The American kestrel is the best-known and smallest bird of prey in North America, measuring just 9 inches long with a wingspan of 22 inches.  Both sexes have a russet back and tail, and double black stripes on a white face.  The males have blue-gray wing covers and cap.  Their call is “killy, killy, killy.”

Roadside fields and grassy areas are perfect hunting grounds for this insect-eating hawk.  It is not uncommon for American kestrels to live near humans.  In fact, they’re so friendly they will sometimes go to bird feeders for food.  They will readily move into a large birdhouse on a pole or in a tree, 10 to 30 feet above the ground.

American kestrels are faced with a lack of suitable nesting cavities.  You can help them out by building bird houses and ideally install them on free-standing, 10 to 12 foot high posts by February 1.  Kestrels are most likely to start nesting in May, but they are early migrants, so it’s better to have them up and ready early.  You may need to check your kestrel bird houses every week for starlings that have nested and laid eggs.  Kestrel eggs are a pink-ish, cinnamon color with specks of brown. Occasional checking in on the nest box will not cause kestrels to abandon the nest.

This colorful falcon has charmed its way into backyards across the country and is giving us the chance to enjoy their antics in our backyard birding.

The sight of a half million whirling creatures of any kind at one time and place is a dramatic and interesting experience.

A remarkable wildlife spectacle has unfolded in  recent years on one small island on the  Tennessee River.  A hundred yards or so on the downstream side of the Wheeler Dam, hundreds of thousands of purple martins are using this small acre-size island to congregate in a large flock prior to their fall migration.  Some estimates of this roost run as high as a half million.

Each evening about sunset, martins from all over the region can be seen flying toward this island and dam.  As they arrive, they first perch by the thousands on power lines crossing the Tennessee River.  Between sunset and dusk, still more thousands approach from up and down the river.  On and on they come until just in the twilight of dusk they all make a wild flight to perch on small trees on the island.  For a few spectacular minutes, the air is full of half a million swirling, chattering frantic birds.  Soon, most of the limbs on the island’s trees begin to bend from the weight of birds perching wing-to-wing.  As darkness falls, the flock quiets.  Here they will stay until dawn when they will disperse into the surrounding area to forage for insects. During congregation and dispersal the concentration of these birds is so dense they can regularly be seen on local weather radar.

This will be repeated each night for about three weeks in August, until the flock leaves to begin their long migration to their wintering grounds in Central and South America.

There are 3 types of bluebirds that make their home in the United States.  The Eastern Blue Bird is found in the Eastern U.S., the Western Blue Bird is found in the Rocky Mountain States and West, and the Mountain Blue Bird is found at higher elevations from the foothills of the Rockies to the Pacific Coast.

The bluebird is very beneficial, eating large quantities of damaging insects.  Bluebirds prefer open park lands, pastures, meadows and grassy lawns.  They will perch on fence posts or small trees and swoop down to eat insects on the grassy ground.

These beautiful birds were once very common in the United States; however, over the last century their numbers have diminished due to loss of natural habitat, overuse of pesticides, and predators.

No matter where you live, attracting the bluebird to your backyard can be fun and greatly add to your backyard birding.

There are a number of ways to attract birds to enhance your backyard birding.  One is to provide different bird feeders for a variety of foods and provide water with bird baths.  Most important, birds must feel safe in a place for them to stay.  Shrubs, trees and flowers provide protection and security as birds are not out in the open. 

Feeding is probable the fastest way to a bird’s heart.  You are providing the supplemental food and water for them to want to stay with you.  Platform bird feeders which display the seed in full view are very attractive to the birds, so they are a good starter.  They can be supplemented with hopper and tube bird feeders.

There must be a source of water in your backyard for birds to drink and bathe.  It should not be too close to the feeders as birds tend to avoid bird baths that have lots of other activity around them.  Preening birds prefer peace and quiet when they arrange and dry their feathers.

