I want to tell your readers about a great way of attracting and keeping 
birds in your yard year round. It then becomes easy to photograph them and 
paint them. A great idea is to place a cut branch of a tree near your feeder 
to get the natural look if you like to photograph them. When they go to the 
feeder, they stop there so you can get a great photograph. Anyone that loves 
art often needs inspiration and I find that doing this provides that and 
helps to relax you.

To have a lot of wild birds of course a bird feeder is paramount along 
with a bird bath, but there are simple things you can do when landscaping 
your yard to help our feathered friends. When you plan to help certain birds 
remember different species of birds like different types of landscape and 
plants. 

Therefore it is smart to plant shrubs ( heights of 3 to 15 feet)in a 
row or clumped together for the species that like this, medium height shrub 
or trees ( at least 15 to 20 feet high at maturity), and finally trees that 
will reach twenty to eighty feet at maturity. On small shrubs I like to 
plant Azaleas, Camelias, Nandinas, Butterfly Bush, Fostereve Holly Bush, and 
Bottle Brush. 

For medium height trees I love Dogwoods, Service Berry, and 
Privet Head that provide food for the birds. I also like Mimosas. For the 
tall trees that provide food I plant Water Oaks, Red Oaks, White Oaks, River 
Birch, Chinese Chestnut, Black Gum, and fast growing Loblolly Pines on the 
ridges. I also love Palms and Cedars where birds love to roost. Please plant 
shrubery and a tree or two in your yard if you don't have one, and it will 
surprise you the number of birds it generates. Depending on where you are 
ask the local county agent or forest service what to plant and tell them the 
species you want to attract. 

To create some diversity a small cleared area or field is great if you have enough room in your yard. In my yard it is 
about 20% of the land area. Remember diversity is the key! I have about two 
acres in a small town in SC, USA, and have received visits from all the 
small birds (for this area) including migratory birds (transients), Barn 
Owls, Red Tail Hawks, Wild Turkeys, and even have Bald Eagles and Geese to 
visit nearby. My children over the years have really loved the birds and 
gained a lot of knowledge about the environment. This helps to foster 
children's curiousity which furthers their will to study ( if there is such 
a thing) and quit playing video games. Of course mine still spend more time 
on videogames. As I am writing this my son took enough time out from playing 
games and took me outside and found a bird nest that we have been looking 
for. He was proud of himself!

I was lucky enough to have a yard established that is about 50 years old. 
Biodiversity is the key. The owner before me was a great naturalist, Carolyn 
Lyles. In forestry we refer to the different levels of trees as multilevel 
canopies, and birds really love it. Remember different species prefer 
different height levels.

After the Yellowstone fire, I just thought it looked awful. What a waste 
I first thought. But foresters have found this to be a Godsend in increasing 
the number of certain species, especially birds! What can be detrimental to 
one species can be very beneficial for others. When you refer to wildlife 
habitat always mention the species for that habitat. I love old forests but 
certain bird species will not live there while others need it along with 
open areas. 

The University of Georgia has completed studies of bird numbers 
after a fire or clearing a forested area for field or regeneration. The 
study by Dr. Barry Shivar found the number of birds increased significantly 
in the first ten years over forested areas and dropped off when the forest 
canopy closes. For the ideal habitat it was found that different species of 
birds need different age level of trees and open areas to increase their 
population. In other words the worst case scenario would be All open areas or 
all old forests. It is good to have even a hedge. Mother Nature knows this 
and has controlled this before man by fire, flood, windstorms, diseases, 
tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes (typhoons for my downunder friends). 
An exception to this is that old, mature hardwood stands did have the same 
count as the 4th and 5th year of study in the burned out areas.

Again, after the Yellowstone fire it was found and became common 
knowledge the Jack Pine Cone has to have fire to regenerate, and of course 
certain birds have to have cleared areas to survive ( Bald Eagles, Owls, and 
Hawks for example). Remember that nature constantly changes over the long 
term, and man has been changing the environment here in North America for 
over a thousand years. When one of the first Europeans, DeSoto, arrived here 
in the southeast US, he records in his notes seeing fields of corn that 
stretched as far as the eye could see. Native American Indians first knew 
this and used fire here to their advantage. They knew a great deal about 
living with Mother Nature and not against her.

If you have any further suggestions, research, or disagree with any of 
this information, please visit our website, http://www.WildlifeArtShow.ORG 
and use our chattroom, or guest book. And of course please email me at the 
email on the site. You know it is only through knowledge and discussions 
that we can all learn to live in harmony with Nature like the Native 
American Indians. Remember to please take your children to the outdoors and 
educate them about it. Take a kid fishing or birding! Also buy one of our 
framed art prints and remember to give the Gift Of LIFE for a child!!