FINE FEATHERED ENDS TRANSFORM YOUR BACK YARD INTO A BIRD SANCTUARY AND COUNT THE MANY RETURNS.

Byline: Barbara De Witt Staff Writer

Fill your bird feeder and fine-tune your binoculars.

You might just discover that what you thought was a sparrow is a chickadee, finch or dark-headed junco flying south from Oregon.

More than 150 years ago, Henry David Thoreau offered corn to the birds near his cabin at Walden Pond. Today, according to a report by Cornell University, more than 75 million people are feeding backyard birds as a hobby, which is a 50 percent increase from a 2001 survey by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Not only does it provide lively entertainment, but the National Bird- Feeding Society notes that the hobby can rejuvenate the human spirit and dissipate anxiety.

``I was diagnosed with breast cancer and feeling sick going through chemotherapy,'' says Norma Citron of Calabasas, ``and I found that watching the birds eat outside my bedroom window was soothing and relaxing and kept my spirits up.''

Citron has since turned her back yard into a bird haven and says if she's not out in the yard by 9 a.m. her finches, doves and sparrows are waiting for her.

``I like the simplicity of it,'' says real estate agent Barbara Thomas of West Hills. ``I've had so much fun seeing what new birds arrive - like a woodpecker this morning - that I've set up a special tree with a bird bath, a house, hummingbird feeder and even a separate feeder for the squirrels so I can watch them from my kitchen window ... and the birds seem so grateful.

Starting Friday, amateur watchers are being asked to help the National Audubon Society and Cornell Lab of Ornithology to track birds and to define bird ranges, populations and habitat needs, says Jennie Ayers, co-owner of the Wild Birds Unlimited store in Woodland Hills. The store is an official sponsor of the Great Backyard Bird Count, Friday through Feb. 17.

Ayers, a former TV writer who joined Wild Birds Unlimited (a national organization) and its many nature programs because she wanted to do something more meaningful in life, says novices should be patient.

``Birds use sight and sound to find food, so you need to have them able to see the food, hear birds and also running water such as a fountain. The process may take up to four weeks, so don't fill the feeders full at first or you'll just be wasting it,'' Ayers explains.

She also says not to feel bad if all you spot are sparrows on your first bird count, as only 239 species of birds were identified in California in the 2002 count - and more than 10,000 were sparrows. Although plastic owls are not an uncommon sight on roofs or fence posts, only one real owl was sighted in the state last year. Among the most commonly reported are house finches, American robins, crows, mourning doves, blackbirds, scrub jays and hummingbirds.

Planning the menu

Birds are picky eaters, so to enlarge your circle of feathered friends you must have the right menu.

``First of all, not all birds like seeds. And all seed-eaters don't like the same seeds, which is why you'll often find a mess of seeds underneath your feeding station,'' says Ayers, who explains that the birds are picking through the seed mixture looking for what they like best. Locally it's a mixture of thistle, niger and black (extra fatty) sunflower seeds that attracts everything from sparrows to finches, nut-hatches and jays. Toss in some cracked corn to the mix and blackbirds and doves will gather, as well.

Orioles, on the other hand, like nectar and fruit and are easily satisfied with a few orange slices. Unsalted roasted peanuts will attract jays, titmice, chickadees, woodpeckers and also squirrels.

The newest bird-feeding stations have separate feeders for squirrels or feeders that are difficult for a squirrel to use. One type has small openings so it takes the squirrel a long time to get the peanut out, while other feeders such as the Yankee Flipper will flip anything that weighs more than a small bird off the perch.

Creating a bird sanctuary

In addition to food, wild birds require fresh water and shelter or they'll soon take wing, say bird watchers and botanists.

``Song birds are very attracted to dense trees and lots of shrubs because they provide comfort and make them feel safe,'' observes Clair Martin, curator of the rose and perennial gardens at Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens in San Marino. ``Birds certainly flock to any lush park setting, but I've also seen many at the Huntington's California native and desert gardens.''

Obviously a home owner can't have everything in one back yard.

``When planning a garden, think of what you want to attract most. If you have a small garden, you may only be able to attract hummingbirds. Or seed eaters - but not everything,'' Martin explains.

