Birds are a great way of adding `action' to your garden! The gentle fluttering of wings or the soft splashing in the bird bath add a tranquility to the garden - although I'm sure my cat would disagree, as she sits at the window and looks hungrily out there at the buzz of activity at the bird feeder! If you are shopping for plant material that will attract an array of our feathered friends - a garden with a good supply of dense trees and shrubs will be a popular home for birds looking for secure shelters; trees with berries or evergreen cones will get their stomach's attention; and spring and summer flowers will invite all kinds of birds, including the beloved hummingbird (they seem to be especially agreeable to honeysuckle and hanging baskets with heliotrope in them!)

Birds will return to gardens that have bird houses and feeders. When my daughter was in grade 6, she built a simple wooden birdhouse with a slant roof and a round hole for entry on the front. As soon as we attached it to a pole in the back garden, a pair of chickadees starting collecting various nesting materials, and within a few weeks we could hear the chirping of the first batch of babies! We clean out the birdhouse every fall after they depart, and like clockwork for four years now - they return in spring and start over! I suppose we are their summer vacation home now!

If you live in the country, placing your bird feeder on a pole in an open area, but out of the wind, is wise. This prevents animals such as cats, dogs etc. from laying in wait for the unsuspecting birds! In our younger days, we made the mistake of hanging a birdfeeder in a tree whose branch was too low - and when I glanced out the window and spotted the neighbors cat doing jumps off the ground in search of a tasty lunch - that feeder was promptly moved!

In the winter months, it is essential to remember that a lot of birds are still with us. Make sure the feeder is full and cleaned out on a regular basis to prevent any mold. Our bird feeders are such a hive of activity now that we are refilling them every couple of days! As for feed - most larger stores will carry a bird seed mix, but I certainly recommend the mixes with a heavy concentration of black-oil sunflower seeds - these seem to be a BIG favorite!

In colder climates, concrete or clay birdbaths may need to be taken in for the winter. If I see a great number of birds out there on a particulary cold and frigid day, and everything is frozen over - I have found no point in worrying too much - they seem pretty resouceful when it comes to finding a drink! But when it is snowy and they cannot find their natural foods - keeping the feeders full is essential!

I highly recommend the book `The Audobon Society's Guide to Birds' for anyone wanting more complete information.

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