There are three basic requirements for attracting birds to your garden, namely: Food, water and shelter.

Food for garden birds can be provided in two complimentary ways. First, is by the use of a bird feeder or a bird table. Consider the species you would like to attract to your garden and provide feed accordingly. A variety of bird feeders spread throughout the garden will encourage a wider variety of birds to visit. Consider a bird table for ground feeding birds; a hanging feeder for perching birds and a suet feeder for insect eating birds. Pet shops, garden centers and even some supermarkets will sell a range of bird feeders as well as a variety of foods suitable for different types of birds. Consult a good bird guide to get an idea as to what certain birds will be interested in i.e. are they seed eaters, insect eaters, nectar eaters etc. Secondly, consider planting a bird-friendly garden. Visit your local garden centre and look for indigenous plants that will produce berries, nuts, seeds and other food all year round. Such plants will meet the needs of local garden birds. Indigenous plants will also attract insects on which insect-eating birds can feed. Avoid the use of insecticides as these may end up poisoning the very birds you have invited to your garden.

Next to consider is water. Birds will thoroughly enjoy splashing around in a water feature. A bird bath will be just as much appreciated. When purchasing a bird bath, ensure that the surface is rough so that the birds will have something to grip onto. Remember to keep the bird bath or water feature clean so that the bird’s health will not be adversely affected.

Shelter can be provided in the form of a bird house (nesting box) or by planting indigenous trees and shrubbery. Pet shops and garden centers should be able to provide you with a suitable bird house for the different species.

By meeting these three basic requirements, you can enjoy bird watching from the comfort of your home.

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Of importance is the fact that seed alone will not provide sufficient nutrition for seed-eating birds, even if a variety of seed is offered. To supply your bird with all the necessary vitamins and minerals, include pellets, fruit and vegetables as part of its diet. Formulated diets consist of seeds, grains, vegetables, fruits and proteins. Fresh fruit and vegetables must be washed and remnants left in the cage must be thrown away before it begins to rot.

Non-seed eating birds are fed on a formula which is served either dry or moistened. Formulas which are made into nectar must be changed several times a day. Offer the bird fruit such as: apple, pineapple, figs, pomegranates, grapes and kiwi. Fresh corn on the cob and flowers such as pansies, roses, marigolds and dandelions may also interest them.

Vitamin and mineral supplements are available should such be necessary for the good health of your bird. Buy the product that will specifically meet the nutritional needs of your bird. Vitamin A deficiencies commonly affect birds. You should feed the bird orange vegetables, green leafy vegetables and egg yolk to overcome this nutrient deficiency. Mineral supplements are important for nutrition, especially for breeding birds. Minerals are found in: mineral blocks, cuttlebone, bones/ bone meal, milk and cheese. To provide the necessary protein consider feeding your bird, in moderation: meat, milk, fish and egg.

Certain foods will be detrimental to the health of your bird. Avoid such foods as: those that contain large amounts of fat and sugar, avocado, chocolate, alcohol, caffeine and fruit pits.

Also important to remember in caring for your bird’s nutritional needs is water. Fresh water must be given daily or more frequently if your bird fouls up the water.

Nutrition is important if you wish to keep your bird in good health, bright and full of life. Thus you can take pleasure in owning and caring for your bird.

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When seeing a cute little duckling, many an animal-lover is tempted to pick it up, cuddle it and take it home. This urge can become almost impossible to resist if the animal-lover is accompanied by children. Ducks make wonderful pets, but before making a commitment to care for a pet duck that could be around for up to twelve years, it is wise to give the matter careful thought, weighing up (and even writing down if necessary) the pros and cons of adding this fluffy little bird to the household.

Experts readily agree that ducks are very sociable birds and, unless the owner has loads of time to spend with it, they should not be raised alone. Ducklings should be bought as young as possible in order for the owner-pet bond to be strong. A duckling will adapt to the household and other pets fairly easily if introduced at a young age. Some duck owners even adopt their pet birds as eggs and act as mother from the time the little duckling emerges. Once that bond is formed, it is permanent and can be very rewarding.

