• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Genuine Kentucky

Kentucky Pictures, Events, Restaurants

  • Home
    • About
    • Contact
      • Advertise
    • Facts About Kentucky
      • Kentucky Geography 101: Where is Kentucky?!
      • Kentucky’s Lakes (Listed Alphabetically)
    • Famous Kentuckians
    • Kentucky Birds
      • Joys of Bird Watching
      • Bird Watching: Keeping a Journal
      • Backyard Birds Love Water!
      • Create a Backyard Bird Watching Haven
      • How to Attract Hummingbirds to Your Yard
    • Kentucky Food
    • Kentucky History
    • Sitemap
  • Pictures
  • Restaurants
    • Best Catfish Restaurants
    • Best Pizza in Ky
    • Best BBQ in Ky
    • Bowling Green Restaurants
    • Gluten Free in Kentucky
    • Kentucky Lake Restaurants
    • Off the Beaten Path
    • Owensboro, Gluten Free
    • Owensboro Restaurants
    • Where to Eat Lunch in Owensboro
  • KY State Parks
    • Carter Caves State Resort Park
    • Cumberland Falls State Resort Park
    • Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park
    • Kenlake State Resort Park
    • Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park
    • Lake Barkley State Resort Park
    • Rough River Dam State Resort Park
    • Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park
    • Pine Mountain State Resort Park
    • John James Audubon State Park
    • Lake Cumberland State Resort Park
    • More Kentucky State Parks
  • Things to Do
    • Grand Rivers Variety
    • Kentucky State Parks
    • Kentucky Lake
      • Kentucky Lake Pictures
    • Land Between the Lakes
      • Elk & Bison Prairie
      • Golden Pond Planetarium
      • The Homeplace
      • The Nature Station
      • LBL Pictures
        • Elk and Bison Prairie Pictures
    • Windy Hollow Campground and Speedway
    • Western Kentucky Botanical Garden
    • Smothers Park and Owensboro’s Riverfront
    • The Hitching Post
  • Events
You are here: Home / Birds / Create a Backyard Bird Watching Haven

Create a Backyard Bird Watching Haven

Bird watching is one of the most peaceful enjoyable hobbies you could ever take up.  Actually, it’s more than just a hobby, it’s a way of life.  Birdwatching  can enrich your life in so many wonderful ways – you’ll wonder how you ever lived without these little guys as prominent fixtures in your life.

You can turn your backyard, or front yard as far as that goes (Or, if you’re like us, front AND back yards!) into a beautiful bird watching and bird feeding haven.

Below are ideas to lure birds to your yard – and ways to make them so deliriously happy that they’ll keep coming back.

Create bird feeding stations in your yard. We have four feeding stations, and I have my eye on perfect spots for numbers five and six! We, generally, have specific species in mind for each bird feeding station, providing each one’s favorite foods and/or flowers.  Each bird has a particular method of eating as well, and that has to be taken into consideration.

For example, I try to keep one feeding station primarily for finches and sparrows.  These beautiful little birds prefer hanging bird feeders.  Finches (including Goldfinches) prefer sunflower meats and seed, thistle, suet mixtures, finely cracked corn, and safflower seeds. Naturally, since they’re small, their preferred seeds are small. Distracting larger birds (especially ever-hungry blackbirds) is easier said than done, but I try to draw the larger birds to different feeding stations so the smaller varieties can eat in peace.

Again, easier said than done. Crackles (large blackbirds) are noisy and tend to be quite greedy at the feeder.  There isn’t anything these birds won’t eat!  I may be one of the only people in the world who is fond of blackbirds, but I love them dearly and find their antics to be full-out enjoyable.

I love the way they clumsily maneuver around a bird feeding station and can’t help laughing when one tries to land on the side of a feeder. It never goes as he thinks it will and I’m almost certain the sparrows enjoy a good laugh at their expense.

Our crackles are nearly as fond of water at the bird stations as they are food.  We provide plenty of fresh water for our birds to drink, stand in, splash in, and cool off with. As I’m typing this, I’m watching a female cardinal splash around in a shallow glass dish of water.  She drinks a little, then kicks around a little bit. I’m not sure which one of us is enjoying it more.

