Lesson 1: Welcome to Habitats for Backyard Birds!
Why It's Important to Provide Habitats for Backyard Birds
A few simple steps will transform your backyard into a bird paradise. Watching and listening to birds, with their bright colors, cheerful songs and laughable antics, is both relaxing and fun. You can develop a whole new hobby or just sit and enjoy the show!
There are over 9000 species of birds and it is estimated that 85 million people in North America put out food for birds. Attracting birds is easy. You can attract birds to just about any size backyard. Our textbook, The Audubon Backyard Birdwatcher, states that the average backyard that feeds birds is regularly visited by 15-20 species.
Researchers at the Mayo Clinic reported in 2003 that starting a new hobby such as birdwatching helps to exercise your mind and keeps your memory sharp. Other researchers have reported that birdwatching can help to lower your blood pressure!
That’s not all. You will also have the personal satisfaction of knowing that you helped to add important habitat for native birds.
What Is A Habitat? A habitat is the arrangement of food, shelter and water necessary for a species to survive and reproduce.
What Is a Native Bird? A native bird is one that was born in a particular area and will live its life there.
Everyone’s efforts are important because there has been a decline in the numbers of certain bird species. What is the reason? The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports several reasons for the decline, including:
·there has been a decline in suitable nesting spots due to forest clearing for development; ·nicely manicured lawns do not provide sources of shelter for birds; ·the removal of dead trees and logs in our backyards eliminates nesting sites and insects for food; and ·the use of pesticides.