If you're hoping for hummingbirds, Martin advises planting trumpet- shaped red flowers such as fuchsias, gladiolus, bottle brush, hibiscus and iris but also consider honeysuckle, lilies and the winter-flowering eucalyptus trees that aren't red.

``It's true that hummingbirds find red the most attractive color, but these birds with perfect color vision can be enticed by any bright-colored flowers - even blue agapanthus,'' Martin adds.

Tiny juncos will appreciate shrubs they can hide under since they are ground eaters, but they and other seed eaters will fly to a yard with sunflowers, butterfly bushes and crape myrtle trees. And goldfinches will be attracted to thistles and dandelions.

``Jays? They'll come no matter what you plant,'' says Martin.

Although Martin lumps all the jays together, the jays you're most likely to see in Los Angeles and Ventura counties are Western scrub jays, the noisy blue birds that love to play in sprinklers and grab bread from your hand.

For the birds

Birds of a feather do flock together, but you can entice a bigger variety to your garden or deck with these tips from Jennie Ayers, co-owner of Wild Birds Unlimited in Woodland Hills, which is a sponsor of the Feb. 14-17 Great Backyard Bird Count:

1. Offer the right food. Orioles like fresh orange slices, warblers prefer insects, while jays, titmice and woodpeckers love roasted unsalted peanuts and suet cakes. The rest of the neighborhood flock will probably enjoy a mix of black (high-fat) sunflower seeds and millet. Most birds prefer elevated feeders as opposed to food thrown on the ground, but juncos will work like little vacuum cleaners picking up any spilled seeds.

2. Make sure food is fresh. Birds can get sick from old, stale food, particularly wet, moldy seeds. If you buy a lot of seed, store it in a cool dry place in a rodent-proof metal can. Hummingbird feeders need to be washed with hot water and refilled with a fresh sugar water solution every three days.

3. Turn the water on. Birds are attracted to water for drinking and bathing, so scrub bird baths with vinegar and water rather than bleach (it's safer), and refill daily. Noisy fountains or misters are also attention-getters.

4. Provide a bird-friendly garden, with tall trees, shrubs and flowering vines to offer shelter and nesting places, and grasses and wildflowers for nest-building materials. Although hummingbirds will be attracted to a red-accented nectar feeder, they prefer nature's nectar found in trumpet- shaped flowers.

5. Be patient. It may take up to four weeks for birds to discover your feeder and make it a regular stop. To begin, place feeder near a tree to get noticed, then gradually move it closer to your viewing area. Make sure feeder is placed where small birds feel safe from predators such as cats, rats and coyotes.

Up for the count?

To participate in the sixth annual Great Backyard Bird Count, Feb. 14-17, you'll need to:

--Get an official form. Available at any Wild Birds Unlimited store, or the Audubon Society or Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Or do it all on the Internet at www.birdsource.org/gbbc.

--Choose a location where it will be easy to observe and count.

--Prepare your back yard (clean feeders, birdbaths and keep cats inside).

--Have the right equipment. Have binoculars, bird field guide, paper and pencil for reporting, as well as a comfortable place to sit.

--Do your homework. Study a bird book so you'll have less trouble identifying what you see. Consider bird's size, bill shape, type of feet and marks on head or wings.

--Spend at least 15 to 30 consecutive minutes watching and counting birds. (Most likely, the birds that came in the morning are the same ones in the late afternoon, so they should only be counted once.)

--Log your findings and also weather conditions on the Web at www.birdsource.org/gbbc or submit your report to a Wild Birds Unlimited Store before Feb. 26. Closest location is 22110 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills.

CAPTION(S):

5 photos, 2 boxes

Photo:

(1 -- cover -- color) cheep eats

How to make your back yard inviting for feathered friends

(2 -- color) Fond of finches? They'll line up for a feeder full of niger (thistle) and black sunflower seeds, while other birds prefer fruit or insects.

(3 -- color) Jennie Ayers of Wild Birds Unlimited will be among those taking part in the Great Backyard Bird Count, Friday through Feb. 17.

(4 -- 5 -- color) A jay stands guard over the feeder at Barbara Thomas' home in Calabasas, above center, while gold finches splash in the bird bath at Ayers' West Hills home.

Tina Burch/Staff Photographer

Box:

(1) For the birds (see text)

(2) Up for the count? (see text)