Hello Spring!
By Myrna Pearman, Mother Nature’s Naturalist and Backyard Birding Expert
Spring is in the air! Although March weather in B.C. can be unpredictable, there is little doubt that winter is on its way out and the earth is starting to awaken to the warmth of spring. While the main movement of migrating birds hasn’t yet started, many of the native sparrows (e.g., Song Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Spotted Towhee, Golden-crowned Sparrow) will brighten up even cool, rainy days with their spring arias. They will also continue to join other winter birds to dine at backyard feeding stations and, on sunny days, start searching for emerging insects and other spring offerings.
Golden-Crowned Sparrow
March is a good month to bring in and clean all your feeders. Wash in soapy water or with a weak bleach solution (10:1), rinse and then dry before reassembling and setting back out. If bird numbers have waned, you may decide to reduce the number of feeding stations you keep active during the spring.
Although it is tempting to buy “cheap” bird seed mixtures, we recommend using only high-quality seed and seed blends. Hardware-store brand blends, which often contain cereal grains and the less palatable seeds, are ignored by desirable native species but are magnets for Rock Pigeons, House Sparrows and other non-native pests. Native birds pick through the cheap blends searching for sunflower seeds and nuts, leaving behind (or tossing out) the unpalatable seeds to the ground. This wastage results in cheap seeds being even more expensive than the better blends.
Spotted Towhee
March is a good month to clean up around your bird feeding stations. If bird droppings have accumulated on your deck or railings beneath feeding areas, use a bleach water solution or a pressure washer to clean the areas off. Rake up and dispose of the detritus that has collected on the ground beneath the feeding stations over the winter and scatter them in a nearby wooded area or dispose of with your regular garbage. If you feed whole sunflowers, do not add the shells to your compost or gardens, as they contain a growth inhibitor.
Male Rufous Hummingbird
March is also a good time to set out hummingbird feeders or continue feeding if you’ve had Anna’s Hummingbirds coming in over the winter. Dissolve one part sugar in four parts hot water and let cool before filling a clean feeder. Start with a small quantity at a time until the birds show up, then add feeders and nectar as required. Never use honey, brown sugar or commercial nectar that has been coloured with red dye. Now is also a good time to research the best plants for hummingbirds and plan to incorporate them into your summer garden plan. Luckily, many excellent hummingbird plants can be grown in containers! There is nothing quite so joyous as having hummers spend their days feeding on strategically placed flower baskets around your deck/yard.
Other backyard species, from beneficial pollinators to birds, will be attracted if you create habitat in your yard. Buckerfield’s offer a wide variety of wildlife-attracting trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, vines and ground covers that can be planted to create natural food sources for your backyard neighbours. Since plantings can be expensive—and trees and shrubs can grow to be larger than expected—choose both the species and their placement carefully. A few containers of wildlife-attracting annuals or perennials will add visual interest and bring in birds to even the smallest yards or apartment balconies.
American Robin
Don’t forget to add water to the wildlife mix. Anything from a dog dish (put a rock in the middle for the birds to stand on) to a commercial bird bath will attract birds in to drink and bathe. Some baths come with their own bubblers, or a bubbler can be added. Bird bath fountains are increasing in popularity because they are self-contained and are designed to provide birds with drinking and bathing spots. The sound of moving water is both pleasant to the human ear and is a magnet for birds. Be sure to replenish all bird bath/fountain water on a regular basis. If you have the time and resources, you might want to install an in-ground water feature. Since these ponds, depending on their size and configuration, can be time-consuming and labour-intensive, be sure to take the time to plan carefully.
Early spring is also a good time to plan for the placement of other habitat components: bird nesting boxes, bat boxes, bee blocks, rock piles and small brush piles will all serve to bring wildlife into your yard. Check your local Buckerfield’s store for a wide selection of wildlife homes.
Have more questions? Visit your local Buckerfield's and we'll be happy to help!
