Northeast Georgia is home to a variety of beautiful backyard birds. On a recent walk through my neighborhood I heard over 10 species of birds in just a few short minutes.
Interested in attracting more birds to your yard and learning to identify them? Here are a few tips and tools to get you started.
Buy a bird feeder. We have a wonderful selection of bird feeders at the shop to choose from. My current favorite is a handblown glass feeder that is not only functional but beautiful. The birds may not take notice of its beauty, but you certainly will! I love the way the light shines through it and I appreciate the pop of color it adds to my winter yard. You can hang it in a tree or from a shepherd's hook. We also have table-top tray feeders which are the easiest to use to get started as no hanging is needed. Simply fill with your favorite birdseed and set in a place where you can watch the birds. Another interesting option that we carry is a feeder designed to hold a piece of fruit, such as an apple or orange slice. Birds will perch on the stand and peck at the fruit.
Purchase seed. The type of bird seed you choose will directly impact which birds come to your feeders. A songbird blend is a great place to start. Nut blends are also a favorite of our local Northeast Georgia birds. Safflower is one of my personal favorites because it brings house finches to my feeders. Their song is so beautiful and I love hearing them. You can also choose sunflower seeds (without or with the seed pod), squirrel proof seed, and many others. We've taken the guesswork out of selecting seed by offering our own signature blend at the shop -perfect for attracting all of our Georgia backyard favorites including the cardinal, titmouse, chipping sparrow, house finch, chickadee and more!
Provide water for your birds. Providing water is an excellent way to encourage birds to come to your yard. It can be as simple as setting out a shallow tray or using a beautiful birdbath. We have a table top divided feeder that is perfect for a little food and water.
Hang nesting boxes and bird houses. Providing shelter, especially during the cold months and during nesting season will encourage birds to come and make a home close to yours. Wren and bluebird houses are almost guaranteed to attract visitors. Wren houses can be used on your porch for a close view. Other bird houses can be hung in the trees or attached to tree trunks. Bird houses have come so far in their beauty and design as well. Just like feeders, you can choose bird houses that are beautiful and add an element of design to your porch or landscape.
With all of these tips mentioned above, be sure to place items in a location that will allow you to easily watch the birds throughout your day. Our feeders are placed outside our dining room window. We enjoy seeing the birds as we drink our coffee each morning and throughout the day too. Keep a bird book close by to help you identify the birds that come to visit. Keep a birding journal and write down the birds that you see and what time you see them. If you change bird seed often, take note of which seed attracted which birds.
One last tip for learning to identify birds is using the Merlin app. On my neighborhood walk where I heard close to 15 species of birds, it was the Merlin app that helped me know which bird was singing. Open it as you sit outside and it will tell you which bird you hear. It's amazing how many new bird calls I have learned using that app.
We love birds at Bird & Brass and we'd love to help you begin bird watching or refresh your bird feeding area with new feeders and seed. As I am typing this I am sitting in my dining room and just saw a beautiful woodpecker visit my feeder. It's always a delight to see these tiny and fast creatures up close. What beautiful creatures they are!
Erika
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Matthew 6:26