Attacting Birds to your Garden and Yard

For a wonderful activity all year long, consider feeding wild birds and
attacting them to your yard/garden. The birds will especially appreciate
your efforts in winter and spring when natural food sources are scarce.
Providing food for birds not only helps the birds, but with all of the bird
activity and their bright colors and chatter it surely liven up an
otherwise drab winter backyard.

Just hanging out birdfeeders and filling them with birdseed may not
be enough to attract birds to your yard. Birds have additional needs besides food,
birds need water for drinking and bathing, along with nesting
spots and shelter from predators.

Maybe you can incorporate water feature in your landscape to
give the birds someting similar to a pond, stream or birdbath.
This would satisfy their need for water. Building a perch for them
to stand on while they get a drink would be a nice touch.
Birds can't drink frozen water so investing in a heating system
would be essential for them in cold climates.

Trees, shrubs and vines provide nesting places and hiding spots
if predators are nearby. Place a few birdhouses randomly to encourage
them to stay for awhile. From a bird's point of view, a yard
that is filled with a variety of both short and tall trees,
bushes, vines and brush piles is more attractive than a vast
expanse of grass punctuated by the occasional small tree. If
your yard isn't a haven for birds, it can easily be transformed
with the addition of suitable trees and shrubs.

Evergreens of all kinds make excellent cover for birds,
especially in winter when their dense foliage blocks the biting
wind. Plants that have fruit that persists throughout winter are
important food sources for birds. You might include bayberry,
hackberry, flowering crabapple, and juniper.

Plant sunflowers, coneflowers and black-eyed Susans, and allow
them to go to seed. These plants will attract goldfinches and
chickadees who will happily feast on the seeds and entertain you
with their cheerful songs and antics. Be sure to plant flowering
plants that will attract th ever popular hummingbirds.

Happy gardening!