A male cardinal waits below, as though he’s waiting for her to get out of the shower so he can have his turn.

Another feeding station, in the backyard – beneath a very large tree, is used to court cardinals and doves.  These birds are particularly fond of sunflower seeds, cracked corn, and safflower seeds – so they’re staples at the tree buffet in the backyard.

Cardinals and doves are ground feeders for the most part, which is another reason we prefer to feed them in the backyard.  Our outside cats (4 of the little cuties) hang out in the front yard and on the carport.  They never go into the backyard or on the patio unless I happen to be outside.  Needless to say, this makes it the ideal place to set up a feeding station for the ground feeders.

Another tree is a feeding station for woodpeckers, blue jays, and squirrels. I’m not sure why anyone wants to keep squirrels away from their yard.  Seriously, have you seen how cute these little buggers are?! Besides, their antics are every bit as enjoyable as any bird’s.

We have two squirrels who live among our trees.  We provide them with dried ears of corn (and fresh water, of course).  As long as they have their corn on the cobs, they don’t care what the birds have or don’t have.  The only time they ever visit the other feeding stations is when they’ve eaten the cobs all the way down to the nub.

A hummingbird feeder hangs at the Sparrows and Finches feeding station.  I’ve also placed red and orange flowers at this bird feeding station since they’re crazy in love with these colors. Orioles are also wild about the color orange.  Like hummingbirds, Orioles drink nectar and sugary solutions. They also love fresh fruit such as cut oranges. (See How to Attract Hummingbirds to Your Yard)

Be warned about feeding birds fresh fruit though – fresh fruit draws flies, bees, hornets, and wasps.  Be sure to dispose of fruit when the birds have had their fill.

As for peaceful, plump robins, they are always more interested in water than they are food.  They’ll occasionally be found having a bite or two among the ground eaters but you’ll find them scavenging for worms more often than not. Robins, like most birds, thoroughly enjoy fresh water – even in cold weather.

Unfortunately, most people overlook the importance of providing water for birds. They’ll throw out seeds, bread crumbs, and popcorn and they’ll even invest in a bird feeder or two – but they fail to realize that birds need water to live just as the rest of us do. Besides, they enjoy a good cool dip each day!

My next investment will be a Hanging-Standing Birdbath (affiliate link).

Birds are perfectly fine with water dishes on the ground (after all, they’re accustomed to puddles), but with birds in the family and pacing around the wildlife preserve we call a yard, I feel safer if our birds bathe up off the ground.

We’ll be adding many more articles about birds, bird watching, and bird feeding to the site, so be sure to keep an eye out for them.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m headed out to get a closer look at the evening feeding. Birds generally hit the feeding station hard twice a day – early in the morning, to load up on food to give them energy for the day and late in the afternoon/evening to get their bellies full to see them through the night.

If you love songbirds, you have to see the pictures of Songbirds on National Geographic’s site.  Gorgeous!

Read more about birds!


Comments

  1. Thetesa says

    May 2, 2018 at 5:30 pm

    Hi I just read your story I also am new to back yard bird watching but wow what I have been missing do you have a page of pictures of the birds you have I have pics would love to share them with everyone

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Welcome to Genuine Kentucky!

Genuine Kentucky is a Kentucky Blog and online magazine celebrating the beautiful Bluegrass State. We shine the spotlight on Kentucky with pictures, restaurant reviews, news, tourism, Things to Do in Kentucky, and more.

We’re proud Kentuckians and the non-profit effort you see before you is a labor of love.

E-mail me anytime!

Kentucky Blog Updates

Rough River Dam State Resort Park Campground

Playground at the Rough River Dam State Resort Park Campground I recently told one of my daughters, "I have never been THIS … [Read More...] about Kentucky State Park Campgrounds Preparing to Open March 13

Christmas at the Homeplace (Land Between the Lakes)

As we often say on this Kentucky blog, the end of summer in NO WAY means the end of things to do and see in Kentucky. So grab … [Read More...] about 1850 Christmas at the Homeplace: Are You Ready to Meet Santa?!

Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park

Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park's Lodge (Facing Kentucky Lake) From the Kentucky State Parks: Current and former … [Read More...] about Kentucky State Parks Offering Discounts to Current Military, Retirees, Veterans

Big Bone Lick State Historic Site Salt Festival.

