Attracting birds to the landscape
Having a steady population of birds in the home landscape can be a colorful and diverse addition. With the added social distancing time in 2020 and added time at home for students, learning about the different bird species on a property can be fun and educational. At our home this year, a momma bird made a nest to hatch her babies in our wreath on the front door. We had to be careful entering and exiting the house by that door, but it was amazing to see the bird raise her young. I have shared in previous articles a favorite family memory of watching the cardinals and other birds enjoy the birdbaths and birdfeeders outside the dinning room window at my grandparent’s home on Thanksgiving. Today, I will be sharing information on how you can attract more birds to your home landscape by use of a UGA publication by Bob Westerfield, UGA Extension horticulturist.
How do you attract more birds to the landscape or backyard? It really is a simple concept. You have to provide essential items that are needed for bird survival. If you provide or make better those options on your property, the area will be more inviting for the birds. Those essential needs are food, shelter/nesting and water. Your landscape will already provide some of these, but you may need to fill in gaps or enhance some of these essential needs. For example, most folks will have at least a few ornamental trees or shrubs on the property. These items can provide shelter and nesting areas. Our information states that multi-stem plants that will make a dense canopy will give needed cover or shelter for birds and also will give the birds a place to make a nest for raising young.
Another thought to consider in regards to trees and shrubs is their ability to provide food options. If you incorporate native trees and shrubs into the landscape, they can help provide fruits and berries for the birds. Depending on the trees and shrubs, this could help with some of the food needs for a large portion of the year. If you have gaps with the ornamentals providing fruits and berries, you do have the option of providing the food yourself with commercial seed mixes. The majority of birds will consume sunflower seed, proso millet seed and peanut kernels.
Keep in mind that having the shelter options for birds is a key in keeping the birds around for a long time. Cover is important to protect the birds from inclement weather. Multi-stems plants can do this with their ability to form a dense canopy. These options will also protect the birds from predators and give the needed nesting areas. Our information adds that the shelter options should include a mixture of deciduous and evergreen items to make sure shelter is available all year. It is suggested that at least 25% of the trees and shrubs be evergreens.
What about the water? You need to make sure you are providing a fresh water source to help keep a bird population. This is where bird fountains can come into play. Our information states that the water source should be shallow so no more than 2 to 3 inches in depth. The water should be replaced on a regular basis. It is suggested that running water such as a shallow fountain is ideal. Just like people, birds need water twelve months out of the year so provide water even in the winter.
I will add that the water source should be either elevated or in the middle of an open area to help protect the birds from predators. Yes, your pet cat can be a predator of the birds. Having the water source in an open area can work in several ways. An open area can make the birds more visible to you, but the open area will help the birds be on the lookout for potential predators also.
Our literature has the added bonus of giving a list of more than 20 native trees and shrubs that can help make your landscape more bird inviting. The list will give the habit element provided by that native tree or shrub, the fruiting season, if the item is deciduous or evergreen and the mature size of the tree or shrub. Examples of options are American Beautyberry, dogwood, red maple and hawthorn to name a few. I can provide you this list of trees and shrubs for attracting birds if you simply call the office or email me.
Finally, if you are serious about attracting more birds to the home landscape, you should consider conducting your own landscape inventory. The inventory should determine the mix of evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs on the property. Remember, you want at least 25% to be evergreens. You should also figure out when the native items are providing food and when the birds may be without a food supply. Finally, make sure you have the needed shelter and nesting.