There’s nothing more enjoyable than drinking your morning coffee on your porch and watching the colorful birds visit your bird feeder. Georgia has many native birds that spend the entire year here and are always looking for food and shelter. Now that it’s winter, we also have many species of birds from northern states. This is the only time of year that you will see this many different birds in your yard together. But if you want to keep birds returning to your metro Atlanta yard you need to provide more accommodations to make them feel comfortable. If you provide them with everything they need, then you will not have a problem attracting birds to your Georgia yard.
Providing The Right Food
Food is the most important reason birds will stop by your property. The key to attracting a variety of birds is by offering a variety of food. Sunflower seeds are a common bird food but not all birds eat sunflower seeds. For example, bluebirds and robins prefer to eat suet, mealworms, and berries, while finches and doves love nyjer/thistle seed.
Sunflower Seeds
Sunflowers are the preferred food of most seed-eating birds. With about 40 species of birds that eat sunflower seeds, you can’t go wrong if you add some to your feeders. Birds that love sunflower seeds are Cardinals, jays, woodpeckers, nuthatches, mockingbirds, sparrows, titmice, and chickadees
Cracked corn
Cracked corn is a cheap option that can attract a variety of wildlife and game birds such as bluebirds, crows, pheasants, turkeys. It is ideal to put cracked corn on platform feeders or scattered on the ground for game birds. Be aware that mammals such as raccoons, squirrels, opossums, and deer will also be drawn to cracked corn if it is on the ground.
Suet
While not technically birdseed, many birds are still attracted to suet and you should definitely consider adding it to your feeder. Feed stores offer a larger variety of suet flavors but they are usually mixed with seeds, berries, and other treats that birds like. You can even make your own suet. Suet attracts insect-eating birds such as wrens, black-capped chickadees, woodpeckers, nuthatches, and titmice. Suet should be placed in special feeders and at least five feet off the ground. Do not put suet out in hot weather because it will melt.
Thistle Seed
Thistle seeds, also known as nyjer, require a special type of feeder. Nyjer feeders are perfect for hanging on porches or off your primary feeder. Nyjer seeds can be used to attract goldfinches, house finches, purple finches, doves, and redpolls.
Plant Some Trees on Your Metro Atlanta Yard
Birds need trees to sit, roots, and nest. Planting a variety of trees in your metro Atlanta yard will do wonders for attracting birds. Plant a mixture of deciduous and evergreen trees for the winter months. There are also certain trees, such as crabapples, that retain their fruit well into the winter. These trees provide fruit for hungry animals and birds. Other trees that are great for attracting birds in the winter are Washington hawthorn and American holly.
Provide A Place To Drink and Bathe
Birds need to wash that seed down with something. In order to discourage them from flying to your neighbor’s yard for a drink, you should install a birdbath. Birdbaths come in all shapes and sizes and can fit any budget. Just make sure you change the water regularly or add an agitator to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs.
Provide a Place to Sleep
The final ingredient to getting birds to visit your yard is to get them to move in permanently. Birds usually nest and roost in trees but birdhouses are much more secure and warmer places to sleep. Even in the winter, birds still need places to roost and be protected from the elements. Place a few roosting boxes around your yard. Roosting boxes are like boarding houses for birds and several birds can roost in one box.
Get Professional Lawn Care Service In Metro Atlanta
Spring is right around the corner. It’s never too early to be thinking about next year’s lawn care goals. If you want the best-looking lawn in the metro Atlanta area, then call the pros at Papa Turf. Our lawn care program offers year-round fertilization and weed control to ensure your lawn performs at its best. Call us today at 770-389-0884 or leave us a message online. Don’t forget to check out our blog page for more articles on lawn care. You can also connect with us on Facebook, where we share the latest deals, service offerings and post photos of our work!