This information is from an article published
in the January 2002 issue of New
York Birders, the NYSOA newsletter.
The most recent issue of the American Bird Conservancy’s (ABC) Bird
Conservation magazine (issue 17) includes a list of ten tips for
bird friendly living. While you may have seen the tips before, you probably
haven’t seen addresses for many of the internet resources that can
help you get started on living these tips. Here are the ABC’s top
ten:
|
10
|
Plan your yard for diversity. |
|
9
|
Use native species when you can. |
|
8
|
Allow the "back 40" to become
a little scruffy. |
|
7
|
Hang Mylar strips or place feeders on large
windows. |
|
6
|
Donate your old binoculars. |
|
5
|
Drink shade grown coffee. |
|
4
|
Reach out! (Join a bird club, talk to neighbors,
etc.) |
|
3
|
Provide birds with food, water and shelter.
|
|
2
|
Be judicious in your use of pesticides.
|
And the number one tip for bird-friendly living:
|
1
|
Please keep your cat indoors! |
And here are the internet resources with a few words on what they provide:
https://AZNPS.org/html/state_np_links.html
This is the AZ Native Plant Societies’ website. Here you can
find a state by state listing of Native Plant Societies that can help
you plan your garden with the best plants to provide food and shelter
for the birds in your area.
www.birdfeeding.org The National
Bird-Feeding Society’s website contains a wealth of information on
improving conditions for backyard birds. Look for their page on "Creating
Bird friendly Habitat".
www.greenliving.org/healthyliving/gardeninfo.html
For ideas on landscaping--including ways to reduce your garden’s
water consumption and take advantage of alternative water sources--visit
this website and read about "xeriscaping".
https://birding.about.com/library/weekly/aa072598.htm?terms=pesticides
This address will bring you to a place to sign up for a wildlife gardening
mailing list. The About.com website birding section also provides links
for information on building bird-houses, creating birdbaths or bird ponds
in your yard and preparing suet cakes to keep your birds happy in wintertime!
www.nwf.org This is the website of the
National Wildlife Federation. Their "Operation Habitat" encourages
the public to provide food, water, shelter and nesting space for birds
and wildlife in their backyards.
www.wbu.com/chipperwoods/faq.htm
The Chipper Woods Bird Observatory website offers tips on dealing with
bird problems from window collisions to pesky woodpeckers.
www.americanbirding.org
or www.manomet.org. Visit one of
these sites to find out how to donate your old birding equipment and books
to Latin American scientists and educators through Birder’s Exchange.
Type "shade-grown coffee" in any Internet search engine to
lead you to a number of coffee growers and sellers whose products are
certified bird friendly.
www.abcbirds.org/pesticides/FAQs.htm
This link will bring you to the ABC’s "Pesticides and Birds"
website.
www.beyondpesticides.org
Visit this site for a list of non-toxic pest controls and companies that
engage in environmentally friendly pest management.
www.abcbirds.org
Read about the ABC’s "Cats Indoors!" campaign.
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