I am Crazy about Birdhouses

One of my passions in my yard is displaying Birdhouses. I am crazy for birdhouses. I make a lot of them myself and I am always looking for cute unusual ones in the store.

My Backyard is a Certified Backyard Habitat for wild birds. Habitat restoration is vital for wild birds and other wildlife due to our commercial and residential infringement on their natural areas. I am not a wildlife nut, I just enjoy watching the wildlife and letting my Grandchildren enjoy it, so creating your yard into a desirable area, the wildlife will come no matter what size your back yard is!

To turn your backyard into your own wildlife habitat is easy. All you need is to provide the 4 basic elements: Food, Water, Shelter and places to raise their young.

Consider shrubs and trees that produce seeds, fruits and nuts throughout the year. Provide nectar producing plants for hummingbirds and butterflies. Supplemental feeders should also be offered with seed, duet or nectar. I like doing this to keep them from eating my fruit off my trees!

Water is a very important part of your backyard habitat. You need to offer several sources of water. I have several pedestal bird baths that are automatically filled up with a drip system. Even a shallow water dish placed at ground level is good or a small pond. These same water sources will offer an aquatic habitat for dragonflies, frogs and other aquatic life too.

Providing shelter will create your backyard into a place where they will not only visit but want to live. Wild birds want to feel safe, so provide safe havens from predators.

You also need to provide places to raise their young. You need to put out functional nesting boxes. Putting out butterfly and ladybug hibernation boxes will also encourage these beneficial insects to stay in your yard.

Right now my yard is so busy with birds singing and sitting on their eggs in their nests.

It is so enjoyable. But of course, you also have the stupid birds, with all the birdhouses and nesting boxes and areas you provide, they still pick the most stupid place to put a nest....like the wreath on your front door!