As a result of habitat loss 1 to 2 bird species are going extinct every year and over 1000 birds are now threatened or endangered.

Human activity has forced 816 species of birds into extinction in the last 500 years.

You can make the difference by providing bird-friendly habitat in your own backyard!

TOP 10 WAYS YOU CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE FOR BIRDS

Nothing attracts birds like water, especially moving water. You can provide year-round sources of fresh water with birdbaths, water-gardens, ponds, and wetlands. Add drippers, misters, waterfalls and fountains to keep the water circulating and really attract birds.

Birdbaths

	Birdbaths should have a sloped edge and be 1 to 3 inches deep so birds of all sizes can use it easily.
	Do not paint birdbaths.
	Place the birdbath in an open area at least 10 feet away from anywhere a cat or other predator could hide.
	Plant a native shrub with thorns nearby so birds have a safe place to dry.
	Flush birdbaths out every couple of days with a hose and clean weekly with a scrub brush and vinegar and water solution (9 parts water to 1 part vinegar). Rinse well.

Water gardens can be any size and should include some native water plants for beauty and habitat for frogs and fish.

Drippers range from homemade water buckets with a small hole hung from a tree limb over a birdbath to commercial drippers that attach to a garden hose. They provide a steady drip of water into the birdbath.

Misters create a fine spray that attracts hummingbirds, which will fly back and forth through the mist. If the mister is attached to a tree or bush, other birds will take "leaf baths" by fluttering against the wet leaves.

Waterfalls and fountains can bring your garden to life. There are many do-it-yourself kits available or you can hire a professional to install a more elaborate design.

Birdbath Heater

	Keep water from freezing in winter by using an approved outdoor electric birdbath heater.
	Select an approved outdoor electric heater that is sealed and automatically shuts off if there is no water
	Use only an approved heavy-duty outdoor rated extension cord.
	Follow all manufacturer operating and cleaning directions.
	Be sure to add fresh water regularly to compensate for evaporation.
	DO NOT ADD CHEMICALS TO WATER TO KEEP IT FROM FREEZING.

NATIVE PLANTS AND TREES

Locally native plants support 10 to 50 times as many species as non-native plants.

You can make the difference by planting a variety of native trees, shrubs, vines, and ground covers that provide year-round food and shelter for birds.

	Plant a variety of evergreens and conifers for shelter.
	One of the best native trees for birds and wildlife is the red cedar, an evergreen, which provides fruit and shelter for over 50 species of resident and migrating birds.
	Over 30 species of birds from woodpeckers to tanagers and thrushes eat the fruit of dogwood trees.
	18 species of birds, including cedar waxwings and robins, will eat the fruit from hawthorn trees.

Go to attracting wildlife to learn more about providing the key habitat elements for wildlife and to creating naturescapes to turn your yard into a low-maintenance, water-wise, eco-conscious landscapes!

Birds consume up to 80% of their body weight daily.

They need a steady source of high-energy foods, especially during winter.

Feeder Tips

	Birds have different preferences for where and what they eat. Some birds like to feed on the ground, while others prefer to eat at raised feeders.
	You can attract the widest variety of birds, from cardinals to woodpeckers, by providing several feeders and foods, including seeds, suet, and fruit.
	Place feeders within 10 feet of a window or more than 30 feet away to prevent collisions.
	Keep an area at least ten feet around a feeder clear of any plantings or places where predators could hide.
	Put up a squirrel feeder filled with peanuts or use safflower seed to keep squirrels away from birdseed.
	To keep from attracting rodents fill your feeders in the morning with only enough seed that your birds will eat by sunset.
	Clean and disinfect feeders regularly with a solution of 1 part bleach and 9 parts water. Rinse well.

Types of Feeders

Hopper Feeders can be hung or pole-mounted and allow many types of songbirds from cardinals to wrens to visit at the same time.

Platform Feeders set directly on the ground or hang and attract the widest variety and number of songbirds, and give you most unobstructed view.

Tube Feeders can be hung or pole-mounted and cater to small birds like finches, nuthatches, and chickadees.

Suet Feeders can be hung or attached to other feeders and hold suet and seed cakes that attract woodpeckers, nuthatches, titmice, and chickadees.

Fruit Feeders are hung and provide a place to offer fruit for birds like mockingbirds, robins, orioles, rose-breasted grosbeaks, and cedar waxwings

Specialty Feeders provide specific foods like seed & suet cakes or mealworms to attract birds like bluebirds, chickadees, and wrens.

	You can attract different species of birds by offering different types of food.
	Birdseed can be purchased in blended mixes or separately; the greater variety of see you offer, the more birds you'll attract.
	Make sure the bird seed you buy is formulated for no waste - many of the seed blends sold at discount and other stores contain up to 50% filler grain that the birds do not eat.
	Store seed in an airtight container.

Sunflower & Black-oil sunflower
Hulled sunflower seed attracts the greatest variety of birds. Smaller black-oil sunflower seeds have a higher fat content and are also popular with a wide variety of birds from finches, and cardinals, and woodpeckers.

Safflower
This is a good seed to use if you have problems with squirrels, house sparrows, and starlings. It attracts chickadees, nuthatches, tufted titmouse, and mourning doves and jays.

Millet & Cracked Corn
These seeds attract many birds including: finches, sparrows, cardinals, gross-beaks, towhees, mourning doves, bobwhites, pigeons, ducks, geese, pheasants, and jays.

Nyjer/Thistle
This tiny black seed is great for attracting goldfinches and chickadees and must be served in tube feeders with small holes.

