Attracting Birds

• Although birds are common in many outdoor environments, their presence can be encouraged by using a combination of feeders and birdbaths. Birdbaths offer winged guests a place to drink or bathe while feeders filled with a colorful mixture of seeds offer nourishment. To attract the widest variety of birds, include a warm color, such as yellow or orange, in the blend; when placed in clear containers, these high-visibility colors can be readily seen from a distance.
  
  

Seed Colors

• Like humans, birds use their vision to evaluate their foods; accordingly, they tend to prefer seeds that reflect the colors found in nature. Birdseed blends that use a combination of yellows, greens and tans tend to get the best response as these are the colors of seed-bearing flowers, plants, nuts and cones most frequently found in grasslands, prairies, meadows and forests -- places where many birds routinely search for food.
  
  

Hummingbirds

• Unlike many other birds, hummingbirds feed on flower nectar rather than nuts or seeds. While these busy, high-energy birds will explore flowers of almost any color, they are most strongly attracted to the color red. To draw hummingbirds to the garden, plant a wide variety of red, tubular-shaped flowers, such as red salvia, hollyhocks, fuchsia and petunias. For the best results, add at least one hummingbird feeder to the garden, deck or patio; when filled with red syrup, the feeders help hummingbirds meet their high caloric needs even when flowers are not in bloom.
  
  

Natural Bird Foods

• If plants that provide nuts, seeds and berries are incorporated into the garden's design, birds will naturally flock to them. Natural food sources, such as sunflowers, crabapples, coneflowers, winterberries, junipers, poppies and cranberries are economical bird foods that never have to be refilled. The combination of attractive shapes, ready-made shelter and brightly colored petals or berries often lures more birds into the garden than an ordinary feeder.