wild birds

Benefits of wild birds

Wild birds are important to your yard and to gardens everywhere. They eat large quantities of bugs and are one of the best natural means of keeping detrimental insects under control year-round.

Birds also add liveliness and music to gardens in all seasons and children can acquire an early interest in nature by watching them flock to a backyard feeder. Wild bird feeding makes us feel good -- especially in cold weather, when easy meals at a backyard bird feeder may make the difference between life and death.

When birds are migrating, they may want to stop off for a meal along the way. In this country, an average yard where feeders are placed is visited on a regular basis by 15-20 species of wild birds and in some locations upwards of one hundred. It is important to these wild birds to stop in your yards and feast on the fatty seeds you have to offer in your bird feeders.

What do birds need?

Basically, wild birds need the same thing as all animals -- food, water, shelter and a place to raise their young.

Birds eat many foods other than seed and suet. Insects, spiders, grubs, nuts and flower nectar are just a few of the things that the birds eat.

Birds need to consume water to survive and sometimes a strategically placed bird bath or pool can attract a greater variety of birds than the foods that are provided. Birds need protective cover, flying is their way of surviving or escaping an attack.

If your yard won't accommodate trees, then a birdhouse is one way to watch birds nesting and raising their young.