Birds are the most welcome wildlife in landscaping. They are beautiful, musical, and interesting to watch. Unlike deer and other large visitors who eat plants, birds can even protect your garden by eating harmful insects. There are many reasons why birds may visit or take up residence in your garden. Fortunately, welcoming birds into your garden isn't difficult. In fact, bird-friendly gardening often involves less work in the garden, rather than more.
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About bird feeders
bird feeder This is the most obvious way to attract birds and can be very effective, especially when encouraging them to spend time in areas convenient for birdwatching. But as anyone who's tried it knows, feeding birds is much more complicated than picking up a bird feeder on a whim at a garden store.
Protecting bird feeders from squirrels and other critters is always a challenge. And filling a bird feeder on a warm summer morning is much easier than trudging through the snow to fill a bird feeder in the dead of winter. Even when the birds need our help the most. Many people don't realize that bird feeders require more maintenance than just filling them with food. Improperly maintained feeders spread of disease.
plant for birds
Whether you have a bird feeder or not, there are other ways to attract birds to your garden that don't require you to contend with squirrels or snow. You can also plant a garden for birds. With a little planning, spring plantings can provide natural, healthy food for birds all year long.
The most important feature of a bird-friendly garden is native plants. Depending on the species, birds may eat insects, fruits, seeds, and nectar. Although many garden varieties can attract insects and grow seeds, they are not necessarily compatible with the specific nutritional needs of birds in the area. Native plants have evolved with birds, so they can provide all of these types of food in a way that works best for birds.In can be confirmed Local Audubon Society Chapter or Native Plant Association seeking advice about Best mix of regional plant varieties To support local bird populations. However, some native plants most areas Plants in the United States include cornflower, sunflower, and milkweed. Don't forget native trees. These trees provide both food and shelter for local birds.
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bird-friendly gardening
when you are landscaping for birds, how you grow your garden is just as important as what you grow. If you spray your garden with insecticide every time you find a bug, the insect-eating birds won't be able to find anything to eat in your garden. There may be pesticide residue on the plants. toxic Also birds that eat fruits and seeds. We may need to adapt to a little more bug damage than we've allowed so far. But who would notice that a few leaves are being nibbled when there are a lot of birds hunting in the garden?
Similarly, birds don't appreciate a tidy garden the way many humans do. If you omit deadheading and leave fallen leaves on the ground, the birds will eat more food. Seed pods and overwintering insects are a great source of high-calorie food. winter birds.
bird amenities
Birds don't have the same preference for clean gardens as we do, but they do prefer gardens that provide interest in multiple seasons. To make your garden appealing in line with bird aesthetics, keep plantings dense and layered with continuous blooming and a varied color palette. This provides cover and attracts a greater variety of tasty invertebrates and pollinators for seed production.
bird friendly garden design Certain amenities other than plants are required. Birds need water just as much as mammals. This can be provided by bird bath Other bodies of water such as ponds, reflecting pools, and even small puddles. With the right mix of trees, brush piles, and even shade, you can provide a home for a variety of species. However, if you have limited wood real estate, consider installing one that is properly designed. birdhouse.
It's best to keep your cat indoors for your own safety and that of your bird. Bell collars don't really affect a cat's ability to hunt birds. However, if you cannot keep your cat indoors, reduce their predation To some extent with diet and exercise.
get the real thing
There's no need for that replace the entire landscape Make your garden more bird-friendly. In fact, it makes a lot of sense to work slowly and see which changes make the biggest difference.books like Gardening for Birds: How to Create a Bird-Friendly Backyard Or region-specific guides to help you decide where to start and how to proceed.National Wildlife Federation Attract birds, butterflies, and other backyard wildlife is also a helpful resource. And if you progress far enough, they can also recognize your backyard as: Certified wildlife habitat.
Editor's note: This article was originally published on March 17, 2021 and updated in May 2024.