1) Reduce or eliminate pesticide and
herbicide use. By using fewer chemicals in and around your home you will help
keep birds, pets and your family healthy
2) Help keep ALL water clean: patch bare
areas in your yard with native grasses to prevent erosion, sweep sidewalks and
driveways instead of hosing them down, and use a funnel when you fill your
lawnmower. The pollution that flows from your yard into local streams can have
a harmful impact on the environment.
3) Let your yard get a little messy!
Leave snags for nesting places and stack downed tree limbs to create a brush
pile, which is a great source of cover for birds during bad weather.
4) Attract hummingbirds with sugar
water, made by combining four parts hot water to one part white sugar, boiled
for one to two minutes. Never use honey, artificial sweeteners, or food
coloring. Clean hummingbird feeders with a solution of one part white vinegar
to four parts water once a week.
5) Make your windows visible to birds to
prevent collisions. Put up screens, close drapes and blinds when you leave the
house, or stick multiple decals on the glass (decals need to be no more than
two to four inches apart to be effective).
Find many more ideas at
AudubonAtHome.org or look them up on Facebook at ~facebook.comlAudubonAtHome.
These helpful hints
were submitted by DMAS member Sharon Stilwell.