Backyard Bird Watching For Beginners

The beauty of bird watching is the fact that you won’t have to go very far to get started. You have an amazing, rich source of wildlife in your own backyard, a classroom for a novice bird watcher to learn the basics. The trick to backyard bird watching is to set up your property so as to appeal to a wide variety of birds.

Feeders are a great place to start. You should check into different types of bird feeders that are designed to interest specific species if you want to get a large variety of birds in your backyard. Make sure that you locate your feeding stations away from one another, as there are some species which are intimidated by larger birds and will stay away. Wind, sounds of traffic and predators are other things to think about when setting up your bird feeders.

Another thing you will want to check into is making sure that your garden has plants that tend to appeal to birds. It’s important that you have a good amount of trees and shrubbery close by that birds can hide in if they need to. Designing a mini forest with different heights of plants, bushes and trees is ideal.

Take some time to carefully research the kinds of bird feed you will need to provide for your feathered friends. The food you choose will depend on what kind of birds you are hoping to attract and where you live. Among the most popular types of bird feed are sunflower seeds, cracked corn, and thistle. Often obtained in a mix, you just pour the seed into a hopper style feeder. A variety like this will attract several different kinds of birds to just one spot. Suet is preferred by other types of birds, and you can buy a special suet bird feeder for them. If your area has hummingbirds, you probably know that they eat nectar and a number of smaller, soft bugs.

Now that you’ve arranged the attraction, you want to ensure that you can see it clearly. Check to see that there are no branches or other obstacles blocking your view from wherever you arrange your bird watching location. Ensure you do so before birds start feeding because any sudden changes in environment can disrupt their feeding patterns.

Luckily, backyard bird watching doesn’t require you to buy a lot of start-up equipment. As a beginner you’ll do fine with a set of basic binoculars, even though at some point in time you may want to get a mounted spotting scope near a large open view window inside your home. When using these viewing devices you’ll discover you can quickly figure out how to identify birds by their behaviors as well as their unique markings.

Now you can sit back and start enjoying a wide range of birds as they are drawn to your backyard by food and a safe environment. Why consider leaving your own home when you can enjoy all the advantages of backyard bird watching with such ease?

Find out more about the various types of bird feeders that will draw birds to your yard, from squirrel proof bird feeders to hummingbird feeders, at the Outdoor Bird Feeders site.