How to Attract Birds to Your Backyard Paradise For Less Than $100

Like many Americans, you may find bird watching to be a fascinating hobby. At the same time, perhaps you wonder how you can attract regular visitors to your yard without busting the bank by purchasing expensive foliage, feeders, and food. Here are some tips toward helping you establish a backyard paradise that is certain to welcome birds without draining your wallet.

1. Purchase a Birdbath. Prices for birdbaths can run anywhere from 10 dollars for the plastic model to well into the hundreds of dollars for the sculpted concrete model with lights and a waterfall. Birds are attracted to water, the glitter of sunlight will catch their eyes and bring them flying in. So, the plastic one works as well as the expensive one. If you must have a better model, check out the yard sales in your neighborhood for a good used birdbath. Amount budgeted: $10.

2. Invest in a Squirrel Proof Birdfeeder. For approximately 25 to 30 dollars you can get a birdfeeder that is squirrel resistant. Squirrels put their little paws on the doors to the feeder and it closes shut without hurting the squirrels. Because birds are so lightweight, they will be able to freely access the feeder and dine sumptiously. The added cost of the more expensive feeder will be offset by the savings in food that will no longer be consumed and wasted by ravenous squirrels. Amount budgeted: $30.

3. Purchase Good Seed. Much of the seed out there is simply filler seed especially if it is dirt cheap. Spend a little more and purchase black oil sunflower seed as the variety of birds attracted to this type of seed is wide. Most of the home center stores offer bags as large as 50 lbs. Start with a five pound bag and you will only spend about $6 for the initial supply of seed. Amount budgeted: $6.

4. Hang Suet. Suet can be pricey, but if acquired in bulk it can cost you less than 70 cents per block. A suet holder should only cost you another 2 or 3 dollars. If you can, place the suet a fair distance away from the birdfeeder, but not far enough away where you won't notice the "traffic" flying from the birdfeeder to the suet and over to the birdbath. Amount budgeted: $12.

5. Provide Cover. Unless your yard is a barren landscape, you more than likely already have ample amounts of greenery present. You want to have a place for birds to rest, to check out your yard, and avoid cats. Consider moving shubbery around to provide a safe haven for your feathered friends. Amount budgeted: $0 -- use your own sweat to move shrubbery, if needed!

Total expenditure to get your birding program in place: $68. Keep the remaining funds to replenish your sunflower seeds and suet in the coming months. Check birding books out from the public library if you need reading material.

Once you have everything in place, you should be able to attract birds almost immediately. If you live in an area frequented by chickadees, house finches, cardinals, nuthatches, goldfinches, grosbeaks, bluejays,and titmice they will arrive and eat the sunflower seeds. Wrens, nuthatches and flickers will be common visitors to your suet.

In summation, you can transfer your yard into a backyard paradise filled with the wonders of God's feathered creations and you will be joining in with the majority of Americans who share a love of this common hobby.

For more information about birding please visit the National Audubon Society's web site.

Matthew Keegan is The Article Writer who writes on just about any and every issue imaginable. You can preview samples from his high performing site at http://www.thearticlewriter.com

---

How to Grow Asparagus

Asparagus is a perennial plant with erect, edible stems and... Read More

To Salt or Not to Salt Your Pond

The important question of whether or not to add salt... Read More

Wildflower Seeds - Ten Reasons Why You Should Plant...

Native wildflowers are those that were growing naturally in the... Read More

Ten Considerations Before You Buy A Bird House

When you decide to buy one bird house or more... Read More

Thyme: The Herb of Courage

Garden thyme, fresh or dried, alone or combined with parsley... Read More

How to Grow Snow Peas

Snow peas may have been named because in bright sunlight... Read More

Toxic Pollutants & Their Effect on Fish Health

Once water temperatures increase in the summer months, fish become... Read More

How to Install a Liner Pond

Liner ponds are ideal for the experienced water gardener because... Read More

Fall Garden Planning - Garden Plans for Next Spring and Ordering by Mail

It's August, the weather has cooled a bit here and... Read More

CO2 for Free

We've all heard that there is no such thing as... Read More

Lawn Edging

How do you make those flowers bloom where they are... Read More

Planting Bare Root Roses

Before planting, the plants must be prepared. The following suggestions... Read More

Garden Benches - What They Are

Putting in a flower garden or any garden for that... Read More

How To Mow A Lawn

Although push lawn mowers are wonderful machines that do a... Read More

Growing Palms

Palms Everybody recognises palm trees, they are the... Read More

Plants, Birds, Love and Deer Hate

Hi Friends;This is the second year in a row I... Read More

Teak Planters - Accent Your Outdoor Space with One

Do you want to add something to your outdoor space... Read More

The Heralded Teak Furniture Manufacturer: Kingsley-Bate

With an average lifespan of 75 years, teak wood has... Read More

Manage Algae

There are several different ways to manage algae in your... Read More

Hot Feeding Tips

Summer is the most enjoyable water gardening season and the... Read More

Fertilizing Your Water Lilies...

Unfortunately, sunlight is not enough.Your water lilies will grow, thrive,... Read More

Water Ponds and Wildlife - How To Attract More Animals to Your Backyard

Wildlife require water just as humans do. Water is essential... Read More

Gardening - An Expression

Give the same plants to several people, you will see... Read More

Organic or Chemical Feeding of Plants - Whats Best

A fundamental question in vegetable gardening is - what is... Read More

For the Birds: Selecting and Placing a Bird House

Bird watching brings enjoyment to many people. Selecting and correct... Read More