Kathy Romero, the course instructor, is an environmentalist, a teacher and a scientist with over thirty-five years of experience in backyard birdwatching. Her objectives for the course are to help students learn how to assess their current property and formulate an action plan to create an inexpensive habitat that will attract birds of their choice while improving the environment and increasing the property's value.
The course is divided into four logical lessons. The lessons use an excellent reference book, Audubon's Backyard Birdwatcher, and links to sites on the web for background information. The discussions and assignments at the end of each lesson are thought-provoking and useful.
The first lesson reviews the reasons why students would want to provide a better habitat for birds and how to go about it. She cites studies that prove birdwatching keeps your mind sharp and helps people to relax. In addition to personal benefits, the environment benefits as a whole when a healthy habitat is established. I was pleased to learn that for birds and other animals, au natural lawn care is the way to go. I don't use chemicals or fertilizers on my lawn because I have a dog, and I was glad to learn that my 'natural' yard is actually beneficial to the birds and other animals I share my property with.
The "How" section of the lesson describes the upcoming action plan. I was excited to read on.
The second lesson instructs the student on the basics of providing a healthy habitat for birds; namely providing food, water, and shelter. The food section describes the various types of bird food available, and an inexpensive way to fashion your own birdfeeder. This lesson has a lot of information in one place, including a list of beneficial trees and shrubs for birds, where to locate feeders, and how to care for the feeders to prevent mold. The section of shelter made me happy: she suggestions leaving a section of the yard as a 'wild' area; complete with weeds, old logs, brush and native plants. I have an entire two acres of land just like that!
Water is the last topic for the second lesson. She mentions birdbaths and dust bathing, along with ways to make your own birdbath. The only thing I would add is the fact that water is very important in the winter for birds especially in the colder climes, so a source of liquid water is important. I have a heater in my birdbath to keep the water from freezing.
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