Water is irresistible to birds in whatever form.  Providing water at varying heights attract a great number of birds.  Water should only be a few inches deep at the deepest place as some birds can easily drown.  For bird baths that are deeper than 2″ deep, pebbles can be placed at the bottom.  The sound of water, whether bubbling, dripping or splashing will lure birds to any backyard.

Bird feeders are an important ingredient in creating a successful bird garden.  When properly selected and placed, they can greatly expand the number and types of birds that will visit your backyard.

The placement of bird feeders is critical in two respects.  First, they need to be located near cover in which the birds can  escape if they feel threatened.  The second consideration is to place the bird feeders close to windows where you can have a good view of them.
Goldfinches add remarkable color to your backyard as well as delightful activity.    Tube bird feeders are perfect for thistle (nyjer) seed and another favorite of the goldfinches  is black oil sunflower seeds.  Hang tube bird feeders just outside your bedroom, kitchen or den window.  The finches are not shy and timid and will come to the feeders as long as there is not a lot of noise to spook them.  These various tube bird feeders can be placed around the yard which will also attract other finches.  You want a birdfeeder that has plenty of perches for the birds to sit on while they are busy eating and playing with each other.

During the year, it is fun to watch the birds molt and change colors.  In springtime, the Goldfinches take on their remarkable colors.  You can also watch as they do their mating rituals to attract partners to start their families.

Backyard birding brings nature to your home for many hours of enjoyment and pleasure.

If you live in a city with trees along streets, houses with lawns,m a park nearby, maybe a nearby golf course or abandoned lot, you have a good start for having a variety of birds you can attract to your own backyard. During late fall and again in early spring, a large number of bird species migrate. Some of the greatest fun in backyard birding is seeing birds pass through our neighborhoods during migration. Many species appear in our neighborhoods only at this time.

Your powers of observation will improve profoundly as you gain more experience in looking for and seeing birds. After a few months of practice you’ll find yourself catching glimpses of elusive birds where others see nothing. Moreover, when you spot a bird, your brain will automatically soak up an incredible array of details, such as the presence of eye strips or rings, wing bars, spots beneath the tail, stripes on the chest, etc.

Most birds are much more active during the first two or three hours of the morning and then again an hour or two before dusk, than during the long middle of the day. There are exceptions to this rule. At the beach, sea gulls and shorebirds may stay active the whole day. Hummingbirds often return to feeders throughout the day. During nesting season, birds with young to feed can be seen flying back and forth to their nests all day long or feed the babies who are crying for food even when they are out of the nests.

We can also enhance our backyard birding with a variety of bird feeders, bird houses and bird baths and plant some appropriate shrubs and trees. With the addition of songbirds, you can have created a delightful haven.

Did you know that birding is the number one sport in America? According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, there are currently 51.3 million birders in the United States alone, and this number continues to grow!

To begin birding, here are a few helpful ideas to get you off to a good start. First, you need binoculars to really see the birds. You need a field guide for your area with pictures of the birds and tips for identifying them. The best book for new birders in the United States is the Peterson Field Guide to Eastern Birds or the Peterson Field Guide to Western Birds, When you become familiar with the birds in your area, you will want the National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, 3rd edition.

Learn about the habitat of each species of bird. Do they like to spend their time at the top of a tree or on the ground or on a lake? You should learn the songs of the birds. You will often hear it before you see it. Learn about the good birding spots in your area.

Join a group of other birders. You will find then very friendly and helpful and willing to share their knowledge. Start by calling the local Audubon Society, the Nature Center of Parks Commission, or the local Bird Club. If all else fails, go the park with your binocular. Someone is sure to strike up a conversation and they might lead you to a whole new group of birding buddies.

Try a birding trip or tour. Local bird trips are sometimes advertised in the newspapers. These are often led by park rangers or a local Audubon member. These trips are usually free of charge. When birding wear neutral colored clothing, not white.

Read about birds — there are many good magazines about birding. There are also thousands of books about birds.

