Doug and Joan Clark of Vicksburg shared their knowledge of bird watching to a group of Kosciusko area residents during a noon presentation Thursday, Feb. 21, at the Attala County Library.
“Making your backyard bird and wildlife friendly is easier than you realize. It is as simple as providing water, food and places for them to live and raise young,” said Clark.
He is a retired biologist and enjoys wildlife photography as a hobby. He displayed his photographic abilities showing many pictures captured in his yard.
“You never get bored with bird watching,” Clark said. He has identified 31 species in his yard in January, and in years past has seen as many as 80 species in a single year.
Photographs shown included Northern Cardinal, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White Breasted Nuthatch, Eastern Bluebird and Northern Mockingbird, the state bird, which he described as the “backyard bully.”
Other descriptions included the Red Bellied Woodpecker as oppressive, the Carolina Wren with operatic lungs, and the Bluejay which likes peanut butter on the feeders.
Seasonal birds he named visiting their yard included African Robin, American Goldfinch, Purple Finch, Cedar Waxwing and Ruby Throated Humming Bird, Swamp Canary, Indigo Bunting, Rose Breasted Grosbeak and Orchard Oriole.
The Clarks’ presentation was interspersed with pictures of bird feeders he has designed and made along with methods he uses to prevent visits from such predators as cats, squirrels and sparrows.
He named nut, seed and fruit blocks as ideal for feeders, along with one for jelly and oranges. He recommends glass and metal feeders. For hummingbird feeders, he discourages the use of red coloring in sugar and water.
Sources of water are an important factor in attracting birds and making the yard wildlife friendly, he said. Bird baths are the simple method.
Drippers used with a bird bath provide a way to keep water fresh and keep mosquitoes from using the bath as a place to breed.
In addition to providing a variety of food in feeders, he said native plants, grasses and wildflowers, brush piles and dead snags are ideal sources of food.
Of special importance in attracting them to the yard is providing nesting boxes. Sizes of the boxes and the entrance holes are important, as well as their placement in the landscape.
Following the program, the Clarks invited questions with several remaining to talk.
Library personnel offered a light lunch prior to the meeting.
