|
HomeTopics...Gardening TipsAttracting Birds
Attracting Wild Birds to Your GardenAnyone who loves the outdoors enjoys watching wild birds hopping around on the grass or darting among tree branches. Colorful hummingbirds and playful sparrows add extra enjoyment to your gardening hobby.
Many types of birds can benefit your garden as several of the better known species of birds in North America help to keep insect populations under control. Birds are naturally attracted to areas that have bushes, trees and flowers. The trick is to keep them coming back.
Attracting Birds and Getting Them to Stay All birds need at least three basic elements: food, cover and water. If your garden is missing one or more of these things, the chances that birds will flock to your garden are slim.Food: Birds are attracted to a food source, particularly one that's available year round. Plant an assortment of fruit, berry and seed-bearing plants. That ensures that some source of food is available to the birds throughout the seasons. If that's not possible, hang a bird feeder and stock it with seeds. Water: Water is another must for wild birds. Many types of birds prefer shallow pools of water, not much deeper than two or three inches. It should be out in the open so they can fly for cover if any predators approach. The bottom of the pool should be rough to allow them better footing. If you're using a birdbath or some other container, change the water frequently and clean the container every few days to prevent the growth of algae and bacteria. Cover: A tidy garden with a small shrub here or there and no trees may be easy to maintain, but it won't look very attractive to birds. Birds rely on shelter from predators, and they prefer to hide in dense cover. To provide cover, plant trees, hedges and shrubs. Birds will use the foliage to hide, nest and stay when the weather becomes unpleasant. Some of these plants may also double up as a source of food. Birdhouses may also help attract birds to your garden. Orient the birdhouses so that their openings face away from the wind.
Attracting Specific Types of BirdsWild birds come in many different colors, sizes and species, so what might be attractive to one type of bird may actually repel other birds. If you wish to attract a specific type of bird to your garden, you should do some reading to find out what most attract that species.
Bluebirds: Bluebirds are gentle, docile birds that love to eat. They typically feed on insects, but they also eat nuts and seeds. The ideal home for a bluebird is a wide-open area with a few trees and shrubs. Bluebirds don't require much except a roof over their heads for nesting. Bluebirds like to inhabit old woodpecker homes or birdhouses. If you do decide to use birdhouses, their placement is critical. To attract bluebirds, houses should be placed about five to seven feet above ground, and close to other birdhouses. Finches and Goldfinches: The best way to attract finches and goldfinches is to provide them with their favorite foods. Finches prefer a tubular bird feeder filled with black oil sunflower seeds, canary seeds, nyjal (thistle) seeds or millet seeds. Finches also love to bathe, so a source of water such as a birdbath is highly recommended. Hummingbirds: Hummingbirds are guided by their eyes and their stomachs. To attract hummingbirds to your garden, add colorful plants that produce a lot of nectar. Some of the plants that attract hummingbirds are:
Orioles: Food is the best way to attract orioles. Orioles tend to feed on fruits, especially oranges, particularly early in the spring. Then they may change to a diet of insects, or continue eating fruit for the summer. To attract orioles to your garden, leave orange halves out for them. Sugar water feeders are another good way to attract orioles, as the sugar water is similar to the nectar orioles get from flowers. The sugar water can be made by combining one part white sugar to four to six parts water. Swallows: These insect-eating migratory birds are a great natural pest control. Swallows don't require much except insects to eat and mud to build their nests.
Birds of North America: The State BirdsBelow is a table listing the state birds for each of the fifty US states.
|
|
