Bird habitat to call your own

Projects for the Birder’s Garden

Edited by Fern Marshall Bradley and the editors of Yankee Magazine

Rodale, $17.95

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It’s easy to please our feathered friends -- just give them what they need.

And toward that mutually satisfying end, this inspiring book is loaded with illustrated step-by-step instructions for more than 100 projects plain and fancy, from simple ideas for first-time birder-gardeners to guidelines for the “ultimate feeding station” to plans for a permanent backyard marsh.

Early chapters detail seed, seed mixes and yummy bird treats, such as peanut strings and protein-rich mealworms. Designs for basic and elegant backyard bird habitats and water features are offered next, with suggested plants for above-ground and submerged gardens. Short on space? Try a grapevine or fruit tree in a barrel.

One section, naturally, is devoted to birdhouses, with ways to deter squirrels and other unwanted guests. (Top of the list: Give those pesky rodents their own feeding stations.) Hummingbirds and butterflies are given special treatment, and the authors close with valuable lists of “Who Eats What” and resources for birders and gardeners.

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-- Lili Singer