Make Your Backyard into a Bird Sanctuary

By Laura Hurst, Craig Middle School -

Nearly one year ago, Mr. Wayne Naylor ’s 6th grade science class was still pulling their project plans together. Now, to an outsider, it may look exactly the same, but it is far from it! The Lawrence Township Wildlife Project has come together nicely, and as the new school year creeps closer, so do the next batch of 6th graders. This means more environmental help for the community.

Lawrence Township is a much more environmentally-friendly place than it was one year ago, and it’s about to get better! Although these students have brought their community a long way, there is still work to do. Some of that work is up to YOU! Yes, you, the people of the community! I’ll bet you’re saying, “I don’t have time; I don’t know HOW!” Well, read on to certify your yard as wildlife friendly!

How many times have you wished for beauty and wildlife to be present right in your own backyard? With the economy in the state it is, there is little money left over for vacations. So, with a few simple hours of work, you can take a relaxing vacation in your own backyard!

Certifying is easy! Let’s start with something simple. In order to certify your backyard, you must have a way for some form of animal to get food, water, shelter and a place to raise young.

Do you like our feathery friends? They are clean and have sweet songs that speak of the joy of nature! First things first…a birdbath! Birds love to take a break from a hot spring day, frolicking and singing in a simple basin filled with water! Most birdbaths are cheap, and you can buy them at stores like Walmart, Menards, and Meijer. Put the bath in a place you can view the birds from without disturbing them. The only necessary cleaning is hosing it down every two or three days.

Next bird-attractor: Bird feeders! These simple contraptions require only an occasional cheap birdseed refill. Bird feeders can also attract squirrels. Squirrels are fun to watch, but sometimes scare off the birds. That’s why it’s a good idea to put in several bird feeders. One would be a simple bird feeder, easy for squirrels and birds alike to access. Next would be a squirrel-proof bird feeder. Squirrels will try and fail time and again to reach the seeds, and failures will eventually teach them to move to the easy-to-reach simple bird feeder. Then the birds can come and eat the birdseed at their own feeder, without fear of squirrels.  The final feeder is a hummingbird feeder. Just buy the feeder and the sweet syrup to fill it, and easily attract the tiny, incredibly beautiful and fast birds to your home!

There is one last necessity for birds: Birdhouses! The shelter is an excellent, safe place for birds to nest and raise young. Buying birdhouses is simple at stores like Wild Birds Unlimited, but if you want to make one, my contact information is at the bottom of the article.

Would you like a place to buy feeders and birdhouses? Do you want to only attract certain birds? To learn more, go to: http://www.wbu.com/

Would you like more advice on attracting birds? Email me at: hurst_laura@att.net

Calieel Muhammad, Jovan Williams, Martez Clayton, and Corey Wills are my friends and resident bird experts. I can get you the information you need through them! Our next article will cover native plants.