birding area-how to create birding area-birding

MUSHROOM HUNTERS

How to Create a Birding Area

Spring birding, summer birding, fall birding, winter birding - no matter what time of year that you're birding, we have the exciting scoop and we promise that we'll always make it fun! If you enjoy birding, we hope that you'll bookmark Mushroom Hunters and return often.

To view our Birding Report for North Central Texas, please click here.

Creating a Birding Area - How to Create a Personal Birding Area

Every year, we try to relocate our birding area just before fall migration begins in order to give the former area a good rest. This year our birding area is located in a thick woods which is working out wonderfully well (as long as we take care not to wear a little red riding hood as those wolves can be frightening).

Most of the trees have dropped their leaves in our birding area, leaving behind diffused lighting which works well with our cameras. Now if we could only teach the birds to sit still for more than a split second.

A birding area can anything you like it to be - from a simple birding area consisting of a single hanging feeder OR seeds spread on the ground PLUS your birding chair (or window) and that oh-so-important bird identification book.

Or a birding area can be as busy as you'd like it to be with several hanging feeders, ground feeders, table feeders, suet cake feeders - oh my, it's getting really busy, isn't it?

What Do I Feed the Birds?

The first thing that you'll want to explore before creating your bird feeding area will be the types of birds that will OR that may visit your feeders. This will help determine the types of food that will more likely assist in luring them in to feed.

For example, if you're intent on luring the Goldfinch in your area to your feeding station, thistle should do the trick. Cardinals? Try safflower seeds. If you're seeking to attract quail, corn is your candy. Hummingbirds? Four parts water to one part sugar. Stir well. Tiny umbrella is optional.

Amid our experimentation with bird seeds, we have found that a good majority of birds love sunflower seeds. The generic birdseed from the local 'supermart' isn't always the best vehicle for birdseed. In fact, a few years ago, the last seed we purchased from there was almost 100% milo which is a very hard seed that most birds are not drawn to unless they are extremely hungry - and unless they can crack into the seed.

Try visiting your local feed store and you may be in for a wonderful surprise. A fifty-pound bag of millet at our favorite feed store costs just a tab more than a 25 pound bag of crumb-ball milo seed from our local 'supermart'.

With this said, the two seeds that we recommend that will attract a variety of birds are sunflower seeds and millet. And again, if you're looking to draw in a particular bird, study their diet and base your seed purchase upon such.

Also keep in mind that a source of fresh water can be as important as bird seed. If you can provide a birdbath, you're almost guaranteed to have happy visitors.

What Types of Feeders?

We use several different types of feeders for the birds as some prefer hanging feeders while others prefer ground feeders - and those cardinals are the easiest to please as they will feed from most anything. Therefore, base your feeder purchases on the types of birds you're seeking to lure into your feeding area.

If you're wanting to put out suet, simply ask your butcher for some. After melting the suet, add any of the following then pack into suet feeders OR mesh bags that many veggies arrive home inside of: peanut butter, sunflower seeds, millet, cracked corn, cornmeal, raisins, assorted dried fruits, hulled nuts.

From time-to-time you'll need to clean the feeding area. A good raking should do the trick; feeding tables should be cleared and cleaned daily. Birdbaths should also be cleaned and refilled on a daily basis.

Our Birding Area in North Central Texas

First, we cleared an area of the woods and removed the branches that were eye-pokers that were close to our viewing area.

At times, we will drag large tree branches into our birding area if more lower story branches are needed. Songbirds generally like to perch for a second or two before they hop onto a feeder, or even onto the ground to feed.

The birds also need to feel safe before they will fly into an area to feed. Take care to note of any cats in the area. One bat of the paw, and it's bird heaven.

We also use a large barrel in our feeding area that has been cut in half. We simply turned the barrel over and sprinkled seed on top. The birds really enjoy the barrel as a feeding station. We also took 4 X 4 posts and attached a flat 2 X 2 section of scrap plywood to the top to create standing feeders. These are just a bit too tall for the deer and allow a measure of safety for the birds as the feeders are a good distance from the ground. After the feeder has been assembled, the post is simply buried or tapped into the ground. Our lumber yard carries spikes that attach to 4 X 4 posts that make it very easy to tap the post into the ground.

It Takes Patience for Birding

Right now, we want to point out to beginner birders in particular that once you have your feeding area in place, the birds will require time before they freely feed. There is an adjustment period. Once they get used to you, they'll come in to feed freely even if you're sitting a few feet away.

A great example is the hummingbird photo on this page. I was only a few feet away when I shot this photo, but it took a long while for the birds to get used to my presence. And not just once - but every time that I visit the feeding area I must give them several minutes to adjust and fly back into the feeding stations.

Good luck and we hope that your birding adventures are always fun!

NATURE PHOTOS AT MUSHROOM HUNTERS

Visit Nature Photo Gallery 2 | Nature Photo Gallery 3 | Nature Photo Gallery 4

To visit my personal photography gallery at Mushroom Hunters click here.

Enjoy taking bird pictures but having trouble? Our 'How To Take Good Bird Pictures' may help.

To view our extensive Bird Gallery click here.

To view our Canon G10 Photo Gallery click here.

To view our Mushroom Photo Gallery click here.

To view our Art Photo Gallery click here.

To view our Texas Photography Gallery click here.

To experience photography adventure on a farm, click here.

To visit my personal photography gallery at Pandora's Pixels click here.

To learn more about inexpensive filters that can take your photography up a notch, click here.

To view our review & photos with the Olympus E-620 DLSR click here "Olympus E-620 Photos, Pictures & Review"

Or to view nature photos, simply click on the links within this page. To visit Tom's (my better half) professional photography click here.