December 2015: Caring for Neighborhood Birds

Hey everyone, and welcome to Caitlin’s Corner! Ahhh…it is finally December, the month that I wait for all year long. There is so much joy in the air; it just makes me want to fly! Well, not only you can be happy this start of winter, but also the birds! Here are a few tips on how to make your neighborhood birds just as joyful this season:

1. Provide birdfeed – Make sure that your birdfeeders are full! If you don’t have birdfeeders, then I recommend getting some, no matter where you live. They benefit you and the bird: the bird gets food to eat that is readily accessible, and you get to watch them from close by (I hang them right by my porch so I can watch them from inside my house. Just don’t hang them near windows, or the birds might crash into them due to reflections). Try to get a variety of different feeders (make sure they are squirrel-free; you can get another feeder built for just the squirrels if you would like) with a variety of different feed. Different seed types will attract different types of birds. Make sure you don’t leave a local bird out!

2. Create a heated birdbath or water source – You may notice that during the winter, the formation of ice may block available water sources. What you can do is provide a heated birdbath. Try using a heated water dish or putting a birdbath right over a vent outside your house. The birds will love you for it, and you will love seeing them with water, too!

3. Build a birdhouse – A birdhouse is a really great thing to put out for your birds any time of the year! Homemade ones are even more special because you get to see the birds live in and enjoy something you built. Birdhouses also can keep the birds away from predators during the winter, and may provide warmth. If you would like to build your own birdhouse, here is a website I found that gives you instructions (note: make sure you get a parent’s help building any birdhouse!): http://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Birdhouse

4. Make your own bird treats – I have mentioned this already in a previous article about bird crafts. Making your own bird treats is a really great way to get creative and create a good treat for the birds. Actually, I do my own during Christmas time! They are in the shapes of a gingerbread man, a Christmas tree, and a snowman (as seen in the pictures). To make these, you need to first get a bowl. Add seed mixtures to this bowl and put in two cups of birdfeed that has seeds that are small in size. Then add a one fourth cup of flour, putting in drops of water until it is a thick, gooey substance. Once here, take out chunks of seed and shape it how you please. Place it on plastic wrap, putting a hole through the part you want the rope to go through using a straw. Once it is dry, string a rope through the hole and tie the rope. Hang it outside for the birds to eat. For a slightly different way to do make the treat with the same idea, visit http://www.instructables.com/id/Hanging-Wild-Bird-Treat-A-different-kind-of-seed/.

5. Plant winter plants – When I first came across this tip, I thought it was weird. But as turns out, it really helps the birds. First, get rid of any plant species that isn’t native to your area. Next, find plants that are from your area and plant them. Remember to look for ones that not only create another food source for the birds, but maybe also provide shelter and a place for nesting. Try taking similar plant species and growing them together (they will look good and attract birds). Another way to attract a variety of birds is through the diversity of the plants you pick out (for the variety of services it may provide). Now grab a shovel, some plants, and start planting!

I hope these tips gave you some ideas to improve the well being of your neighborhood birds. I expect them to be chirping with delight! See you next month, next year, on Caitlin’s Corner!