Our Bird Home

Do you want to attract more birds to your back yard? Having decorative birdhouses and bird feeders is a great way to introduce your people to nature and something the whole family can share. Having a bird friendly yard has never been more important. Nearly 80 percent of wild habitat in the United States is in private hands and an average of 2.1 million acres each year are converted to residential use.

One way to attract birds is to set your own bird feeder station. Make sure it’s close to your rustic birdhouse so that the birds can come and go to each with ease. Another way is to set up a source of clean water for drinking and bathing in a bird bath. It is fun to watch the birds flapping their wings “bathing” in the water. A third way is to providing nesting materials.

In the next few articles we will pass on to you some ideas we have found about such things as foods that appeal to birds you want to attract. Also hints about food items such as eggshells, fruits and other attractions. We will also take a look at how to provide nesting materials.

If you’re anything like me, you’re always looking for ways to spruce up your garden. In the past year alone, I’ve set up an arbor, a full-scale gazebo and even some solar lighting for midnight dalliances among the blooms. I’m always tinkering with the designs of the foliage and the décor that’s meant to set it all off. In fact, I’ve been known to pester my wife and even the neighbors by asking for suggestions.

Most recently, my next door neighbor clued me in about the aesthetic beauty of decorative bird houses. Any experienced gardener will tell you that the overall look of the space is enhanced by the animals that make their home in its confines. Just as earthworms improve the quality of the soil, birds fill the air with their song. Now that the birds are making such a pleasant racket, everyone in the neighborhood is curious about the hubbub. And they can’t help but notice my well-manicured garden.

Although birdhouses are first and foremost a refuge for your local feathered friends, they are also meant to be enjoyed for their own aesthetic virtues. A striking birdhouse can add life to a backyard, and the more unusual the miniature dwelling the better. For people who make their home by the sea or an inland lake, the lighthouse birdhouse is tremendously popular.

Real lighthouses act as a beacon for ships, helping them reach port even in the midst of a perilous storm. These lighthouse birdhouses function in much the same way, providing a safe sanctuary where birds can rest their weary wings and raise their young in peace. The birdhouses make a great conversation piece as well. Neighbors and friends can’t help but remark upon the unique design.