Follow these tips to attract birds to your yard

It takes a little more than a single birdfeeder to attract song birds and other winged creatures to a backyard or garden. However, with a little extra effort, your property can become a safe, bird-friendly habitat. Read on for some tips from local wildlife experts.

1. Don't mow your grass so much. A manicured lawn might look pretty, but it provides little cover for birds that nest on the ground, said naturalist Mark Moore at the Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan Parks District. Pesticides and herbicides are also a no-no, as they could kill insects birds need for food.

"If folks want to attract birds but they're heavy into spraying chemicals, then they might kill insects," said Tom LaVergne, education officer for the Ohio Division of Wildlife. "It's a personal decision, but if you need to have insects (for birds), it's probably not the best idea to spray your lawn or trees."

Whatever lawn treatments you might use on your lawn, Moore said to read the labels and make sure they won't harm your feathered friends.

2. Think native plants. Native plants (or "indigenous species") give birds coverage, nesting opportunities and food, and won't crowd out other plants like some invasive species do, said Sarah Betts, natural resources coordinator with the Hancock Park District in Findlay. These plants also may taste better to birds than hybrid plants, which are bred for appearance rather than animal taste buds. Good choices include dogwood trees, serviceberry, nannyberry and other native shrubs.

Whatever plants homeowners use, they should think about planting with different levels in mind, Betts said.

"Getting a good mixture of plants height-wise will encourage different birds," she said. "Some like to nest lower toward the ground, some nest in shrubs and some nest a little bit further up. It's like a house. You want to have a basement, first floor and second floor."

3. Bird feeders aren't always necessary. Providing birds with year-round food could alter the ecosystem in a variety of ways, Moore said.

"It's only helping them when it's coldest and there's snow and ice cover," he said. "The rest of the year, April through November, you should not feed the birds. It teaches them to be dependent on bird feeders and they quit going out looking for natural food. It changes their life cycle."

Moore said Ohio's state bird, the cardinal, is a good example of such a change. At one point, the cardinal was a migratory bird, Moore said. Now, however, because of the species' dependency on human-provided food, the cardinal never leaves the state.

To feed or not to feed year-round is a personal choice, LaVergne said. If you do decide to continue feeding, you should commit fully to the task.

"You don't want to feed them in the fall and then in February not feed them anymore because you're tired," LaVergne said. "They get dependent on it, and if you pull it away, then things aren't good."

4. When using a bird feeder, get the right kind of feed. Certain types of feed will bring a few more visitors than you might expect or want. According to Betts and Moore, millet or milo seed, found in many seed mixes, can attract English house sparrows and European starlings, both considered a nuisance by state wildlife officers and naturalists. Full birdseed mixes also tend to be wasted, she said, as bigger birds "can eat you out of house and home."

Instead, Moore and Betts both suggest offering birds black oil sunflower seeds, which are popular with most song birds. LaVergne also said thistle is a popular seed, as well.

5. Make or buy safe birdhouses. It might look simple enough, but it takes more than a roof, walls and an entry hole to make a bird house, Moore said. In fact, certain species of birds have specialized requirements for their homes to ensure safety and livelihood, something home owners should take responsibility for.

"It's like when you become a landlord," he said. "It's your responsibility to make sure a place is safe for tenants. (With birdhouses), if you don't know what you're doing, it could end up killing birds."

Both Betts and more suggested consulting a park district naturalist or the Ohio Division of Wildlife for tips and instruction for bird houses.

6. Expect predators. Where small birds go, hungry predators may follow. These include cats, snakes, and even larger birds like Cooper's hawks.

"You wouldn't believe the number of phone calls I get from people who feed all year round and are all upset about hawks eating their song birds," Moore said. "Hawks are notorious for learning where bird feeders are and picking off song birds. Why fly through a hundred acres of trees to find a lone song bird when you can sit at a birdfeeder and let hundreds of birds come right to you?"

LaVergne said cats, de-clawed or not, can also kill plenty of birds if allowed near a feeder.

"If you have cats, it's going to grab birds," he said. "That's just the way it is. Don't be surprised, even if you don't have cats yourself, to see them around your bird feeder."

If you'd rather not see nature at work, Moore suggests spreading out several feeders around your house. Hawks can't be in several places at once.

7. No natural water source? Get a bird bath. If your yard has no natural source of water nearby, such as a pond or a lake, you might want to provide your flighty visitors a place to drink and bathe. Water gardens are slightly more expensive, Betts said, but can be worthwhile in the long run, as well.

Follow one rule with water sources, however: be sure to keep them clean, Moore said. Emptying them twice a month or more will clear any bird-made messes, he said, and will prevent mosquitoes from laying and hatching in the water. Don't worry about multiple baths, Moore added, especially if you struggle with cleaning them.

"Doing one right is better than having four of them and never cleaning them," he said.

8. Study your species. Whether you're a fan of purple martins or blue birds, it's a good idea to bone up on your avian literature, LaVergne said. Go to the library, speak with a naturalist or the Department of Wildlife, or search for facts on the Internet. The more you know, the better you'll be able to provide for your favorite birds.

"See what kind of habitat they require and provide what habitats they need," he said.

Try some of these pointers for attracting birds to your feeder:

• Locate feeders at different levels. Try table-like feeders for ground-feeding birds, hopper or tube feeders for shrub and treetop birds and suet feeders well off the ground for woodpeckers, nuthatches and chickadees.

• Offer a variety of seeds in separate feeders. Few species prefer milo, wheat and oats, featured in less expensive seed blends.

• Provide suet (beef fat) during cool weather only. Putting suet out in hot weather can turn it rancid. Put suet in special feeders or net onion bags at least five feet from the ground.

• Mix peanut butter and corn meal. Peanut butter is a good substitute for suet in the summer. One part peanut butter and five parts corn meal attracts woodpeckers and more all year long.

• Provide fruit for berry-eating birds. This includes water-soaked raisins and currants, orange halves and nectar feeders. Fruit will attract mockingbirds, bluebirds, robins and waxwings.

• Provide nectar for hummingbirds. Make a sugar solution with one part white sugar and four parts water. Boil briefly to suspend sugar. Feeders must be washed every few days.

• Store seeds in secure metal containers. This protects from squirrels, mice and dampness (which can cause mold).

• Locate feeders to reduce window collisions. Place feeders at least three feet from windows. Hanging decorations (like a mobile) outside a window helps prevent bird strikes.

Source: Tri-Moraine Audubon Society

Want more information? Visit these Web sites:

www.wildohio.com

www.tri-moraineaudubon.org

www.jampd.com/home/index.php

http://hancockparks.com/