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Q. I don’t know much about birds, but I’d like to attract them to my yard. Where can I get information?
A. With more than 2.1 million acres of land converted to residential use every year, your backyard becomes an important place for bird conservation. Making your yard attractive to birds can help you and your family enjoy your backyard more and is one of the things that you as an individual can make a difference in environmental health.
You don’t have to be an expert to attract birds to your yard and you don’t necessarily have to completely redo your yard. The Audubon at Home program shows you things that you can easily do to make your backyard a healthier habitat for birds, butterflies and you.
Q. This year fewer birds seem to be coming to my feeders. What’s wrong? Should I use different seed?
A. It’s difficult to know exactly why there might be fewer birds at your feeder. But you can take some simple steps to make your feeders attractive to birds.
Q. What should I be planting?
A. Lots native plants are best.
Why? Because over thousands of years, birds, insects and plants in an area have coexisted and adapted to each other. Often, birds or the insects they eat cannot use non-native plants for food. And even those non-natives that they can eat often support far fewer bird and insect species that the native plants.
See this list of native plants you can grow.
Q. I am an avid birder. What does ASNV offer me?
A. The Audubon Society of Northern Virginia (ASNV) offers activities year-round for birders of all levels of experience and interest.
Team up with fellow birders and experts for bird walks in some of Northern Virginia’s parks, nature preserves and bird sanctuaries. You can observe and learn about avian habits and behaviors and share your expertise.
Bird counts and surveys allow you to contribute to the scientific knowledge about local bird populations and seasonal migrations.
ASNV’s Learn, Enjoy, Appreciate, Preserve, and Protect (LEAPP) adult education program offers classes on a variety of environmental topics at a range of skill levels. Past offerings have included Basic Birding Skills, an introduction to bird behavior or Audubon at Home that shows how to create a healthier environment for wildlife in your backyard.
For more advanced birders, the LEAPP program Ornithology I, a college-level introduction to bird study of urban wildlife issues uses case studies to learn how certain species adapt, and explores some of the technologies used in studying urban wildlife.
Q. I found an injured bird. What should I do?
A. When you find baby or injured animals, remove potential threats (dogs, cats, lawnmowers, etc.) Never attempt to handle or capture an injured animal. Contact the Wildlife Rescue League at (703) 440-0800 or visit http://www.wildliferescueleague.org/
Q. Deer are eating my plants. What can I do?
A. Although deer will eat almost any plant, some native plants are proven to be more deer-resistant than others. For plants that deer find attractive but you simply must have, you can try using a non-toxic repellent around the plants. And if your property contains forestland, consider erecting an exclusion fence.
Oh Deer, What a Problem…a PDF published by the National Audubon Society has a list of deer- resistant plants and other deer control tips. Also see the Top 10 List of Deer Resistant Wildflowers here.
Information on Avian Flu and West Nile Virus
For more information on both these issues, visit the following links:
For specific questions, please contact your local Health Department:
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