Making A Bird Friendly Yard-Part 1

Imagine a world with no birds.  It doesn't sound like a good thing.  I can't imagine not getting up everyday and listening to the birds outside. In my yard they are always flying around chasing each other and getting that bug that they have been looking for to have for dinner.  Having a bird friendly yard is a simple thing to do.  If you want birds in your yard, you will need three basic requirements for them to survive and thrive.  Shelter, Food, and Water are what birds require to call your space home.

1.Shelter.  All wildlife will need protection from weather and also from predators.  This can come from many sources: shrubs,  nesting boxes (bird houses), and even standing dead trees can all help protect birds that come on your property.  Shrubs are a good place for birds to go for protection.  The dense growth will keep birds out of sight from predators and will also protect them from bad weather. Many birds will use shrubs for nesting habitats also, such as mockingbirds, thrashers, and cardinals.  Do be careful with shrubs around ponds, feeders, bird houses, and bird baths.  Predators can use shrubs to hide in and strike when the birds are around these areas.
Nesting Boxes provide great shelter from both the elements and predators.  There are about 50 species of North American birds that use bird houses for nesting.  The size and shape of the bird houses are determined by the species of bird that you are trying to attract into your yard. For example, Purple Martins love to have open spaces to fly in and out of their gourd shaped houses. They also like to high up off of the ground.  Check back when I talk more about the different birds and how to attract them individually.
Dead Trees can be slightly unwelcome in a manicured yard but if you have them on your property, please leave them be.  Many dead trees provide shelter for not only birds but some other critters and insects also.  Woodpeckers, chickadees, titmice, tree swallows, bluebirds, nuthatches, some owls, wrens, raccoons, flying squirrels, and even some bats will use dead trees to house in. Some species of birds are insect lovers and  dead trees attract insects, as well as fungi and other organisms that help decompose the wood of the tree.