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Want to do some bird watching?  Put feeders in your yard, and the birds will come to you!

 

What you need:

• 1 or more birdfeeders
• bird food
• bird field guide (optional)
• binoculars (optional)

What you do:

1. Get a feeder. Make or buy a bird feeder and bird food.  Different types of feeders and food attract different species of birds, so read their labels carefully.
2. Hang it outside. Put the feeder near trees or bushes that will provide protection for the birds. If possible, shelter the feeders from the icy winter winds. Make sure it is also in a convenient place for you to see -- and refill. Be patient. The birds will come.

What you talk about:

1. What kind of bird found your feeder first? What other kinds of birds are coming? Use a field guide to identify and learn about your different visitors. 
2. When do birds like to eat? Do some kinds only come at special times of day? Do any come, off and on, all day long? How does the weather affect their feeding?
3. Which birds like to eat corn? Millet? Sunflower seeds? How do different birds eat their food?
4. Why do you think some birds stay at the feeder for a long time, while others grab a seed and fly away?  Where do different birds go to feel safe?
5. What do different birds do to keep warm when the weather is cold? (Answers might include, eat, fluff up feathers, bury their bills in feathers, perch in thick bushes.)

 

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