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Birding

Birding has become one of the fastest-growing outdoor activities in America.  According to a survey by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 51.3 million Americans report they watch wild birds, and more are taking it up all the time.  Pike will help you learn to attract and enjoy an array of birds found here in Georgia.

For more information on nest boxes and plantings to create your own backyard bird habitat, visit Audubon at Home.

Quick Jump: Attracting Bluebirds | Birds in the Backyard | Hummingbird Gardens | Migratory Birds

Attracting Bluebirds
Bluebird sightings are a rare occurrence these days. Mountain bluebirds prefer open fields to find their food sources.They swoop low, catch their prey, then return to a perch or back into flight.A cavity nester, the Eastern bluebird's search for a protected, closed-in space has become harder to find due to the use of metal fence posts rather than wood ones, and the aggressive competition by English sparrows and starlings for available hollows. The use of pesticides has also scaled back the bluebird population. There were measurable declines in the 1950s and 1960s.You can help sustain the bluebirds by providing a safe habitat with food and shelter they prefer.

1. What should I plant to attract Bluebirds to my yard?

  • Serviceberries
  • Dogwoods
  • Hollies
  • Virginia creeper
  • Sumacs
  • Elderberries
  • Fox grapes

 

2. How do I prepare a Bluebird Box?

Bluebirds usually build their nests in the spring and lay eggs between March and July.  The eggs take 13-16 days to hatch, and the young birds stay in the nest for approximately 20 days. ;Both the male and female bluebird parents participate in feeding and caring for their young.

  • Use 3/4" lumber
  • Cut an entry hole into the top 1/3  of the box measuring exactly 1 ½ inches to prevent larger birds from entering.
  • Do not place a perch on the box because this encourages house wrens and sparrows to attempt entry.If another bird does get in, remove its nest. You may have to do this several times, but eventually the bird will abandon the box, leaving it for the intended bluebird.
  • Paint the box a light color to keep the interior cool.
  • Mount it 5-6 ft. above ground in an open area within 100 ft. of trees or shrubs.
  • Keep boxes up year round.  Many bluebirds remain in one location all year.
     


Birds in the Backyard

Planting flowers, trees, and other shrubbery is not the only way to beautify your backyard. Why not try attracting birds? Bird watching can be a delightful and entertaining hobby, and you can even observe the birds from the comfort of your own lawn or window. Birds love feeders as well as certain types of plants, so simply making these available in your yard will draw in the crowd. Plus, not only do birds bring life and beauty into your yard, they also help rid or reduce insect and weed seed populations.
The easiest way to attract birds is to place bird baths and bird feeders in your yard. Birds seem to enjoy having water nearby for drinking and bathing. Most birds prefer shallow bird baths with gently sloping sides, usually not more than two to three inches deep.
 
When choosing a feeder, look for one that is well-protected against the elements, above the ground, clean, and squirrel-proof (unless you are interested in attracting squirrels, which also provide for an entertaining time). Next, be sure to fill the feeder with an assortment of many different types of seeds. Songbirds seem to enjoy seeds that belong to the sunflower family, particularly the black oil and striped sunflower seeds. The chart below lists different types of seeds and the varieties of birds that they attract.
 
Birds are also attracted to certain varieties of plants for either food or nesting. Just as different types of seed attract different species of birds, different plants also draw different birds. For instance, crabapple trees, good for both food and for nesting, tend to attract blue jays, brown thrashers, cardinals, catbirds, mockingbirds, and robins. Cedar waxwings, however, are only drawn to crabapple trees for food and not for nesting. Other plants and shrubs that attract birds include beautyberry, dogwood, elderberry, hawthorn, holly, oak, plum, pyracantha, red cedar, sassafras, sour gum, sumac, viburnum, and wild olive.
 

Hummingbird Gardens
About fourteen different species of hummingbirds can be found in the United States, but the most common in the southeast is the beautiful ruby-throated hummingbird.  Migrating 2000 miles from Mexico and Central America, the ruby-throated hummingbird is one of the most fascinating birds to look for this season.  This tiny emerald and ruby colored bird is only about 3.5 inches long and weighs less than 3 grams.  It can be sighted from early March to late October.
 
To view these magnificent jewels, you can plant gardens or set up sugar-water feeders in your yard.  Hummingbirds are attracted to bright tubular flowers and nectar sources.  Some of the more popular flowers that hummingbirds will feed on include butterfly bushes, honeysuckle, jewelweed, trumpet creepers, salvia, turk's caps, four o'clock flowering tobacco, geraniums, lantanas, petunias, and impatiens.
 
Sugar-Water Recipe:
  • 1 part sugar
  • 4 parts water
  • Boil for 3-4 minutes and let cool before serving.  Store in refrigerator.
  •  
Little-known facts about ruby-throated hummers:
  • Hummingbirds can fly backwards and hover.
  • Before migration, a hummingbird will increase its body mass by nearly 50% in the form of fat to store energy for its long journey.
  • Hummingbirds lick nectar at 13 licks per second.
  • A hummingbird beats its wings up to 90 times per second.
  • Its heart beats at about 1260 times a minute.
  • To save energy at night, a hummingbird's heartbeat will often slow to 50 beats per minute for 8-14 hours at a time.
     

Migratory Birds
For residents of Georgia, the best springtime symphony can often be found in the back yard where songbirds and other species serenade us during their annual visit.  Known as neotropical migrants, these winged travelers set up temporary housekeeping in our trees, eaves and shrubs as they travel distances up to 1200 miles toward tropical winter destinations in Central and South America and the islands of the Caribbean.  Orioles, warblers, tangers and hummingbirds are a few of the more recognizable species to look for as the days get warmer.
 
More than 90 species of migratory birds flock to our landscape for food and shelter during their annual migrations.  Fifty-four of these species stay long enough to build nests and raise their young before moving on toward the equator.  While most of these species are still fairly common, loss of the appropriate type of habitat for wintering, breeding and nesting has significantly reduced the number of these beautiful birds.  By simply being aware of what migratory birds need, you can make an important contribution to the life cycle of these seasonal travelers.
 
The first step in creating a feather friendly environment is to take a look at your own back yard. Have you planted a variety of native trees, flowers and shrubs to provide birds with food and shelter?  Flowers are a valuable source of food for birds. Petunias, cosmos, four o'clocks, verbena and zinnias are just a few that continue to provide food even after the blooms have faded and died.
 
Other steps you can take to attract migratory birds to your yard include:
  • Accent a shady area with a birdbath or fountain with circulating water; birds thrive in a habitat with a clean water source.
  • Stock birdfeeders regularly with seed.
  • Keep your cat indoors as much as possible.
  • Avoid the use of chemical pesticides in and around feeding areas.  

Remember, migratory birds are headed south, and there are additional steps you can take to protect their final tropical destinations.  If you are a coffee drinker, seek out shade-grown coffees. When grown under a canopy of trees in harmony with other vegetation, coffee is an environmentally friendly crop which does not require drastic clear cutting that decimates the rain forest.  During the l990's, a team from the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center identified 150 species of migratory birds on shade coffee farms in Mexico.  Unfortunately, in recent years, more and more coffee growers have begun cultivating coffee in the sun for higher yields.  These sun grown coffee plantations are nearly devoid of birds, and also use much higher ratios of agrochemicals that can kill birds, and damage the environment.

 
Georgia is fortunate to have an agency dedicated to the conservation of migratory birds.  Founded in l990, Partner in Flight works to reverse the decline of migratory bird populations and to safeguard existing birds for the benefit of future generations. For further information, contact Georgia Partners in Flight at 912-994-1438.