Backyard birds can be very enjoyable. I can't think of many thing that I would rather do with my grand children. Children often have a second sense when it comes to animals. It's funny the way they behave when they see a bird or any other wildlife. What they say is unforgettable. "Look Papa there is a red one." I still think of the little guy yelling it out. Call me mushy but I really do love it. Because of the great experiences with my grand children, I've learned to make my backyard much more bird friendly.

Making your backyard more bird friendly can be a simple task or an elaborately involved one. Some things as simple as to keep the grass longer in one place is enough to entice a ground nesting bird to nest there. Placement of bird houses, bird feeders, or even a bird bath will make the passer byes want to stop for a visit.

If you are willing to get serious then all natural areas made up of different layers of plant growth is what you need to think about. Like in the Northeast, high canopy trees such as Sugar Maple and Beech make up the high layer. They are dominant trees. Then comes the intermediate sized ones like the Hornbeam and the Serviceberry. Next comes the tall shrubs such as Spicebush and Witchhazel, then smaller shrubs such as aromatic Sumac and Mapleleaf Viburnum, and last we have the ground cover. Partridgeberry and Mosses are intertwined with vines such as Virginia Creeper and Wild Grape.

Birds use every single layer for a multitude of needs. The Wood Thrush usually sits atop the highest tree and sings from way up high. Their nests are built in the tall shrubs, they find their food digging in the leaves on the ground. They even build their nests with other layer materials, like Grapevine bark, leaves, and also mud.

When designing your garden just be sure to copy the layer effect. A good rule of thumb is to plant tall trees along the edge of your property. Followed by smaller trees, and as you get closer to your house plant some large shrubs, then small shrubs. After that when you you are close to your house put some ground cover, Bunch grasses, and Wildflowers. After these are well established, plant or encourage vines of some kind.

Different birds eat different foods at different times of the year. In the Spring birds need energy for parenting. Feeding on Blackberries, Mulberries, and Wild Cherries gives them just the energy they need. Fall feeding requires fatty fruits such as flowering Dogwood, Spicebush, and Mapleleaf Viburnum to build fat reserves for the long trip South. While winter stay birds need abundant,persistent fruits such as Conifers, Bayberries, Hawthorns, Crabapples, and Sumacs. The persistent fruits help them survive subfreezing temperatures. The same fruits are also important for early Spring migrants such as Bluebirds Robins, and Thrashers. So when you plan your garden make sure that you include a variety of plants that can help sustain the different birds that visit your garden all year long.

I've watched wildlife ever since I was very young. So after I got married to my wife she started going with me. Now I think she knows more than I do about wildlife and the outdoors. It brings me so much joy now bringing my grandchildren with me and teaching them about the outdoors. They love to sit and listen to the birds and outer things in the woods. That's why we started this computer thing so other people could enjoy life more.

Reprinted with permission.