By Carol Kagan
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| Linda Secrist presents tips to attract birds |
“Think of yourself as a bird,” said Master Gardener Linda
Secrist, “and if you were flying over your yard, what would you see?”
The “For the Birds” Master Gardener workshop on January 11
hosted 23 participants interested in learning how to attract birds and getting tips
on plant selection, bird watching and treats for birds.
“I have a great horned owl that sits on my roof and wakes me
every morning,” said Carol Sirbaugh, Fayetteville. But there is a dearth of other
birds despite her efforts with bird feeders so she was looking for more ways to
attract birds.
Secrist described the four things that birds need to thrive:
water, food, shelter and nesting areas. This time of year providing water for
birds is a challenge and she presented several options to keep water from icing
over in bird baths and ponds.
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| Bird nesting in a simple clay feeder |
“Birds can eat up to three times their body weight every
day,” Secrist noted. “So ‘eats like a bird’ really has a different meaning than
we use every day.” Since different birds like different food, she listed the seeds
and foods, such as suet and fruit, that various birds prefer.
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| Linda Secrist talks about different seeds and bird foods |
Inspired by the book “Cooking for the Birds” by Adele
Porter, Secrist displayed interesting food concoctions including belly jelly and
pasta al fresco. Joyce Randolph, Hagerstown, MD, was particularly interested in
the woodpecker waffles and intended to make some at home.
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| A variety of foods for birds |
Kylie Deaton, Hagerstown, came with her mother and said, “I
learned about different foods like the waffles and pasta.” As the 4
th
grade reporter for her class, she expects to do a report on the workshop for
the next newspaper issue.
Many in the workshop raised their hands when asked who had
not cleared every perennial in their yard in the fall. Secrist pointed out that
this is a good strategy for attracting birds during the winter months.
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| The best flowers to attract birds are single-petaled varieties like this coneflower. |
With some plants already in place, Penny Farrah,
Greencastle, said she wanted “to know more about what plants” to add. She had
already jotted down coneflowers, a new plant to add.
Selecting native plants and flowers that birds like are important
for providing not only food but shelter and nesting sites. Hedgerows and larger
shrubs offer cover for birds and trees are the typical nesting site for most
birds.
Carl Robillard, Shippensburg, has three acres he is
landscaping. “I want to include bird friendly plants and shrubs so this workshop
was interesting about that,” commented Robillard. A Master Gardener suggested
the native elderberry shrub as a good choice to consider.
As for birdhouses, Secrist said, “Your bird house should be
boring.” Plain, well-constructed shelters with access to clean them out are
what birds seek, not the brightly painted and decorated houses.
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| John Myers (R) and Rebecca & David Irvin(L) at the workshop |
In response to an inquiry if bluebirds in this area migrate
over winter, John Myers, Marion, PA, mentioned that his “mother had three or
four bluebird houses and the bluebirds were around during the winter.” Myers
added the bluebirds had “a couple sets of babies every year.”
Both Rebecca Irvin and her dad, David, Chambersburg, already
have quite a variety of bird visitors but wanted to find out how to attract
others. Rebecca said she learned about a lot of different stuff that was bird
food.
Rebecca was suited up in her soccer gear and heading to an
indoor game but she stayed after the workshop to talk about all the different
birds they see both at home and when vacationing. She knows she won’t hear the
beautiful song of the hermit thrushes in Maine at home in Chambersburg, but
expects to see a bigger variety at home now.
Photo credit: Carol Kagan
