Give a bird a happy home

It's for the birds.

Yes, all that wild bird seed, fancy houses and fatty suet just to keep the flyers happy and hanging around the home with crescendos of song. Bird habitat is something the little friends need and Diane Campbell, the gift-shop lady at the Garden Greenhouse on Curry Street, has a wealth of information about giving the birds a safe and attractive home. She shared her knowledge with a group of bird lovers (well, that may be too strong, how about bird fanciers?) recently at the Greenhouse.

"Birds need four things to live: food, water, shelter and nesting sites," Campbell, 64, said. "Also, if you want birds to drop in, don't use anything ending in '-cides,' which means murder, of course."

Birdhouses should be hung high enough to prevent raccoons from reaching them, she said. "And be careful about what kind of birdhouses you buy or make. No perches on them; it keeps predators like magpies from destroying eggs in the house. And no paint or stain. Be careful about using metal birdhouses; they can roast chicks in a bright sun."

Bird baths can supply the water needed - keep it high enough so the cat can't get at it. Make sure it has a rough surface, and put a rock in the center where the birds can dry off. It doesn't have to be fancy or big, but keep it clean, Campbell said.

"Clean it once week, using water and bleach." Birdhouses also should be tidy - keep them swabbed and "check for wasps' nests inside."

Shelter can be anything that offers protection, such as berry bushes or briar patches. "Birds climb inside and are safe," she said.

Many songbirds are migratory, but often return to a safe and welcoming site. "Blackbirds and hummingbirds are two migratory types. Robins stay with us."

Don't be discouraged if your birdhouse at first doesn't attract renters. Move it around, perhaps closer to a shelter so that birds can go back and forth quickly. Keep the entrance out of the wind. "Birds have minds of their own and can be finicky." Old Christmas trees offer good shelter; you can keep them well into summer.

Birds need material for nests, "so don't throw away combed dog hair. Birds love it, as they do lint from dryers." Dust piles nearby help.

Yes, commercial birdseed is handy, but natural food plants such as sunflowers are better. "Don't deadhead flowers; let the birds do the job," Campbell recommended.

Consider shrubs and trees that produce seeds, fruits and nuts throughout the year. Provide nectar-producing plants for hummingbirds and butterflies. Supplemental feeders should be offered with seed, suet or nectar, she said.

Bluebirds, purple martins and woodpeckers are struggling for nesting sites. Put out functional nesting boxes for wild birds. Evergreens and deciduous trees and shrubs provide additional nesting areas and materials for birds and other mammals and reptiles. Bats, which are wonderful for zapping flying insects, need shelter as well.

Be creative and see what you can attract with a variety of foods. Try popped popcorn (without salt or butter), hulled sunflower seeds, peanut hearts, soaked raisins, pieces of fruit (orioles like oranges), fruit seeds (melon and apple), grapes or mealworms.

If you need a detailed list of plants that will attract wild birds, visit the Greenhouse Garden Center on Curry Street. They offer a free list, called "Inviting Birds to Your Backyard."

While you're there, visit Campbell in the gift shop. She has many fun stories about birds. Ask her about Squawk, a nestling she rescued and raised to adulthood.

And ask her about her grandmother, who has become a bird lover in her senior years. Or about her llamas ... but that's another story.

• Contact Sam Bauman at sbauman@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1236.