(ARA) – Whether city or country, bird watching is fun and you can create an environment for it in your own backyard in less time than you think.

John Robinson, chief ornithologist and manager of Scotts Birding Center of Excellence, says there are three components to making your backyard an oasis for feathered friends:

1. Vegetation provides shelter
Having a variety of shrubs and trees in your yard makes it bird friendly. Birds use trees, shrubs and plants to hide from both the elements and their natural predators, as well as to roost or nest in. Additionally, the right types of vegetation also provide fruit or seeds for the birds to eat.

White pine, arborvitae, spruce, juniper, cedar, holly and other broadleaf and needle evergreens provide essential protection all year as well as food. Hedges of serviceberry or viburnum provide food, shelter and nesting spots. Flowers like columbine and trumpet vine attract hummingbirds with their sweet nectar.

2. Quality food nourishes
Not all bird food is created equal. Look for blends that were researched in the field and created to attract the types of birds you want to see in your backyard. Avoid filler material like milo, wheat or cracked corn.

To attract colorful birds, Robinson recommends Scotts Songbird Selections Colorful Bird Blend, which was developed by ornithologists. This mix is made from 10 high-quality ingredients that are blended in a specific ratio designed to attract more colorful birds. Results may vary by region and/or season, but Colorful Bird Blend has been proven to attract up to twice as many than with ordinary wild bird food. The mix is also less attractive to blackbirds, grackles and cowbirds, which are often considered a nuisance.

Another good option is Scotts Songbird Selections Wild Finch & Small Songbird Blend, which was scientifically mixed to attract goldfinches. Field research done across the country by Robinson, his team, and university partners, shows that while results may vary by region and/or season, this mix can attract up to two times the amount of finches as other types of ordinary wild bird food. Additionally, it also attracts other interesting small birds such as nuthatches, chickadees and native sparrows.

3. Water quenches thirst
Putting out a birdbath, especially one with a trickle or fountain, makes your garden a very popular spot in any season. Whether you put a decorative birdbath in your backyard or simply place a large clay saucer on the ground or on top of a tree stump, make sure it has a rough surface and a shallow bowl. If you have a pond or stream, place flat rocks in them for bird perches.

Birds require fresh water, so clean birdbaths often and replace water every couple of days.

For more information and additional ideas on how to create a bird habitat in your own backyard, visit www.scottswildbirdfood.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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The Key To A Hummingbird Garden

Hummingbirds are amazing little creatures. They can hover in the air, flapping their little wings fifteen to eighty times per second. This delicate bird is the only one that can actually fly backwards. It is no wonder that they are so much fun to watch. Most gardeners love having hummingbirds in their yard, so if you want a hummingbird garden, you need to understand the bird and its needs.

They follow mapped out routes to food, but they are always willing to investigate new food sources when tempted. If you want to tempt hummingbirds to stop over in your yard this year plant the right sources of hummingbird food. Humming birds don’t have a great sense of smell, so planting fragrant flowers won’t attract them the same way it will attract bees to your garden. Hummingbirds are drawn to stimulating colors, so if you want to see lots of these little birds in your hummingbird garden, make sure you plant bright flowering plants.

A few favorites in the hummingbird garden include azalea, butterfly bush, flowering quince, honeysuckle, morning glory, trumpet creeper, yucca, canna, coral bells, four o’clocks, lupine, foxglove, fuchsia, petunias, impatiens, and salvia.  If you want to attract hummingbirds to your hummingbird garden and give them a safe feeding environment, make sure that you do not spray your flowers with chemical pesticides. Pesticides may take care of pests but they can be harmful to hummingbirds or at the very least, cause them to steer clear of your yard.

In addition to planting the right plants in your hummingbird garden, it is important to provide your feathered friends with ample perching opportunities. This can be in the form of a planter, shepherd’s crook for hanging a plant, or even a bird bath. A bird bath also doubles as a source of water that will also make your yard a desirable place to visit. You can supplement your neighborhood hummingbird’s diet with a special hummingbird feeder. These feeders work best if they are a bright color and can be filled with purchased liquid nectar or even homemade sugar water. To make it especially attractive, tint the water with red food coloring.

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