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Altona CAN! - Bird-friendly Yards

Many homeowners, whether urban or rural, enjoy the sights and sounds of birds on their yards through all 

the seasons.  Spring and fall migration are the busiest times for bird sightings.  Bird feeders and bird baths

 are very productive in attracting many species to stop over for shelter and food to strengthen them for 

the next leg of their migration.  Bird feeders should include black oil seed, millet, nuts, currants or raisins, 

diced apple, suet, and niger seed for finches.  Putting up nectar feeders and orange halves for the last 

half of May and as soon as the first hummingbirds are spotted in fall, will help these tiny hummers during 

their migration and provide opportunities for close up views and photography.  Orioles, both Baltimore and 

Orchard varieties, will also frequent these feeders.  A cold snap in mid May can also bring certain 

warbler species to your orange feeder because insects are not active.  Remember not to use food 

coloring to make nectar.  Just bring 1 cup water and ¼ cup of sugar to a boil, cool it, and fill the feeder, 

refreshing it weekly.

American Goldfinch
      

    Plantings on your property can be very effective in attracting birds during migration and 

encouraging some to stay and nest.  Dense hedges are great nesting shelters for Brown Thrashers and 

Gray Catbirds.  Cedars and Spruce provide homes for House Finches, Pine Siskins, Mourning Doves, 

and Chipping Sparrows.  Ornamental Crab Apple trees, Mountain Ash, Dogwoods, Hawthorn, Highbush 

Cranberry, and Cotoneaster all produce fruit really important for birds migrating in fall.  They will attract 

Robins, Waxwings, Flickers, Brown Thrashers, Gray Catbirds, and Eastern Bluebirds if you live near 

wooded valleys or rivers.

            Urban folk like to pride themselves in keeping a well-manicured yard.  If you have the luxury of a 

wilder looking space on your property, consider creating a brush pile of tree clippings.  Migrating birds will 

use it for shelter from predators, especially at night, and also find insects in the rubble.

            Wooden bird boxes are a great way to get birds to nest in your yard, especially if you are 

already providing feeders and bird baths or other water features.  Go online to find plans for bluebird 

(1.5 inch hole) or wren boxes (nickel sized hole).  Rural folk can attract Wood Ducks to nest in boxes 

provided there is a stream or pond nearby.  Again, go on line for Wood Duck box plans.  An oval hole 

will help to discourage raccoons from entering to steal the eggs.

          Windows can reflect images of sky and trees into which birds may think they can fly, so you can 

protect them by adding window clings to the outside of your windows. 

            Birds have been on your property long before settlers arrived.  Many of us have provided 

homes, shelter, and food for birds inadvertently simply by introducing aesthetically pleasing landscaping.  

But we can also be purposeful in the way we landscape our properties to assist birds through the 

seasons.  If you plant it, they will come.

 

By Al Schritt, friend of ACAN

ACAN seeks to educate and inspire sustainable practices in our community.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, altonacan.blogspot.com or email inquiries to  

altonacan@gmail.com Give us a shout if you would like to be a Friend of ACAN.

 

 

 

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