Suet
Suet is a special fat from cattle and attracts many birds from wrens, nuthatches, warblers, robins, and woodpeckers. It is rendered, or melted and re-hardened, to make it stay solid in warm weather and is served in our suet feeders.

	During the summer place your suet feeder in the shade, use suet cakes that have high cornmeal content, and only put out what your birds will eat in a short time.
	You can purchase ready-made suet cakes from your local pet or bird store or you can make your own bird treats.

Mealworms
Insects make up more than 50% of the diet of many birds, especially during nesting season. The more insect eating birds you have the less insect pests in your garden!

Mealworms are the larvae of the tenebrio molitar beetle and are excellent for attracting all types of insect eating birds.
They are easy to use and can be stored in the refrigerator for several weeks.
Serve them in our mealworm feeder to attract wrens, bluebirds, tufted titmice, scarlet tanagers, Baltimore orioles, chickadees, mockingbirds, and jays.

Suet Cakes

Directions:

	Cook rolled oats in boiling water in large saucepan for about 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until very thick.
	Remove from heat.
	Stir in peanut butter and suet until melted.
	Stir in mixed birdseed, yellow cornmeal, cream of wheat, and chopped cranberries.
	Let cool.
	Shape into large palm-sized cakes on ungreased baking sheet.
	Freeze until hard.
	Store individual cakes in resealable freezer bag.
	Makes 4 1/2 cups or about one dozen cakes.

Pine Cone Treats

Directions:

	Melt suet and peanut butter together.
	Stir in seed, raisins or cranberries, and enough cornmeal to soak up the melted fat.
	Let cool.
	Spread mix under pinecone scales.
	Chill in refrigerator until hard.
	Hang outside.

Redheaded woodpecker populations have declined over 50% in the last 20 years due to cutting down of old and dead trees that provide them nesting habitat.

Old cavities excavated by woodpeckers are used by other birds, including wrens, flycatchers, swallows, bluebirds, chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, and screech owls.

You can make the difference by putting up bird nesting boxes in your backyard.

Nesting Box Tips

	Put up several nest boxes to limit competition, especially among wrens, bluebirds, and swallows.
	Space nesting boxes 25 feet apart.
	Place the opening of the nesting box away from prevailing winds - facing southwest is usually a good direction.
	Place wren nesting boxes 6 to 10 feet above ground around trees and shrubs.
	Place bluebird nesting boxes 5 to 10 feet above ground in open areas.
	Place chickadee nesting boxes 6 to 15 feet above ground around trees.
	Place nuthatch nesting boxes 12 to 20 feet above ground around coniferous trees.
	Place phoebe nesting shelves 6 to 15 feet above ground under eaves of buildings.
	Place tufted titmouse nesting boxes 6 to 15 feet above ground around trees and shrubs.
	Place screech owl nesting boxes 10 to 30 feet above the ground in or around trees.
	Place kestrel nesting boxes 10 to 30 feet above the ground in open areas.
	Place woodpecker boxes 6 to 20 feet above ground in or around trees.
	Place robin nesting shelves 5 to 20 feet above ground against building wall or in trees.
	Place tree swallow nesting boxes or gourds 5 to 10 feet above ground in open areas near water.
	Place barn swallow nesting shelves 6 to 15 feet above ground under eaves of buildings.
	Place purple martin nesting boxes 15 to 25 feet above ground in open areas.
	Place wood duck nesting boxes 10 to 20 feet above ground near wooded swamps.
	Hang nesting material from nearby tree branches.
	Place sawdust in woodpecker and wood duck boxes.
	Leave nesting boxes up all year.
	In the fall remove old nests and clean and disinfect nesting boxes with a solution of 1 part bleach and 9 parts water - rinse well.
	In winter, roosting birds like chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, woodpeckers, bluebirds and brown creepers will enter nesting boxes at dusk for warmth and safety.

	Pet hair
	Small sewing scraps
	Dryer lint
	String cut in 4 inch pieces
	Moss
	Mud
	Grass
	Cut twigs into 3 to 5 inch lengths

Each year millions of free-roaming cats are run over by cars, mauled by dogs, poisoned and lost.

The average life span for a free-roaming cat is two to five years, while an indoor cat may survive for more than 17 years.

You can make the difference by being a responsible pet owner and keeping your cat indoors.

You can make the difference by:

	Putting static decals on widows or hanging shiny, reflective streamers or ribbons
	Keep screens on windows.
	Placing feeders, birdbaths and other bird attractants away from windows.
	Closing curtains or blinds at night if you live in a high-rise.

Go to wildlife first aid for information about aiding injured birds.

SHADE COFFEE

The U.S. consumes 1/3 of the world's coffee making it the third most imported product behind oil and steel.

2/3 of the world's coffee is produced in the Caribbean and Latin America.

Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center biologists report that traditionally managed coffee and cacao (chocolate) plantations support over 150 species of birds, more than any place but a tropical rainforest.

	Shade coffee is grown in under native trees in forest shade environments. This reduces habitat destruction, and the need for water, pest control, and fertilizers. It also provides habitat for many resident and migrating birds.
	You can make the difference by patronizing coffee shops that use shade grown coffee.
	Go to http://natzoo.si.edu/smbc/ for the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center and a list of companies selling certified "bird-friendly" coffee.

Visit these links...

www.birdsource.com for information about birding and the Great Backyard Bird Count.

www.audubon.org for the Audubon Society.

www.purplemartin.org for information about purple martins.

www.hummingbirds.net for information about hummingbirds.

www.nabluebirdsociety.org for information about the Transcontinental Bluebird Trail program.