• Creating a Bird Friendly Habitat at Home

• Upgrade your land to a Bird Sanctuary

CREATING A BIRD SANCTUARY

Mario Olmos, Ornithologist Kaytee Products

1. Identify where you live 2. Find your State bird’s list3. Identify all life zones in your area4. Migratory Flyways and Migratory

Species5. Research possible birds in your area6. Plan your bird friendly site7. Develop feeding areas with variety of

bird foods.8. Enjoy the best time in your life

CREATING A BIRD SANCTUARY

Biomes and Life Zones

Biomes and Life Zones (Where do I live)

Common Birding Life Zones

Lakes and Ponds. (80 + species ) Ponds are normally smaller, shallower and the water usually has a uniform temperature. Lakes are larger bodies of water, deeper and the temperature of the water changes with the depth. Both lakes and ponds may be of natural glacial origin, but many have been built. For instance, farmers build ponds as a source of water for livestock.

Transitional AreasDeciduous Forest and Grasslands. Deciduous forests can be found in the eastern half of North America, and is characterized by the broadleaf trees that are leafless during winter. There are at least 300 kinds of trees and shrubs of the Eastern forests.

The greatest areas of grasslands occur in the prairie regions of the Midwest and west. There are two types of grasslands; Prairie grasslands and the agricultural grasslands.

Eastern Meadowlarks, Ring-necked Pheasants, Vesper Sparrows, Bobolinks, Red-winged Blackbirds, Grasshopper Sparrows and other sparrows. Short-eared Owls and Northern Harriers

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MIGRATORY FLYWAYS

What Makes a Route PopularMigration flyways are popular routes because they are rich regions that meet traveling birds' needs. Typically, a migration corridor features wide swaths of undeveloped habitats to serve as food sources, water sources and resting places for migrating birds. Flyways also lack significant geographic barriers that can inhibit long flights, such as steep mountain ranges or extensive deserts. Along flyways, wind currents aid easy flight.

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• Breeds in deciduous and mixed woodlands, especially at the edges, second-growth woodlands, orchards, suburban parks and gardens. Winters in open tropical forest

• Gleans insects from foliage and branches. Will use bird feeders.

Results in Fort Worth

e-birds info / Rose-breasted Grosbeak

• Breeds at edge of boreal forest and tundra. Winters along hedgerows, shelterbelts, agricultural fields, weed patches, and pastures.

• Feeds primarily on ground. Picks food from ground, and scratches some in litter with both feet. Comes to feeders.Results in my home = 0

• The Lesser Scaup is one of the most abundant and widespread of the diving ducks in North America

• Feeds on clams, snails, crustaceans, aquatic insects, seeds, and aquatic plants.

Bird Friendly Site – Garden or Sanctuary

Install native plants - Select a variety of native plants to offer year-round food in the form of seeds, berries, nuts, and nectar. Try to recreate the plant ecosystem native to your area. Evergreen trees and shrubs provide excellent cover through all seasons, if they are part of your local ecosystem. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center has lists of recommended native plants by region and state.Designate areas of your land “bird-friendly”:Minimize human disturbance during the breeding season (mid-March through August). Some common disturbances may include, vegetation clearing, construction, spraying, and pet activity.Create networks of suitable habitat. Connecting habitat patches is valuable to birds and other wildlife.Work with neighbors and local conservancies to create a network of “bird sanctuaries” in your community.

Provide water year-round - A simple birdbath is a great start. Change water every 2-3 days in summer and use a heater in the winter. Place the water container about 10 feetfrom dense shrubs or other cover that predators may use.

Keep dead trees  - Dead trees provide cavity-dwelling places for birds to raise young and as a source to collect insects for food. Many species will also seek shelter from bad weather inside these hollowed out trees.

Provide Nesting Sites - Planting a variety of native shrubs and trees in multi-species clumps provides the most nest sites with the best cover. A structurally diverse habitat is one that has plants growing at different heights and different assemblages. This provides birds with many places to build nests and find food. It also provides adult and young birds with excellent concealment from predators.

Put out nesting boxes - Make sure the boxes have ventilation holes at the top and drainage holes below. Do not use a box with a perch, as house sparrows are known to sit on a nesting box perch and peck at other birds using the nesting box. Be sure to monitor the boxes for invasive animal species known to harm or outcompete native species.

Offer food in feeders  - Bird feeders are great sources of supplemental food during times of food scarcity, and also enhance bird-viewing opportunities.

Bird Feeding Tips• Provide multiple feeding stations in different

areas of your yard to disperse bird activity.

• Clean your feeders regularly with hot water, and let them air dry completely. Also keep areas under and around the feeders clean.

• Keep seed clean and dry, and watch for mold.

• Use a seed blend designed for your feeder and the types of birds you feed. Blends that contain filler seeds and grains (milo, and sorghum)are not typically eaten by birds, and will often end up on the ground.

• Place bird feeders in locations that do not provide hiding places for cats and other predators. Place feeders ten to twelve feet from low shrubs or brush piles.

• Suet feeders are a favorite of woodpeckers and other insect-eating birds.. Typically suet blocks are placed in a wire cage that hangs on the side of a tree.

THANK YOU