It's a good time to watch them, and you can do it from the comfort of home

By Wendy Solomon

The Morning Call

January 18, 2008

here's a colorful show coming to a neighborhood near you. And, with a little preparation, you can get a front row seat and watch it at leisure from your kitchen window.

It's called the birds. Not the creepy Hitchcock movie, but the free show nature presents every winter in Lehigh Valley backyards. Winter can be one of the best times of the year to watch birds, especially in our neck of the woods.

''Bird-watching is not just a warm weather activity, it can be done year-round. There isn't a day in the year that you cannot find something exciting to see, The Lehigh Valley is fortunate to have a handful of ''regulars,'' birds that reside here 12 months of the year, and ''visitors,'' birds who spend only their winter vacations here.

Apparently, we're having a very good winter, ornithologically speaking, as some species from more northernly climes that don't ususally hang out in the Lehigh Valley are paying a visit to the area in search of food, say local bird experts. ''Birds don't usually move because of weather but because of food, which can be affected by weather,'' says Peter Saenger, president of the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society and curator of the Acopian Center for Ornithology at Muhlenberg College. Ice and deep or crusted snow make it difficult for birds to access seeds and berries, for example.

Birds forage constantly for food, which is made more difficult in winter. But winter tends to be an easier time for people to attract them to their yards because they are more interested in looking for food, as opposed to looking for food and going to nests, says Adrian Binns, lecturer and field director of Wildside Birding Tours in Montgomery County.

''You'll see more activity around your feeding stations in the wintertime,'' Binns says.

''Winter is a tough time for birds,'' says Will Varner, co-owner of Wild Birds Unlimited in South Whitehall Township.

While there is no universal seed mix that attracts all birds, Varner and other bird experts recommend black-oiled sunflower seeds as the best all-round quality seed to set out for birds. Varner and others caution against buying cheap seeds mixed with cereal grain fillers, such as milo and red millet. The birds won't eat it, and neither will the squirrels, Varner says.

Peter Saenger, who is also lead author of ''Birds of the Lehigh Valley,'' prefers white millet for ground-feeding birds, such as Mourning Doves and White-throated Sparrows, but it can be hard to find. ''It has no filler in it, even the premium brands have seeds in them that birds don't like to eat, so you end up with waste,'' Saenger says.

Saenger recommends placing black-oiled sunflower seeds in hanging feeders for birds that perch, such as Black-capped Chickadees, Cardinals, House Finches and the American Tree Sparrow.

Make sure you clean out the feeder and replenish it with fresh seeds, especially after weeks of wet weather, because harmful bacteria can grow in it and sicken the birds, says Muhlenberg ornithologist Klem.

Squirrels can squelch happy time with your birds, but there are feeders that purport to be squirrel-proof. They usually are feeders with conical barriers called baffles or wire-cage feeders that close under the weight of a squirrel or larger bird. Yet, Klem is convinced that squirrels can outsmart anything.

Above all, birds need water to drink and cleanse themselves, Binns says. This is made especially difficult in winter because their sources freeze.

''Even in wintertime they have to have baths to keep their feathers in perfect condition because if they get too dusty or crusty and not clean they can't insulate themselves properly,'' Binns explains.

One way backyard bird enthusiasts can help is to get a heated birdbath, which can be relatively inexpensive, about $30 for the cheapest. They are becoming popular with backyard bird enthusiasts.

In addition to food and water, birds need vegetative cover, brush, shrubs or trees so they can hide from predators. Birds need to feel safe and will not perch at an isolated feeder unless there is shelter they can dive into within 20 or 30 feet of it, Binns says.

Just as important, the feeder should be placed within three feet of a window. You'll not only get a closer view but you'll be protecting the birds from flying into the glass and killing themselves, says Klem, an expert who has written extensively on the subject and says about a billion birds die a year from colliding into glass.

''The closer the feeder to the window, the more protection it gives the birds,'' Klem says.

wendy.solomon@mcall.com 610-820-6780 IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY Blue Jay Cardinal Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse House Finch Mourning Dove Carolina Wren Downy Woodpecker Red-bellied Woodpecker JUST VISITING FOR THE WINTER Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow White-breasted Nuthatch American Goldfinch Purple Finch

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