March 16, 2009

What a bore. The B-listed birds

Some serious birders will tell you that there is no use attracting so-called “junk” birds to your backyard with cheap seed and other low tricks. You know the junkers - every neighborhood has them: house finches, doves and other avian sorts that hog the bird feeders and are too much of a bore to bother. 

But think about this: Birds go where the birds are. If you’ve got lots of birds in your backyard, B-list or not, you’re more likely to attract the babes: the Cedar Waxwings, Lazuli Buntings, Black-headed Grosbeaks and Western Tanagers as they stop in to see what the buzz is about.

Not all birds eat seed. They like native plants best. But above all, provide a water source (trickling does the trick), then dust off the binocs, grab your Sibley and get ready to spot some serious stunners.

Oh yeah, no more big pruning jobs in Southern California. The birds are beginning to build their nests.

More:
Audubon Blog - Birdscaping
Audobon Kids Page - Adopt a Puffin or Eagle