Feeding your feathered friends

Watching wild birds is a fascinating pastime for both adults and children. Providing food is the best way to observe birds up close.

Birds need the three things we all need -- food, water and shelter. Trees and shrubs provide shelter from harsh weather and enemies, plus a place for reproduction or nest building. Bird feeders, bird houses, a source of water, and various plant materials can help provide habitat needs for backyard birds.

There have been many books and articles written about how to feed the birds, but it's not that complicated. And you can find all the supplies you need at Lavalette Nursery. The staff will be happy to help you pick out the right feeder and food for your yard and answer all your questions.

It's never too late to start a bird-feeding program, but results will vary with the seasons. Some birds are here only during the winter, some only during summer, some are here year-round and some may stop by for a few days while migrating.

Birds depend on your feeder most during weather extremes, especially when snow or ice covers natural food sources, and during late winter and early spring when less food is available. If you start feeding birds during the winter, continue feeding until about May when new spring growth is under way.

Feeding birds during summer is becoming more common. Nesting and egg-laying require a lot of energy, so birds that come to your feeder have the extra boost of an easy food source. Most will continue to feed on insects captured in your yard and garden, and will feed insects to their young.

Place feeders so that birds have protection from winds and predators and so that they avoid window collisions. Feeders should be in a somewhat open area but within about 10 feet of cover such as bushes or trees. Some open area allows birds to observe predators, such as cats that might hide, and the shrubs or trees can provide shelter from strong winds and a place to escape from overhead predators.

Feeders can be as simple as a covered tray hung from a tree limb or as elaborate as a miniature reproduction of a Victorian house. Feed can be a mixture of several varieties or a single seed, like sunflowers.

A variety of feeders and foods in a variety of spots provides for the greatest diversity of birds and better ensures that less aggressive birds have a place. Because some birds prefer to eat on the ground and some prefer higher up, several different kinds of feeders will attract more kinds of birds.

The good folks at Lavalette Nursery will be happy to show you their variety of feeders and seeds.