Many Natural Habitat Adventures trips visit incredible birding areas, like Panama and Costa Rica. But you don’t necessarily have to travel to enjoy the songs and plumage of a variety of birds as they make their annual seasonal flight. The National Wildlife Federation offers these tips for attracting migratory birds to your own backyard:
• Keep dead trees. Dead trees provide cavity-dwelling places for birds to raise young and collect insects for food. Many species will also seek shelter from bad weather inside these hollowed out trees.
• Eliminate pesticides from your yard. Even those pesticides that are not directly toxic to birds can pollute waterways and reduce insects that birds rely on for food.
• Prevent birds from hitting your windows. Move indoor plants away from windows so as not to confuse birds or plant shrubs in front of them. Additionally, a variety of decals and treatments are available to create a visible alert to birds.
• Keep feeders and birdbaths clean. This helps birds avoid disease and can help keep mosquitoes at bay. Create a diverse backyard habitat. Plant native grasses, flowers and shrubs that attract local birds. A variety of plants will provide birds with food, shelter, places to raise young and even protection from predators.
Happy Spring!
Wendy