Birds are heavenly creatures, which sometimes we take for granted. What is a garden without the serene sound of birds?
Here in Canada the winters can be a little harsh for birds and animals. So it is always a good idea to give those creatures a helping hand, and provide some food for them in your backyard. Black Sunflower seeds are very popular amongst the Chickadees, House Finches, Yellow Finches, Red Cardinals, Blue Jays, Mourning Doves, Juncos, and many other birds. Not to mention red squirrels, black squirrels, and grey squirrels.
In the coldest days of the year you could see all the birds huddling around the feeder, thanking their lucky stars that you are there to provide the basic necessities for their survival. Hang the feeder in front of your window, or patio door so you could enjoy viewing them all the time.
Here in Canada the winters can be a little harsh for birds and animals. So it is always a good idea to give those creatures a helping hand, and provide some food for them in your backyard. Black Sunflower seeds are very popular amongst the Chickadees, House Finches, Yellow Finches, Red Cardinals, Blue Jays, Mourning Doves, Juncos, and many other birds. Not to mention red squirrels, black squirrels, and grey squirrels.
In the coldest days of the year you could see all the birds huddling around the feeder, thanking their lucky stars that you are there to provide the basic necessities for their survival. Hang the feeder in front of your window, or patio door so you could enjoy viewing them all the time.
house finches purching around a bird feeder
red squirrel on a bird feeder
Here are some tips to attract humming birds:
1. Hang some fuchsia baskets on your porch 2. Plant some of these flowering plants; Bleeding hearts, Columbines, Trumpet vine, Cardinal flower, Red Bee balm, Impatiens, and Petunias. 3. If you have a space for a tree I would recommend planting a Red Horse Chest Nut. This tree is amazing. The red blooms are so beautiful and impressive. It is a slow grower, but it does get big. 4. Do not use pesticides to insure the safety of all birds, and humans. 
Nuthatch bird feeding from kid's hand
Bird landing on hand to get seed
Bird flying away from hand with seed
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Birds love the shelter of evergreen trees and shrubs. Although deciduous trees are great for perching and hanging bird feeders, without the leaves in the winter, birds fly to the shelter of the evergreen trees for cover from any threat. So if you don’t have evergreen trees in your backyard, you might want to consider planting some. Tall cedar trees or hedges are great for nesting birds.
In the spring make sure to hang a small bell on the collar of your cat. This way the bell will give warning to the birds so they have time to fly away. In the summer it is important to have a birdbath or a shallow water feature in your yard. The sound of water is like a magnet to birds, especially for those birds nesting nearby. Humming birds are hard to find in the city, but we do have them in the suburbs. All you have to do is provide the right type of flowers, flowering vines, flowering shrubs, or flowering trees. Humming birds love red coloured flowers with a deep center. But will feed from any suitable flower available during the summer season. 
Blue Jay on a bird feeder
For those who live in a condo or an apartment building, or love to be closer to birds, try using the natural park trails available around the city. If you bring with you some bird seed, (sunflower seed is a favorite) the birds will land on your hands to get the food. It is an exhilarating feeling to see those little cuties race back and forth cleaning you out of your bird seed. Take the kids they will love the interaction with the wild birds. Also they will grow up to appreciate them a little more.
Two Chickadee birds feeding from hand
Two birds on hand
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