Many individuals grow garden plots, flowers and bushes in their yard. There are a variety of reasons for creating a garden. Besides being used for growing fruit and vegetables and decorative plants, quite often, people are wanting to draw birds to their yard. Viewing thesebeautiful creatures fly in and out of the garden is a gift, nearly as gratifying as seeing the garden grow.

Most bird species are most likely to prefer natural areas that support trees, grasses and flowers, a yard is a superb option for them. Branches of trees offer roosts, offering the birds shelter from predatory animals and a nursery to raise their babies. Even standing old trees and logs can be attractive to birds, this is because insects use them as feeding spots and the birds control the bugs.

Birds, no different than all other living thing must have fresh water. They will nearly always congregate at areas that provide an adequate amount of water. So, it's important that you provide the birds you attract with a water source. The water source can be either a hand dug or wild body of water, stream, river or it could be a bird bath. Rocks with dents in them also make ideal receptacles for rainwater.

Water in your yard or garden will also attract bugs that the birds will eat. Insects are the main food source of most bird species and this should not be overlooked. As you know very well, insects are drawn to the things growing in your garden beds. They can cause severe damage to plants, flowers, fruit and vegetables and have to be controlled. Birds are the ideal way to do this. They're organic, non-poisonous and their songs fill the air with wonderful music.

Vegetarian bird species are usually fed with specially crafted feeders. Some come with squirrel proofing, still, those smart critters still devise a way in. Birds come in a variety of shapes and sizes and eat a variety of seeds. Feeders for birds also come in a number of sizes and shapes from small liquid Hummingbird feeding stations to larger seed feeders for Blue Jays and other species. In order to attract a variety of birds, different kinds of feeders can be put around the yard for each type.

Having all the vegetation in place, feeders installed and a water source put in, birds will be welcomed to your yard. Once there, they'll be happy to eat, drink and be merry all day long. Some of your birds will make nests in trees close by. But most of the birds will nest in another location if there are no homes given to them.

Individual birds, like people, have their preferences as to the kind of house they call home. Most often, human constructed bird houses are lived in by Bluebirds, Robins, Chickadees, Wrens, House Finches, Flickers and Martins. By providing houses of the proper dimension and shape for each species, the homeowner gives the birds a safe haven for their young. When the young are getting larger, its mom and dad are able to find food near by the nest, thus keeping the baby safe and well fed.

At most yard and garden stores, birdhouses can be obtained in a wide variety of sizes, shapes and styles. Since birdhouses are commonly quite simple, they can be readily built by the average person. It's also a project that a group of kids, such as a scouting troop, can do. Having made and placed their own birdhouse, kids and grown-ups alike will get a thrill out of watching new birds move in.

In order to get the most out of your garden, birds are truly some of the best additions. They'll come to you if they can find the food, water and shelter they need. For years to come, the birds will return to lay their eggs, raise their young and act as your own personal insect repellents.