Welcome to a Home for Wild Birds

Would you believe that just one person (or family) attracting wild birds with bird feeders and houses in their yard can help bring nature back into balance?

This is possible because everything in nature is connected and important to the circle of life.

Many types of birds have lost their natural habitats to urban development. Concrete and asphault now cover what used to be thriving bird habitats. Studies have shown that loss of natural habitat has had a negative impact on bird populations.

So how can feeding birds help?

By feeding song birds in the winter, you increase their chances of survival. The more birds that live through the winter, the more birds there are to breed in the spring. If you feed backyard birds in the spring, when they are nesting, the parents can spend more time guarding their nest instead of foraging for food. The better the baby birds are fed, the higher their survival rate. Finally, the more young birds that survive, the higher the total bird population.

If you are like me, just having a healthier bird population is enough. There is actually another benefit to having a strong bird population - birds eat insects. If there are fewer insects, you won't have to use as many chemicals to control them. Using fewer chemicals will have an immediate impact on the environment by helping to bring it back into balance. Using fewer chemicals is healthier for you, your children, your pets, your yard and the water supply. So as you can see, supporting a wild bird habitat is not only fun, but it is important to the natural world around us.

I can tell you from experience that backyard bird watching is a great way to get kids interested in nature. There are many things you can do with your kids to get them interested in birds: build a bird feeder , build a bird house, take pictures of birds, start a bird watching journal, or go on a bird watching trip. These are fun, inexpensive ways to enjoy nature with your kids.

This site will provide you with all the backyard bird information you need to create a bird-friendly yard and how to get the most out of bird watching. Here are a few examples of what you can find:

Purple Finch

Along with all this great information, we offer a full line of backyard birding and bird watching supplies in our store, The One Stop Bird Shop. We have brought together a wide range of high quality products not found at your local hardware store. We offer some of the lowest shipping rates on the web with free shipping for all orders over $69.99. As an added benefit, most orders ship the same day.

We are constantly adding new information to our web site. There are two ways to find out what is new. Whenever something new is added we will highlight it in the following section. But, there is an easier way to keep track of what is new, sign up for our RSS feed. You will be sent a short message anytime new information is added. We also have a great monthly newsletter called The Backyard Birder. It is filled with seasonal information for your backyard bird habitat including tips, projects, bird food recipes and more. Sign up now.

We are excited to offer you several ways to share your stories about birding with us.

Share your favorite bird food recipes here.

Tell us a backyard birding story here.

And tell us about your bird watching club here.

Thank you in advance!

Look at What is New at A Home for Wild Birds

Are squirrels winning the battle at your feeders? Maybe it is time to try one of the new squirrel proof bird feeders on the market. There are many new models to choose from, learn more here.

Purple Martins will soon be arriving in North America. If you are considering putting out a few Purple Martin bird houses then now is the time to start planning.

Learn where and why you should hang a bluebird bird house.

Directions on making a bird feeder pole. It is a great way to offer several types of bird food in one location.

Click here to learn how wooden bird feeders can add natural beauty to your garden.

Bird of the Month for May

The Purple Martin is North America's largest swallow. This gorgeous swallow has a large head, broad chest, wide - pointed wings and a forked tail.

During the summertime purple martins breed from Alberta to New Brunswick, southward into central Texas and Florida. They may also be observed in some locations near the Pacific Coast, and in areas of the deserts and mountains of the southwestern United States and Mexico.

You may be surprised to learn that Purple Martins not only get all of their food while flying, they also get all of their water that way too. They actually skim the surface of the water and scoop it up with their lower bills.