Tips

 You may attract birds and observe them while they raise their young,if you put a bird house up in a spot  that is easy to veiw .

Try not to place bird houses near bird feeders.If there is alot of birds comming and going , birds may not want to nest in a high traffic area.

Try not to put the openings of a bird house facing the south or east, as the direct morning and eveing sun may keep the house very warm.

You can hang a bird house from trees or you can mount it onto a post, to keep it up away from  the birds predators, like Squirells , cats, and opossums.

When hanging feeders you can use strong fishing line.This makes it hard for some predators to climb on and it also looks nice in the yard, giving the appearance of your feeders hanging mysteriously in mid air. You can use it for potted plants that you hang too.

There are many materials that you can provide for the birds to nest with , like grass clippings, small twigs, shredded pieces of cloth, cotton balls, string, yarn, and  hair clippings are a few.You can simply hang the yarn, strings, etc. on a fence, or and you can put  items in a basket where the birds can find them. The birds will be really greatfull for the help. 

You should clean your bird house at least once a year.A good time to do so is at the begining of spring, before  nesting season begins.

If you have an old broom, it works really well for cleaning out under the bird feeders,gathering fallen seeds. It's alot easier than doing it by hand and less time consuming as well.

Be safe and wear a mask and gloves while cleaning up after the birds always.

 I have found many answers to my bird and gardening dilemas for years through the Bird&Blooms magazines click on the magazine below to go  check it out

Creating a backyard wildlife habitat ...

Attracting Wildlife to your yard

1. To attract wildlife and maintain a wildlife habitat...water,shelter, food, and places for critters to raise their young ,are  needed.
2.  You can help attract birds and other types of wildlife into your yard by growing plants that will produce major nutrients they need, like nector, pollen, nuts, and berries.
3. A great way to get inspiration and ideas for your own garden or wildlife habbitat, is to go see others. Take a walk through your local park or a nature or birding trail. You are bound to catch a glimpse of an interesting bird or wildlife critter along the way so it can be fun and educational.You can see what kind of plants are used in particular landscapes, and what types of wildlife they attract.Then you can try to incorperate some of these things in your own yard. And you can also visit your local plant nursery to get information and tips on plant species that are native to your area as well.
4. Be aware of invasive plant species in your area and try to avoid these as they will over run other plants.Some invasise plants  spread so rapidly and freely,that they smother out other plants.
5. Adding water or a bird bath will help attract many birds. Noise  from a sprinkler or other running water will attract them even more.Misters can attract humming birds and butterflies.
6. Put bird feeders in shaded areas of your yard to help keep birds cool in the hot weather.
7.  If you feed wild birds, the regular maintainance, and cleaning of feeders and waters will help prevent exposing healthy birds to disease harboring germs that may be left by a sick bird that has visited the community feeders and waters.
8.  Birds will feel more secure if they have good places nearby to hide.Try to put feeders close to trees or shrubs that will provide cover, but try not to put them so close that cats can sneak up on unsuspecting birds at the feeders.
9. If you dont have trees  bushes, or shrubbery, other places around your house like arbors, fencing,  and roof overhangs can provide birds with protection from predators and weather. [ Try to avoid wide open areas  that may expose the visiting feeder birds  to flying predators].
10.  Hawks feed on song birds that visit back yard  feeders, its natures way of keeping populations healthy in the critter world . If a hawk becomes a regular visitor to your back yard , you can take down your feeders temperarily so that the song birds will stop comming to the area, and the hawk will perhaps move on.

Outside they can attract  birds and wildlife. If you have inside or outside plants its a good idea to be aware of certain types of plants that could be dangerous to humans, birds, dogs, cats or any other kind of animals. These are  some of the most common toxic plants.There are many different varieties of species, and every state has it's own list of toxic plants that have been registered with the * Food and Drug Administration , so it is hard to say what types can be found in your paticular area. The toxic plants  listed on this page can cause painful skin irritations upon contact, internal poisoning when eaten, and also can  poison through skin absorption or inhalation in the respiratory system.They can be very  dangerous to animals if they are near their living quarters .

Amaryilis -bulbs,American Yew,Avocado , Azalea - leaves ,Balsam Pear - seeds, outer rind of fruit, Baneberry - berries, root, Bird of Paradise - seeds, Black Locust - bark, sprouts, foliage , Blue-green Algae - some forms toxic, Boxwood - leaves, stems, Buckthorn - fruit, bark, Buttercup - sap, bulbs , Caladium - leaves , Calla Lily - leaves, Castor Bean - also castor oil, leaves , Chalice Vine/Trumpet vine,  Christmas Candle - sap , Clematis/Virginia Bower, Coral Plant - seeds , Cowslip/Marsh Marigold , Daffodil - bulbs , Daphne - berries , Datura - berries  , Deadly Amanita, Death Camas,  Delphinium , Deffenbachia/Dumb Cane - leaves , Eggplant - fruit okay , Elephants Ear/Taro - leaves, stem , English Ivy berries, leaves , English Yew, False Henbane, Fly Agaric Mushroom - Deadly Amanita
Foxglove - leaves, seeds , Golden Chain/Laburnum , Hemlock - also water the plant is in , Henbane - seeds, Holly - berries , Horse Chestnut/Buckeye - nuts, twigs, Hyacinth - bulbs , Hydrangea - flower bud , Indian Turnip/Jack-in-Pulpit, Iris /Blue Flag - bulbs, Japanese Yew - needles,  seeds, Java Bean - lima bean - uncooked , Juniper - needles, stems, berries, Lantana - immature berries , Larkspur, Laurel , Lily of the Valley - also water the in the plant , Lobelia, Locoweed , Lords and Ladies/Cuckoopint , Marijuana/Hemp - leaves , Mayapple - fruit is safe , Mescal Beans - seeds , Mistletoe - berries , Mock Orange - fruit ,Monkshood/Aconite - leaves, root, Morning Glory, Narcissus - bulbs , Nightshade - all varieties , Oleander - leaves, branches, nectar, Philodendron - leaves and stem Pointsetta - leaves, roots, immature , Poison Ivy - sap , Poison Oak - sap , Pokeweed/Inkberry - leaf ,root, young berries, Potato - eyes, new shoots, Privet , Rhododendron, Rhubarb - leaves
Rosary Peas/Indian Licorice - seeds , Skunk Cabbage , Snowdrop , Snow on the Mountain/Ghostweed , Sweet Pea - seeds, fruit ,Tobacco - leaves , Virginia Creeper - sap , Water Hemlock, Western Yew , Wisteria ,Yam bean - roots, immature roots. 

Tip:Double click your mouse on some words for an instant definition,divided words may notgive the correct definition as a plant source. 

Please use caution when handling or comming into contact with any of these plants