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The water you supply birds is the place to start. A simple birdbath is what most people think of first, and it's a great addition to any landscape. Besides being good for birds, it adds a focal point to the garden.

Andy Wood, director of education for the North Carolina Audubon Society, said a birdbath is ideal for songbirds, which need something shallow, just 1 or 2 inches deep, for bathing. In her book Natural Gardening for Birds (Rodale, 2001, $16.95), Julie Zickefoose recommends a birdbath with a basin less than 3 inches deep with a rough, nonslip surface (if your birdbath is too deep or too slippery, pile flat rocks in the bottom; avoid gravel or sand, which is hard to keep clean). Finally, make sure the basin is secure on the pedestal; if it's not, cement it.

Sherry Koester, president of Dragonfly Perennials in Cary, N.C., which specializes in nature-friendly yardscapes, said placement of the birdbath is important.

Birds need to see what's going on around them, Koester said. But they also need nearby shrubs to fly to for drying off and grooming (birds are vulnerable to predators when they're wet). Too often, she said, homeowners stick a birdbath in the middle of a large grassy spot, then wonder why it isn't used.

Moving water is a great magnet for birds, and the simplest way to provide it is with a dripper over the birdbath. You can buy one at a wild bird supply store, or make a homely but effective one by punching a tiny hole in a plastic milk jug filling it with water and hanging it over the birdbath. A dripper is especially important during extended periods of freezing temperatures.

Ponds and water gardens are also excellent for birds. But Wood stresses that you should provide a shallow place in your pond for birds, and put rocks or a platform in the deeper parts so critters that fall in can climb back out.

The food

Landscaping with birds in mind is the best, most permanent way to provide food for them, but for instant gratification, you can easily set up feeding stations.

Koester said block oil sunflower seeds are the No. 1 food for birds; Zickefoose called it "the universal favorite among North American birds." The seeds' high oil and calorie contest, small size and thin shells make them easy for even small birds to eat.

Zickefoose also recommended hulled sunflower seeds as a near- universal wild bird food.

Zickefoose suggested a rigorous cleaning schedule for feeders to hold down diseases and parasites (at least once a week in the summer). Discard old seeds and hulls, scrape out the inside of the feeder, then wipe it out with a water-dampened sponge, followed with a mix of one part bleach to nine parts water, rinse with clear water and dry with a cloth. Finally, let it air dry before putting in fresh seed.

Zickefoose's book has extensive information on what to offer to attract specific birds at specific times of the year.

The shelter

Birds are attracted to brush piles and woodpiles. Christmas trees make a great haven.

Koester admitted that neighbors might not find a brush pile all that attractive and she suggested keeping it in a back corner. If neighbors know it's for a good purpose, they'll usually accept it, she said.

Wood suggested creating "edge habitats," where field and forest come together. This can be done on a quarter-acre lot, he said, especially if neighbors work together.

Instead of a fence, try planting shrubs for boundaries, Wood said. They provide both food and shelter for about 40 varieties of birds that will nest in an environmentally friendly suburban yard, including thrashers, robins, blue jays, morning doves, bluebirds, wrens, warblers and sparrows.

"Transitional areas are real important," Wood said. "The more habitats you have, you have greater plant diversity, and that brings greater animal diversity. When you've got a mix of plants instead of a monoculture, there's much less chance of noxious pests, nematodes and insects."

With pests comes the temptation to use pesticides, Wood said, and that's bad for birds. So are cats.

"House cats are the most efficient mammalian predator for songbirds in the world," Wood said. Putting a bell on the cat's collar can help, and so can keeping kitty inside during the early morning and early evening, when birds are most likely to be active. Protect baby birds by keeping your cat indoors as much as possible during the breeding season--May to August.

Finally, with the disappearance of old-growth forests that provide natural nesting areas, it's important to provide alternate nesting sites--birdhouses. Natural Gardening for Birds includes a chart of specs for boxes for 20 types of songbirds along with information on where to put them for best access and for safety.

# posted by Medical Information : 4:40 AM