who may gather on the lake any given day like coarse cracked corn. I am a frequent visitor to the local Southern States and grab the stuff in 50lb bags - 2 or 3 at a time. I like the geese. They make the lake more interesting and I feel they have a hard time trying to survive in the urban and suburban sprawl that was once and for generations of birds, their natural habitat. No eggs are shaken here.

Southern States also has supplies for smaller birds, but their focus is on high-octane food for farm animals. Since I have such a wide variety of birds here at the lake, I tend to buy special food for special feeders and let the birds find their way to the variety geared for their likes and well-being. The Goldfinch shown to the left has easily found the right feeder and the right food - although he will sometimes visit the larger seed feeder if no large birds are lurking.

Gold and other type finches like finch-food, also known as "Thistle." Cardinals and nuthatch like sunflower seeds and anything else they can get. Wrens and other smaller local birds are easy...they just want seeds - although they will attempt a sunflower seed once and awhile which can prove quite entertaining to watch.

So, assuming you've figured out the seed requirements, now you need something to put it in for the birds and maybe want to shop for a little house or two for them as well. Two merchants I am well acquainted with have these needs covered and you can order from them online and with confidence.

Top Products For the Birds

Both Gardener's Supply Company and Plow & Hearth have so many high quality, useful and sometimes beautiful birding products, each deserves a product page all their own...

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Gardener's Supply

Gardener's Supply was founded in 1983 by a handful of enthusiastic Vermont gardeners. Today, we serve millions of gardeners nationwide, offering everything from seedstarting supplies and garden furniture to flower supports and garden carts. Though our company has grown, we remain passionately committed to providing garden-tested, earth-friendly products that will help our customers have more fun and success in their gardens.

Headquartered in Burlington, Vermont, USA. Have a look at some of their fine birding products.

Plow & Hearth

Plow & Hearth is a trusted national catalog, retail, and internet company specializing in unique, enduring home and lifestyle products that are quality-built and guaranteed to meet customer's expectations. What began as a small retail store in Madison, Virginia in 1980 has grown to include their flagship brand, Plow & Hearth®.

Plow & Hearth offers unique, high-quality products for home, hearth, yard and garden. Take a quick look at some of my personal bird-friendly favorites.

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Here is an interesting video of a Hummingbird nest - from eggs to first flight. Very cool!

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