“Bird TV”

2 Secrets to Attracting Birds

This past week I facilitated a workshop called, “Not Just Child’s Play: The Impact of Media on Child Development.” It is a topic that I struggle with at home with my own children; therefore, in preparation for my workshop, I asked my 13-year-oldd son for some insight. When asked what he would do if he was a parent today struggling with screen time with his kids, he simply said, “Replace screens with something else.” Hmmmm…seems so simple. This got me thinking.

Ironically, when I checked facebook, I saw this post from a gardener friend of mine; Lynn Taggart.

It’s been great “bird tv” watching here lately. Sometimes it makes us stay too long at the breakfast table. We have four feeders, a heated water source, and LOTS of local talent. Cardinals, goldfinches, house finches (they look like they’ve been dipped in red watercolor paint), nuthatches, juncos, doves, JAYS, GRACKLES (they yell), tufted titmice – or titmouses if you like – downy woodpeckers, chickadees, and several species of squabbling sparrow. Saw a thrush at Christmas, but the robins, wrens, and red-winged blackbirds have gone to warmer places. And one magical day I was weeding and a flock of cedar waxwings landed all around me to gobble juniper berries while I held my breath. Every now and then we experience the bird tv blackout due to an as yet unidentified hawk who makes the screen go blank.” 

In response to this post, friends started sharing their views outside their kitchen windows. I laughed at all the additional stories about the abundance of rabbits.

I learned quickly that there are a few secrets to creating such colorful “Bird TV.” Here are 2 Secrets…..roosting boxes and heated bird baths….who knew?

SECRET #1: WINTER ROOSTING BOXES 

Lynn explained, “I should note that we have 4 birdhouses that we switch out for roosting boxes during the winter. I do think that the water is a huge draw, though.”

SECRET #2: HEATING BIRD BATHS

Lynn explained, “As for the water, in the summer we have a beautiful granite bath, but for winter we swap it out. Our cold-weather one is a shallow plastic bowl, about 24″ diameter, with a built-in heating element, purchased from a catalog. Luckily we have an exterior electrical outlet, so we run an extension cord to it. The bowl sits on top of a big flower pot to keep it off the ground, and we weight it down with a couple of rocks. The little birds like to stand on the rocks to drink, and larger birds drink while standing on the rim. It’s not beautiful, but the birds are!”

I am so inspired to step up my game in my Bird Sanctuary! Stay tuned.

Now I want to hear from you? What is your view out the window this winter? Do you have any birds visiting you? Share in the comments below.

 About Victoria Hackett:

My mission is for every child in every school to have access to an Outdoor Classroom. Therefore, I inspire educators to teach outdoors and lead an on-line virtual community of Natural Teachers all over the world to create their own Outdoor Classroom story.

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