How to Create a Patio Bird Habitat

Create a bird habitat you can enjoy from your apartment balcony or patio. What plants to buy & what you need to support birds year round is discussed. For folks with limited outdoor space, this is the way to create a mini bird habitat to enjoy year round.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Brackets to hold hanging baskets
• Plant containers, soil, and plants
• Bird feeder
• Bird seed & storage container for seed

1. Metal Bird Feeder Bird Feeders & Water :
   When purchasing your feeder, consider: 1)how durable it is; 2)how much seed it holds; 3)how easy it is to clean. If gray squirrels are prevalent, buy a squirrel proof feeder. Mounting your bird feeder by an eye bolt reduces chances of it blowing away in bad weather. Most birds prefer black oil sunflower seed. Some of the finches prefer thistle seed. If you have room for only one feeder, fill it with black oil sunflower seed. A simple clay saucer 12" wide set on a 24" raised base holds the water. Hummingbird feeders create quite a show & require constant cleaning and refilling.
2. Dwarf Alberta Spruce A Place to Feel Safe:
   Birds are shy by nature. After hanging your feeders , it takes time for birds to appear. Placing a 1 1/2'-2' woody shrub in a container gives the birds a place to land and hide. Boxwood, shrub magnolias, dwarf Alberta spruce, all provide a safe landing area. Ask your garden center for suggestions for your climate zone. Explain where the plants are being placed and the amount of sun you have.
3. Hanging Annual Fuschia Basket- A Hummingbird Feeder Hummingbird Plants:
   
   Hang a basket of colorful fuchsias & watch the "hummers" come to your patio. In addition to fuchsias, hummingbirds enjoy any tubular flowers and are particularly drawn to red flowers. Be prepared to watch the male hummingbirds "battle" over the rights to your flowers. If you have room, hang up more than one basket of flowers and watch the show.
4. American Goldfinch Enjoys Sunflower & Thistle Seed Seed Storage & Maintenance:
   Keep your seed dry & cool. Store sunflower seed in a plastic container or galvanized, lidded pail. Keep a scoop in the container to load the seed. Take your seeders down periodically to wash with soapy water. Some bird diseases actually spread through unclean feeders. Remove wet, moldy seed caught in the corners of the feeders. Contaminated seed causes sickness in birds.
5. An Unexpected Visitor- a Duck in a Hanging Basket Wintertime Feeding:
   
   Keep your feeders full throughout the year. Different birds come and eat as they migrate through your area. For colder climates in winter, a suet basket with a suet cake provides added food energy for birds. If possible, keep fresh water available in the wintertime.

Tips & Warnings

• Creating a bird habitat benefits both you and the birds
• This is a good project for young folks at a retirement center
• A little maintenance & some thought provides endless joy for you & habitat for our feathered friends