These insect eating birds are more difficult to attract and maintain, but make useful tenants in any yard because their diet consists of high-flying insects. Throughout the years, Purple Martins have become completely dependent on humans to provide shelter for living and reproducing, so maintaining the proper home is essential.

Gourds are modern-looking homes for Purple Martins that have been around for many, many years.

They are easy to clean and maintain and Purple Martins love to nest inside them. Gourds can be placed on a gourd pole far from your home in the early spring to attract the scout bird.

Heath Manufacturing makes some great gourds for attracting Purple Martins and preventing Sparrows and other types of wild birds from trying to make them home. The Easy Clean Deluxe Purple Martin Gourd helps to keep Sparrows and others out and splits apart for easy cleaning. A drainage hole at the bottom also helps to keep the nest dry, which encourages Purple Martins to stay.

A gourd pole is essential for hanging up your gourds. The Telescoping Spiral Steel Gourd Pole is adjustable and made of steel for durability. It is important to check your Purple Martin gourds on a regular basis and this pole allows you to easily access the gourds because it can be lowered. The spiral configuration allows birds to easily enter and leave the gourd. Place pole at least 30 feet from a home and trees for a clear flight path.

Once you have set-up your pole with gourds, you may want to place straw, twigs and other nesting materials nearby to keep your Purple Martins happy.

Developing a Purple Martin habitat is not easy, but it is very rewarding and helps to continue the Purple Martin species. Rachel’s Robin has all your Purple Martin birding needs!

One of my favorite Valentine’s Day related gifts for bird lovers is the Ornamental Mini Seed Hearts for Wild Birds – 3 pk by Pine Tree Farms.  This charming three pack of bird seed hearts are perfect for giving to any special bird lover in your life.  These hearts look great hanging on an evergreen tree or hanging on a tree branch.  The bright red color really stands out during the winter and is great for attracting cardinals to your yard.  Several hearts can be hung at one time for a bird’s delight.  You can also break up the pack and give the hearts individually.

The Heart HummingBird Feeder by Artline is a fun, heart shape bird feeder made especially for feeding hummingbirds.  This beautiful hummingbird feeder is a vibrant red to attract many hummingbirds to your yard.  It is easy to fill and may also be mounting to the window for a close up view of the hummingbirds as they drink from the bird feeder.

For a touch of fun on the wild side, choose a birdhouse like the Zebra Retro Chic Birdhouse to brighten up your loved one’s day.  This fun, zebra printed birdhouse is great for adding whimsy indoors as a decoration or outdoors as a safe place for the birds to nest.  It is made to be durable and includes a ring to make the hole smaller to attract a variety of birds to the birdhouse.

• When offering the backyard birds shelter in your yard, it is a good idea to investigate what types of birds winter in your area for the winter.  Use a bird guide, such as the National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds, to make identification easier.
• Once you have determined what type of birds are going to winter in your area, it is important to provide a good source of shelter.   The Audubon Cedar Bluebird House is a great home to have in your yard for the bluebirds.  Put a few of these well-built homes up around your yard to offer the birds a warm, cozy spot to live for the winter.  The bird will flock to the homes for shelter when the weather is harsh.
• Offer the birds nesting material such as Bird Nester Refill.  The winter can be a difficult time for birds to find nesting material and offering them nesting material for their home is a great way to ensure that they are able to create a nest inside their home.
• Keep a few bird feeders filled with bird seed.  If you know that the birds in your area enjoy a particular type of bird seed, fill the bird feeders with a seed that they are sure to love.  The Outdoor Bluebird Feeder is perfect for feeding bluebirds in the winter and has an overhang to help protect the birds from the elements. 

To survive the winter, birds need help from their human friends.  Don’t forget to offer plenty of the birds plenty of shelter and food during the winter.  Check out Rachel’s Robin to find everything you need for healthy, happy birds during the winter.

One of my favorite recycled birdhouses is the Going Green Wren House by Aubudon Woodlink. This stylish birdhouse is made to look just like wood and blends in well with nature. It is made of 90% plastic lumber, which means it puts the recycled plastic to good use, and does not absorb water like real wood. The recycled plastic is less likely to attract mold and is easy to clean away dirt and bacteria. This birdhouse is especially design for wrens and looks great hung on a tree or wood fence post. Your backyard wrens are sure to be comfortable and cozy in this green bird house.

Another great recycled birdhouse by Aubudon Woodlink is the Going Green Bluebird House. This is made from the same recycled wood and is the same style as the Going Green Wren House, but the hole size and house size is designed especially for attracting bluebirds. The bluebirds will be attracted to this charming, yet natural looking home for many years to come.

To continue the green theme, many manufacturers are starting to make bird feeders out of recycled plastic. A great recycled tube feeder is the Recycled Plastic Lumber Mixed Seed Tube Feeders. These tube feeders are available in a variety of sizes to suit your bird feeding needs and hold various quantities of bird seed. Each tube feeder is made of recycled plastic milk jugs and easily comes apart for cleaning. The white tube stands out to attract birds, while the green top blends in well with nature.