Record your bird sightings. You might want to keep a list of the birds you see in your yard and you can keep a list of birds you see in your town or on your vacation. Birders often keep lists for their county, state or country. This is all very easy with a computer listing program such as the Birder’s Diary.

Have Fun and Enjoy the Birds!

The problem for most beginning birders is simply finding the bird. Look for bird watching binoculars that have a wide enough field of view to locate a bird and then follow its movements. The binoculars must provide a bright enough image to allow you to distinguish subtle features and also focus quickly to capture sharp images of fast-moving birds.

Binoculars are described by two numbers — for example, 8×32 or 10×40. The first number is the magnification and the second is the size of the objective lens, in millimeters. A bigger ratio will always give a sharper, brighter image. Most birders agree that 7 or 8 power is about right for most birding. 10 power binoculars have a smaller field of view and a dimmer image. A bright wide field is much easier to hold steady; higher magnification also magnifies the movement of your hands. You may want to consider purchasing mid-size binoculars, such as 8×32s since they are bright enough and easy to carry and pack and may have a field of view as good as many 8×42s.

Always spend as much as you can afford — you will never be sorry to have purchased high quality binoculars. Never buy before trying the actual instrument you plan to purchase. You need to be comfortable using a particular brand and model.

Make sure you know how to use your binoculars — practice! Don’t try to locate the bird with your binoculars. First find the bird with your unaided eye, then keep your eyes on the bird while you raise the binoculars to your face. Focus and enjoy!

Do you ever have a day when you have nothing to do and you feel bored? Now there is something to do on these dull days — go bird watching.

No matter where you live you probably have birds of some kind. Even folks in New York have central park and other places where they can go bird watching. There are only three essential things you should have when bird watching — a pair of binoculars, a notebook, and a bird guide book.

Specially priced Audubon binoculars with a magnification of 8X40 are perfect for bird watching. A small spiral notebook works great for taking notes, and you should know what kind birds you are looking at when you spot a new one, so a bird guide book is very helpful. Now you are ready to go bird watching.

If you have any grassy, wooded or open areas with trees or bushes, you can usually find birds. One of the best things about bird watching is anyone can do it, even if you are in a wheelchair, you can sit and watch birds. It is a great recreation for anyone that is alone, or for the whole family to do together.

What type of person likes to watch birds? Just like most hobbies, bird watching can be enjoyed by anyone, young or old. If you have an appreciation for nature, more specifically sitting outside watching the trees sway, the birds, chirping, etc., you may enjoy bird watching too. Now bird watching isn’t for everyone, but you will never know if you don’t give it a go. The great thing about bird watching is that it’s not an expensive hobby. All you really need is a pair of binoculars and a few other items.

Binoculars – The main item all bird watchers need is their own pair of binoculars. Sure you can share with a friend but you’ll get much more out of the experience if you have your own. Binoculars are very useful in that they allow you to see better angles of a bird, they provide excellent clarity and will make it easier for you to identify a bird and take notes if needed. If the thought of having a pair of “mini binoculars” which you can carry in your pocket and take everywhere you go sounds good, then you are in luck! They are available and have a sharp and clear image, so don’t let their small size stop you.

Field Guide - Essentially a book which is packed with bird information and is the ideal resource for your bird watching expeditions. Some of the information provided is general knowledge on each bird, interesting facts and they’re useful in identifying a particular bird.

Notebook – Very handy for taking notes on the birds you have seen. Most people take note of special details of the birds they have seen, the area which they were spotted and any other important details.

Attire – There are two main types of apparel bird watchers can invest in. First, is a hat (any hat will do) to protect yourself from the sun, but believe me, you won’t be complaining if a bird decides to poop on your hat instead of your head! The other item which is optional but very handy is a birding vest. You can place your binoculars and other equipment in the pockets.

The popularity of bird watching continues to rise and is definitely something worthwhile pursuing even if you have the smallest hint of interest. It’s inexpensive, interesting, good for your health and you don’t need to know anything about birds. It is such a thrill when you discover a new bird as well as seeing all your old feathered friends.

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