The last week of December means that the new year is about to begin and thoughts of good intentions are buzzing in our heads. For gardeners, it's probably a common "I'll do" - "Weed, plant a pollinator garden, try new tomato varieties."
How about a new hobby? Gardeners greatly appreciate garden visitors and birds are at the top of the list. Bird feeding is the second most popular hobby in the United States after gardening ( garden.org ). To feed the birds, bring them to the garden. For humans, time spent watching birds soothes our hearts.
If you're a bird eater, you're not alone. The National Bird Feeding Society ( birdfeeding.org ) offers some startling statistics: "More than 55 million Americans watch or feed birds and other wildlife in their homes, spending an estimated $3 billion on bird seed each year and an estimated $800 million in bird feeders and bird baths, bird boxes and other accessories.
It's easy to hide indoors during the winter months, but by feeding the birds, we can escape the claustrophobia indoors and enjoy the fresh air outside.
Feeding birds is a simple activity with few requirements. One of the joys of bird feeding is learning how to attract more birds by raising more birds.
To help gardeners observe birds, place feeders in clear view from an interior window.
To keep the birds happy, place the feeders near a safe waiting area while the birds are lined up and wait for them to browse the seeds safely. Birds show a hierarchy in their feeding habits; Larger birds, such as blue jays, compete with smaller birds when approaching feeders, for example. Small trees and shrubs located next to or under larger trees provide safe shelter for birds waiting their turn. Placed close together, thorns make good seats.
Sophisticated or inexpensive platform birdcages can be hung from posts, shelves, branches or fences. The various feeding areas in the garden allow the birds to freely choose their feeding place. When a feeder is occupied, the birds move to another feeder elsewhere in the garden, and people are happy to watch them circling.
Clean water Birds need a daily source of water to sit on - fountains, birdbaths or saucers. The shape and depth of the water tank should allow the bird to sit on its side and bathe in the water.
the seeds Black oil sunflower seeds attract many species of birds. Some birds prefer other seeds such as sorghum, sorghum or cracked corn.
Resources. Since we are at the crossroads of the western and eastern states, the Western Field Guide to Birds and the Eastern Field Guide to Birds are two good resources for identifying birds in the Lubbock region. Anyone interested in delving into the hobby of bird feeding can make a free application to the Bird Feeding Association at infor@birdfeeding.org.
Ellen Peffley taught college horticulture for 28 years, including 25 years at Texas Tech. He is now the sole owner of Paradise, a vegetable farm. You can email him at garden@suddenlink.net
This article appeared in the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Gardening for You: Bird Feeding as a Hobby