Ducklings raised without their mother must be given an artificial heat source for the first four to five weeks of their lives. This can be provided by a heat lamp positioned in one corner of the enclosure, with sufficient room for the ducklings to move away if they get too hot. Many have found that a vinyl child’s pool on a wire frame works well. This can always be used as a swimming pool for the ducklings when they are a bit older. The duckling’s area should be lined with an absorbent material such as wood shavings, and droppings must be picked up on a daily basis – a cat litter scoop will do the job.

Ducklings can be fed on game bird starter which is found at most farm supply stores. Chick starter food is not suitable for ducks as it does not have the correct nutrients for development. Ducklings also need some fresh chopped vegetable greens daily. Mixed greens from the green grocer and weeds from your garden will give them what they need. Ducks must always have a supply of water nearby when they are feeding. They use this to wash the food down and they need to keep the vents on their beaks clean. Bread, popcorn and chips should be considered as junk food and not given to ducks. They will thrive on garden bugs, snails, worms of all descriptions, mosquito larvae and whatever creepy crawly comes their way. Ducks are adept at catching flies and mosquitoes that may buzz by. Absolutely no pesticides should be used in a garden that is a duck’s feeding ground. A duck’s garden diet should be supplemented with cracked corn, floating coy food and fresh vegetable trimmings.

Once the ducklings are old enough to move outside they must have some type of shelter from the elements and sufficient water to allow them to dip their heads right under. This is necessary to prevent their eyes becoming dry which could lead to cataracts.

Duck owners will agree that not only are these lovely birds good and loyal pets, they are useful too by ridding the garden of pests. So if you have what it takes to be a duck owner, you can be sure of years of love and entertainment from your feathered friend.

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Finches are known for their lively personalities. At a maximum length of approximately twenty centimeters, what they lack in size, they make up for in activity. For many years, finches have been kept as pets because of their beauty and their natural ability to bring sunshine into their owners’ lives. They are extremely low maintenance pets and perfect for bird lovers who live in small apartments. Proper care for these lively pets can ensure a long and healthy life that could span between five to ten years.

Before heading for the nearest pet shop to purchase a new family member, there are a few important factors that new owners should be aware of. This amazing bird species doesn’t need and seldom wants, human interaction. They are quite happy not being forced into social behavior with humans, but they do need a partner, so new owners must be prepared to purchase at least two finches. Cages do not have to be massive, but finches are extremely active and need room to move and fly. It is also vital to keep the cage out of a draft, because, although finches are hardy birds, a draft could cause illness. Many finch owners have moved away from traditional cages, and prefer setting their feathered friends free in a small aviary, with an environment that is as natural as possible. They are not destructive birds, so wooden cages can be built to blend in with the living room furniture.

The dietary needs of finches should be carefully met. Instead of only feeding seeds, they love to receive a little fruit, vegetables, hard-boiled eggs and a bit of cuttlebone. This brings color and variety into their diets and also increases their life expectancy. During the hot summer months, finches love to play around in a fresh bowl of cool water, so it is recommended that owners leave a bowl of water for them on the bottom of the cage. Cages should be cleaned at least every second day, with fresh water and food every morning.

Finches are an extremely sociable bird species, and are not aggressive towards humans, other pets or children. Some finches, with a lot of handling, will allow themselves to be touched, while others will tolerate the contact for as long as it takes to clip their nails. They also do not adjust well to stressful environments, such as constantly barking dogs or children that keep trying to poke their fingers into the cage. It is therefore the responsibility of the pet owner to teach children and visitors how to approach the cage without causing stress and fear to the birds.

So many pets are bought, including finches, because they are considered to be beautiful or cute. New pet owners should ensure that they learn as much as possible about their pet, or bird species, before purchasing them. But in general, finches make wonderful pets, bringing life and energy into every home.

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Keeping Birds Safe with the Proper Shelter

Place the birdhouse near good bird habitat. Look around your property- look for shrubs or brush-piles that might attract wrens and titmice. Stable piles of rocks may also attract wrens- they may even build natural nests in the rocks’ gaps. Woodpeckers may prefer groves of trees. Bluebirds and swallows often prefer open fields or grasslands near their nests.

