I'll never forget that morning in May. I was sitting in my backyard sipping a cup of coffee before most of the world had awakened. It was cool and a thin veil of fog shrouded the neighborhood, making it seem as though our tiny yard was an isolated oasis in the middle of Paterson.

Then I saw him. I almost bolted out of my chair but, fortunately, caught myself or I would have most certainly spooked a stunning male rose-breasted grosbeak that had perched on my birdfeeder only a few yards from where I sat.

I was transfixed for the moment, the cup of coffee frozen en route to my mouth for fear that any movement would frighten the bird away. Unaware of my presence, he leaned forward taking a few seeds into his beak. Deftly separating the husks from the kernels, he paused, went back for seconds, and then was gone.

Moments like these are not everyday occurrences. The rose-breasted grosbeak is a migratory species that makes its appearance in our area in early May. Some settle down to nest and raise a family in the wooded areas fringing the big city but most move on to quieter surroundings.

Stepping stones
Most suburban backyard birdfeeders serve as temporary rest areas, called "stepping stones," for a host of migratory species. Unfortunately, if all you have to offer these travelers is food, they will continue on until finding a place that is more hospitable. The idea, then, is to create a habitat that will not only attract a larger variety of birds but that will also make them want to stay and settle down for a while. Think of it like this: Birds want more than a fast-food restaurant. They are more comfortable in a bed and breakfast.

If you build it, they will come
Birds are a lot like humans in this regard. Give them food, water, shelter and a place to raise a family and most are content to put down roots for a while. So, with a little careful planning and some work, you can create a tiny wildlife sanctuary in your yard or even on a small deck or a patio that will attract a larger and more colorful variety of birds.

Ira Grindlinger, the owner of Wild Birds Unlimited in Paramus, explains that the average suburban backyard is visited by 15 to 25 bird species over the course of a year. "By providing these four elements - food, water, shelter and a nesting site - the number of species can double and in some cases triple," he says.

Birds require a steady and reliable source of food and water offered in a secure environment. They also need a place to build their nests where they can raise their young. Once such a haven has been discovered, they will remember its location and will return. If they nest in the area, their young will imprint on their surroundings and they will return, beginning a trend that can span generations.

A feeder full of male Goldfinches	A female Red-throated Hummingbird

An Indigo Bunting buries its head in the feeder	A White-breasted Nuthatch chows down on a piece of a peanut on a cold, wintry morning	A Red-bellied Woodpecker hollows out a home in a maple tree  in our front yard

Feeding the birds - a commitment
The first thing you must decide is, are you willing to make feeding the birds a commitment? It's almost like keeping a dog or a cat. You wouldn't think of letting Fido or Tinkerbelle go a week without food or water. If you want to keep the birds coming year round, you must keep your feeders and your water dishes full or your feathered friends will check out and eat at someone else's breakfast nook.

You may be able to slide somewhat on your caretaking responsibilities during the summer months, when insects abound and the birds are off devouring mosquitoes and other tasty airborne morsels. But during the winter and the spring, you can take advantage of the dearth of natural food and attract a greater number and variety of birds that will remain faithful to your backyard throughout the year.

Food and water are not enough
Birds also require security. They don't like eating or drinking in exposed areas. Several years ago we moved to northern Morris County. There is a four-acre lake literally lapping at my backyard. You'd think that would provide ample water for the birds that come into our yard, but they prefer to drink from my birdbath.

Why? It's in a sheltered location, not out in the open like the lake's shoreline, where they would be exposed to predators. Backyard feeders and sources of water should be placed in areas near small trees or bushes in order to provide a place of refuge to which birds can flee or where they can simply perch and feel secure in between morsels.

Offer them a home
Ornamental evergreens like hemlocks and andromedas afford nesting sites among their dense branches for cardinals, robins, blue jays and other platform builders. These birds weave sticks into the branches to build their nests. Other species such as woodpeckers, chickadees and nuthatches build their nests inside tree cavities. You can lure cavity nesters into your yard by hanging nest boxes of the appropriate sizes in secluded spots.

The National Wildlife Federation is featuring a program to certify backyards as wildlife habitats. Among the criteria required are a source of water, which can be as simple as a bird bath; plants with berries or fruit, a bird feeder or flowers with a source of nectar; a nesting box or a brush pile, dead tree or thick shrub; and a chemical-free environment.

Don't think you have what it takes to make your backyard or your patio a wildlife sanctuary? You'd be surprised. Grindlinger offers some encouragement: "There are actually some fire escapes that meet the criteria for a certifiable wildlife habitat. They may just have a bird feeder, a birdbath and a potted ficus tree, but they still meet the criteria despite being in the middle of New York City."

Visit www.nwf.org for more information. n