The Armchair (Literally) Birdwatcher

The bird watching backyard craze is growing in popularity with a new breed of hobbyists.  It has definite advantages and some disadvantages .  It offers the comfort of your own backyard without the inconvenience of tramping through forests and swamps in search of  your avian objective .  If there are biting bugs or other less than desirable company , safety is just a few steps away back inside .

It often takes a blend of luck, skill and patience at times to spot the more elusive of the species but happily is something anyone can do.  By enticing different birds into the backyard it becomes fairly easy to watch birds in comfort .

For backyard bird watching enthusiasts the first thing is creating a back yard that will appeal to a selection of different birds .    But remember that birds are  natural prey most cats.  It is a bad idea to deliberately attract birds only to have the cats attack them.  Carefully position your birdbaths or feeders to prevent a sneak attack.

A backyard suited for birdwatching can be initiated by planting an array of flowers and trees . They will offer housing, perches and food for the birds you want to watch .  Depending on the birds you want to attract your choice of trees and shrubs will need to be adjusted . Check out a bird book or the Internet for information on the birds in your region. Remember to also have food for birds in the winter as well.  Some of your most rewarding backyard birdwatching sightings can be during the winter.

It is important to note that some choices of plants can be poisonous to humans, make sure and   check with the nursery expert when picking out various plants and flowers for your backyard.

The next step is to decide on the right bird feeders.  Like the trees and shrubs that will attract them, different backyard birdfeeders appeal to  different species .  Again, some thoughtful research is in order .

Once the landscape and food is in place, different birds will show up and maybe even choose to nest.  If there are the right type of bird house, nesting birds will soon make their homes and can continue to come back annually .  

Your bird watching passion is one that can continue to grow year by year and is not restricted by age.  Creating a retreat for birds in your backyard is well worth the investment .