Choosing the Proper Food May Depend on the Bird Species:

Any bird will be more likely to move in if there is access to their favorite food. Most birds need more than just store-bought seed from a birdfeeder – they’ll also hunt for native insects, local seeds, or fruit to feed their chicks. Consider adding native plants to your landscaping- local bird organizations can provide you with a list of bird-friendly trees and shrubs. If you’re hoping to attract woodpeckers, keep as many standing dead trees as you can in your yard. These snags are a gold mine of food for many species- woodpeckers, chickadees and nuthatches, to name just a few.

Hydration is Essential for Proper Health and Bird Care:

When you repair or construct your bird house, you need to consider whether the bird has access to a supply of water for drinking and bathing. Most birds need water each day and making sure that there is a water supply close to the bird house will encourage the birds to use and roost in the bird house. Adding a water source such as a pond or bird bath is something that the birds will enjoy and will enhance your enjoyment of bird watching.

We hope that you have enjoyed this two part feature article about building a perfect bird house. For any of our readers, if you want to leave a comment about your own experience constructing or repairing bird houses, or observations about birds, then we welcome your comments on our forum where we regularly feature discussions about topics such as bird care or habitats.

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Loons are among the best of the diving birds. They can dive up to 75m underwater, hunting for fish. They can stay under for up to 8 minutes.

Loons aren’t the most graceful creatures out of the water, however. Their feet are set far back on their bodies, making walking difficult. On land, loons often prefer to scoot along on their bellies. Also, when taking off, loons need a long runway of open water, in order to get up enough speed to get their heavy bodies airborne.

Loons build their nests close to water, in boreal and arctic lakes. Conservationists are concerned about loons, since many loon nests have failed in recent decades. Acid rain reduced the fish supply in many of their nesting lakes. Also, persistent boat traffic can spook parents off their nests, or create waves that swamp the nests.

Luckily, loons are not currently endangered. With more public awareness and better regulations on industrial pollution, we may still get to hear the loon’s memorable, haunting calls.

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Desert birds start by avoiding the hottest times day, when they’d lose water through panting. Desert birds also visit rivers, lakes, backyard birdbaths, or other watering holes whenever possible. If you are bird watching in the desert, such water sources are great places to see concentrated numbers of thirsty birds.

Some bird species, however, live far from such water sources. They manage to get most of their water from water-rich foods like fruit, nectar, or insects. Birds have very efficient kidneys that help them save this water in their bodies.

What about desert sparrows and finches, which eat only dry seeds? Their bodies are so good at processing the seeds’ tiny percentage of water that these birds can go through their whole lives never drinking a drop.

When desert birds do need to drink, they may commute long distances to find water. Sand-grouse, pigeon-sized African birds, fly up to 30km, twice a day, to reach water. They not only drink the water, they also absorb it into their specialized, sponge-like belly feathers. They bring this stored water back to their thirsty chicks, sitting in nests up to 30km away from the lake.

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Most seabirds simply drink the ocean’s saltwater. They could not do this without the help of their special glands called Salt Glands. The salt gland is an area of their nostrils that filters extra salt from the bloodstream. This salt is then sneezed out, or it dribbles out from the birds’ nostrils.

And there is plenty of salt to filter out- seawater is 3% salt, but birds need their bodies to be 1% salt in order to survive. These salt glands are constantly at work.

In some birds species like albatross and petrels, these glands look like big tubes sitting on top of the bill. This is why these ocean birds are sometimes called “tubenoses”.

Many kinds of birds have this gland, but it is only fully developed in seabirds. Interestingly, when scientists have fed young freshwater ducks large amounts of saltwater, these birds develop larger, more functioning salt glands as they grow into adults.

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Bird feathers aren’t naturally waterproof. But birds can make them water resistant by applying waxes from their preen glands. You may have watched a pet parrot grooming its own feathers – the bird will alternately rub its head against the base of its tail, and against its other feathers. It is depositing waxy, water-resistant oils found in the preen gland (at the tail base) onto the other feathers.

Birds also have a dusty powder in their feathers. This powder comes from special feathers called “powderdowns”, which are constantly disintegrating into waterproof powder. This powder adds to the water-resistant quality of feathers.

It is essential for birds like ducks to constantly preen their feathers to keep them in good shape, and to keep distributing these waterproof oils and powders.

Seabirds that dive underwater have particularly dense feathers, which also helps water from penetrating through the feathers to the bird’s body.

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