You Don't Have to Be a Bird Expert to Set Up a Bird's Home

Mack McCarthy has loved birds and everything about them since he was a teenager. He is an expert on birds, their homes, and their habitats. As such, he is in contact with those who create, develop, and build bird houses, and feeders all over the United States. He has used this expertise to offer a place where those of us who love birds, but are in need of education, to gain information, and purchase well-made products that will attract birds to your living area.

A Bird's Home, McCarthy's business, also offers recyclable bird houses and feeders. This is the perfect blending of conserving our natural wildlife and keeping it green at the same time. I thought it would be advantageous to get to know more about Mack, and A Bird's Home. Here is what I found out.

ABS) How did you get involved in building birdhouses and feeders?

MM) Many of the products I sell on the website are from craftsman all over the country. I only make a few designs myself. I have been involved with birds and birding since I was a teenager.

ABS) Are different birds attracted to different types of houses and feeders?

MM) Yes, some birds build open nests and some use cavities in trees, mud, rocks and man made birdhouses. The size of the birdhouse and the size of the opening will dictate the types of birds that will use the house. A small house with a one inch hole will attract wrens while 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 size holes will attract chickadees. Other birds that use birdhouses are bluebirds, tree swallows, woodpeckers, nuthatches and creepers.

You can also place shelve nests that will attract robins, phoebes and swallows.

Different types of feeders also attract different birds. Niger seed will attract goldfinch while sunflowers will attract chickadees, cardinals, titmice, doves and of course blue Jays, blackbirds and similar. Peanuts will attract woodpeckers and suet will be eaten by almost any bird.

Bluebirds are mainly insect eaters and need specific feeder that holds mealyworms. Orioles eat fruit like oranges and of course hummingbirds like nectar.

ABS) If a person lives in an apartment, what kind of feeder would you suggest?

MM) A window feeder always works and if they have a porch they can hang any type of feeder. In a city, the types of birds will be more limited but they will still be attracted to the feed.

ABS) What is the Registry of Natural Habitats?

MM) The Registry was started to assist landowners in developing a plan for their property to make it more nature friendly. It provides the sixteen elements of a nature habitat. 16 being natural and 16 being man-made.

You can read more at:
http://www.registryofnaturehabitats.org

ABS) How can I get one of your bird houses? What do I need to know in order to get the right kind of birdhouse or feeder for my living area?

MM) We sell all the birdhouses & feeders on our website. It is best to learn the types of birds that are common to your area. Then choose a house and/or feeder that matches well to those birds.

Here in Northeast Indiana, we just experienced some of the lowest temperatures, ever. We also just received over 12 inches of snow in the past few weeks. Not a very pleasant experience! Soon, however, spring will be upon us, and the blue jays, and cardinals will be frequent visitors to this area. This will be just about the right time to use what I have learned from '˜ A Bird's Home'.