The fifth in the backyard wildlife series, this NebGuide describes tips for success in bird feeding, adding water, birds to expect, dealing with nuisance wildlife, and others. More Information Acknowledgments Bring the mystery, color, and wonder of nature to your home and provide a helping hand for wildlife at the same time. Songbirds, butterflies, and even fish or turtles in a backyard pool provide an open window for nature observation, an opportunity often lost in non-farm environments. Awareness of migrating songbirds can increase interest in global connectivity, with return of migrants from Mexico and South and Central America during spring, and return during fall of species that nest farther north. A home landscape can provide a place for wildlife as well as an environment that suits your family's needs and preferences.
Bird feeding adds a food source and brings birds close for easy observation.
Bird houses provide nest sites for cavity-nesting birds such as house wrens, chickadees, woodpeckers, and others. A bird bath or other water source adds another important component. More information is available in other NebGuides in this Backyard Wildlife series. Bird Feeding Stumpers Dealing with squirrels To deter squirrels, place feeders at least 7 to 8 feet away from solid tree limbs, fences or railings, and try to situate feeders so squirrels can't jump onto them from above. To prevent access from below, erect feeders about 5 feet above the ground so squirrels can't leap up to them, and add a guard over the feeder pole.