Big Bone Lick State Historic Site wants to take you back in time during the 37th annual Salt Festival next weekend (Oct. … [Read More...] about Salt Festival at Big Bone Lick State Historic Site October 18-20, 2019

Red Wolf at Woodlands Nature Station Woodlands Nature Station, in the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, will … [Read More...] about Wolf Week at Woodlands Nature Station October 5 -11!

Civil War Days

If you're a Civil War buff, you'll want to be at Columbus-Belmont State Park during the weekend of October 11-13! The … [Read More...] about Civil War Days Weekend at Columbus-Belmont State Park (Oct. 11-13)

There's going to be a Pickin' Party at the Homeplace and you're invited! Philip Steinmetz, great nephew of Grandpa Jones, … [Read More...] about Homeplace Pickin’ Party at Land Between the Lakes 2019

Pulled BBQ Pork takeout from Moonlite

The Kentucky 100 (a new, twice-monthly publication that delivers 100-word stories and short videos to subscribers) asked … [Read More...] about Top 10 BBQ Restaurants in Kentucky (Picked by Kentucky 100)

Follow Genuine Kentucky on Twitter!

Tweets by @GenuineKentucky


"When reading about a Kentucky event, please be sure you check the date. Old events are not always deleted from the website. If you have an event you'd like to see on Genuine Kentucky or a 'Made in Kentucky' food or product you'd like reviewed, please contact us! " ~ Joi ("Joy")

Fraley Music Festival
Maddox
Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park Trail Through the Forest

Kentucky News and Events

  • Kentucky State Park Campgrounds Preparing to Open March 13
  • 1850 Christmas at the Homeplace: Are You Ready to Meet Santa?!
  • Kentucky State Parks Offering Discounts to Current Military, Retirees, Veterans
  • Salt Festival at Big Bone Lick State Historic Site October 18-20, 2019
  • Wolf Week at Woodlands Nature Station October 5 -11!
  • Civil War Days Weekend at Columbus-Belmont State Park (Oct. 11-13)
  • Homeplace Pickin’ Party at Land Between the Lakes 2019
  • Top 10 BBQ Restaurants in Kentucky (Picked by Kentucky 100)

Kentucky State Parks

We have a special passion for Kentucky State Parks, so you'll find many articles and reviews centered around the beautiful state parks in Kentucky.

A personal goal is to visit, photograph, and enjoy each and every one of our state parks and eat at each of the state resort parks. Make no mistake about it, we're well on our way!

Bird Watching in Kentucky!

One of our greatest passions is birds and bird watching is an absolute favorite pastime. If you love our feathered friends and want to learn more about bird watching and attracting birds to your own backyard, be sure to check out our section dedicated entirely to Kentucky birds.

Kentucky Restaurants and Reviews

Kentucky Restaurant Reviews

Where are the best Kentucky restaurants?! Find out in our Kentucky Restaurant Reviews.

Also See: Best Fried Catfish in Kentucky
  • Email
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Kentucky Blogs Database

If you have a Kentucky Blog - or you're simply a Kentuckian who blogs! - you might want to consider adding your blog to a new KY Blogs Database. It's run by "one of us," as in a fellow Kentuckian! Click the link to check it out. I've added Genuine Kentucky and will be adding my other blogs as well.

Kentucky Pictures

Kentucky Pictures
Check out the beautiful Pictures of Kentucky in our photo albums!

Advertising & Reviews

If you are interested in advertising on Genuine Kentucky, please contact us: e-mail Joi Sigers.

Also, if you have a resort, condo, golf course, restaurant, or even a cup of coffee (LOVE coffee!) you'd like for us to review, please contact us at joi@genuinekentucky.com.

Genuine Kentucky Disclaimer

We do not work for any Kentucky service or organization. We are simply proud to have been born and raised in the greatest state in the country and are thrilled to call it home. This site serves as our tribute to Kentucky and its warm and wonderful people. Our mission is to bring more travelers to Kentucky and keep more Kentuckians home! See our Privacy Policy.
Copyright Genuine Kentucky 2017