Are you aware that bird watching has become the number one, fastest growing, outdoor recreational quest in the world? Going out and finding our feathered friends is referred to as birding. Watching them in their native habitat is an entertaining pastime that gets you outside and allows you to be one with nature. A recent national survey concluded that birding is the most rapidly expanding entertaining past time in the United States, with a 283 percent growth in popularity over a 20 year period.

Birding as a hobby can be done with very little money spent. The biggest investment will be your time to devote to it. It is a great way to escape out into the outdoors, do some walking and to become one with nature. Birding can be extremely fun and also challenging, rigorous or relaxing, done as solitary or as a group recreation activity. It will be what you want it be for your enjoyment. That is why birding has evolved into one of America’s favorite pastimes with over 46 million people participating in it.

Things you will need are a pair of binoculars, a field guide book of birds in your area, and a notebook to take notes in. That is all you need for the basics to begin your bird watching adventure.

Click here to see a video about bird identification from Birdman Mel.

They are there, they are just eating differently.  Your bird feeders and suet feeders during the winter and early spring become their major food supply.  As spring comes, so do the insects, and 95% of terrestrial birds feed their offspring on insects.

Include as many native plants as possible in your yard to provide food for the insects, and then you will be feeding the summer birds too!

In his book Bringing Nature Home, Doug Tallamy ranks the best native plants to grow, based on their ability to support butterflies, moths, and caterpillars.  The plants that feed caterpillars feed the birds! Now is the time to plan on what you will plant in you garden to attract birds this year.

Birds are attracted to lawns and gardens that offer food and water for them. For your bird watching friend or

Songbird Essentials Spiral Feeder

Bird Feeders

Bird feeders attract a wide range of birds such as Bluebirds, Cardinals, Wrens and Chickadees and a lot of other species of birds. Hummingbird feeders and Oriole feeders display nectar for these birds to drink. Some bird feeders are more decorative than practical. Choose a feeder that is attractive and keeps the seed dry. Wet seed turns moldy and will make the birds sick. A tube feeder is an idea feeder to give as a gift. The birds love the spiral tube bird feeders. They can run up and down the spiral instead of flying off to another perch to go to another seed port.

Bird Baths

Birds need to frolic in shallow water to groom themselves. Bird  baths are an attractive garden ornament that will also help to attract a wide variety of birds throughout the year. You can

Fierenza Solar Bird Bath Fountain

purchase any very attractive, decorative bird baths at our website. A heating unit can be put into these to keep them from freezing during the winter months or you could purchase a heated bird bath which can be used year round.

Bird Houses

Birds love playing around a bird house, poking their noses inside the hole to see what is inside of them. There are bird houses that are made to attract a particular bird such as Bluebird Houses. For a bird house that will last for many years choose one made of cedar or recycled plastic. Cedar bird houses help to keep away insects and moths that hate the smell of cedar! Bird houses are great garden accent additions to any lawn or garden. Bird watchers enjoy receiving them as gifts.

Bird Decor Items

Bird watchers also enjoy receiving gifts with bird designs on them such as door mats, coffee mugs, ornaments, garden stakes, wind

Songbird Collage Door Mat

Gold Finch Wind Chime

Bird Quest Red Spiral Sunflower Feeder

On sale now through October 31,2010.

Sale price $16.94, a $7.00 Savings!

You save $7.00 off our normal discount price! Click here to order!

This17.5 in. Red Spiral Sunflower Feeder has more ports to feed more birds. Birds LOVE patented Bird Quest Spiral Feeders!

Red Spiral Sunflower Feeder - Sale Priced Right Now - Save $7.00

Birds love to Run The Spiral instead of flying to another perch. Spiral allows Cardinals, Grosbeaks and other desirable large songbirds to feed. With normal perch tube feeders, these birds have difficulty feeding without a seed tray. Lifetime warranty on workmanship and normal wear and tear. Aluminum and stainless steel parts. Squirrel-proof- patented locking lid- just twist and lock those pesky varmints out. Easy to clean- twist and clean (patent pending) easy-clean bottom comes completely off for easy cleaning. No screws to mess with. Easy to hang- looped wire hanging cable included (150 lb test) and attached. Holds cap so you don’t have to wonder where you put it. Feeders come completely assembled (in beautiful open view box.) Take out of the box, hang in your yard, and watch how fast the birds are attracted to the patented Spiral Perch.
Features
•    Has more ports so more birds can feed at the same time
•    Birds love to “Run the Spiral”
•    Spiral allows Cardinals, Grosbeaks and other desirable large songbirds to feed
•    Lifetime warranty on workmanship and normal wear and tear
•    Aluminum and stainless steel parts
•    Squirrel Proof patented locking lid
•    Easy to clean twist and clean bottom comes completely off
•    No screws to mess with
•    Easy to hang looped wire cable attached to feeder
•    Feeder comes completely assembled
•    Take out of box, fill with seed, and watch how fast birds are attracted to the Spiral Perch
Size
17.5”
Color
Red
Manufacture
Songbird Essentials

ON SALE THROUGH OCTOBER 31, 2010 – Sale Price $16.94 Our Discounted Price 23.94 – MSRP $31.95. Click here to order now!

Saturday May 8th is International Migratory Bird Day.  It is celebrated in Canada, the United States, Mexico,

Photo by Uttar Pradesh

the Caribbean and Central and South America. IMBD celebrates and brings attention to one of the most important events in North and South America – bird migration.

IMBD was begun by the staff of the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center. The first event was held at the National Zoo in Washington, DC in 1993. The aviary experts at the Smithsonian figured they would bring attention to the plight of migratory birds and give the public the opportunity to learn about migratory species, the threats facing them and ways to help in their conservation.

Events to celebrate migratory birds are held thought out the United States and Canada during the month of May. To find an event near you, check out the interactive map at BirdDay.org. According to the BirdLifeInternational, nearly 200 species of birds are currently considered critically endangered. Nearly 80% of migratory birds species are affected by by two key pressures: Agriculture, which can result in habitat destruction, and biological resource use, the umbrella under which falls threats like deforestation and environmentally unsustainable hunting practices.  You can learn more at Birdday.org.