Hey, Ray: Bringing birds to your yard

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – I love attracting birds to my yard. Whenever I post pictures or videos of birds, someone always asks how I can get different types of birds to come into my yard. Bringing birds is easy, but my experience is not birds, so we need to talk to an expert to get tips and tricks to make your bird experience as exciting as possible. To do this, we spoke with Rachel Handel, director of communications for the Audobon Society of Western Pennsylvania.

Elizabeth: Hi Rachel! Why do you want to attract birds in the first place?

Rachel Handel: I think a lot of people are very fond of attracting birds to the yard because they are colorful, they are playful when you watch them and see their behavior. I think a lot of people really connect with them, and that was something we really saw through the pandemic, especially when people were more often at home.

Ray: When you go to the store, are there as many types of seeds as you choose?

Rachel Handel: You know, I look at bird seeds like crab pie. If you order a crab pie when you are, you will want a crab pie with lots of crabs and not too much filler. So if you pay a little less, you get a lot more filler and you won’t be so happy. Your tummy will say: let’s not go back to that restaurant. Same with birds. When they go to the feeder, and there is a feeder that has seeds that have a lot of filler, they spit out that filler to get to the good. So you just want to get good things from the beginning and then you don’t have to worry about it.

Elizabeth: is there anything else you need to do?

Rachel Handel: Therefore, we recommend that you remove the feeder every week, clean it with soap and water and let it dry, and then soak it for about 15 minutes in a solution consisting of 10 parts water and one part bleach. Then you let it dry again and expose the feeder. This really helps ensure that you keep the bird safe.

Ray: So, are there apps for smartphones to help determine what’s in your yard, or are there other ways?

Rachel Handel: The Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania has actually created a guide to “What’s in Your Yard,” and it’s just a very small guide that can show you birds in your backyard with wildflowers that may be there, even mammals, and it’s a really great way to find out what in your yard. I think a lot of people don’t realize how many interesting insects, birds and mammals live in their backyard.

The Audobon Society of Southwestern PA has other tips and tricks.

You can learn more on their website at this link!!