My Garden is for the Birds
A flash of yellow as an American Goldfinch stops by for a snack on the spent head of a Cosmo flower. A bright red Northern Cardinal perches against a backdrop of green sunlit leaves. Song fills the air as the vibrant orange and black Baltimore Oriole let’s the world know he’s back in his territory!
Our Feathered Buddies bring animation, color and song to our gardens. But, how do we invite them into our gardens here in Eastern North America?
Okay…some birds also like to eat the berries intended for canning, and flocks of noisy starlings can be annoying, but we are going to be talking about attracting the jewels of the bird world. Hummingbirds, finches, cardinals, orioles, woodpeckers and other welcome bird guests.
Birds have some basic needs. They need food, shelter from predators, fresh water to bathe in and to drink, plus safe places to raise their young. If we provide for these basic needs in our gardens the birds will find us and reward us with years of pleasure.
Food and Drink
Creating a year round feeding station will ensure you will stay on the A-list of many seed-eating birds such as the above mentioned as well as jays, chickadees, nuthatches and our native sparrows. American Goldfinches love nyger seed. As this can be expensive, you may wish to use it mixed with regular goldfinch seed and serve it in upside-down feeders as only a few varieties of birds can feed this way. Black oil sunflower seeds are a favourite of a large variety of birds. To discourage squirrels, use one of the many squirrel-proof feeders. While more expensive, it will pay for itself with seed saved! To keep the birds safe from lurking predators, such as cats, place the feeder away from low growing bushes and plants. Provide suet during the winter months for a high-energy treat for woodpeckers and nuthatches.
Hang up a hummingbird feeder in a shady area and be sure to change the nectar and clean the feeder regularly. Place it in an area where you can enjoy watching these tiny fliers, but keep it away from windows to avoid crashes. Plant flowers that hummingbirds enjoy such as Coral Bell, Butterfly Bush, Trumpet Vine, Blue Victoria Salvia, Fuchsia and other red to purple tube-like flowers. Add some perching areas near the feeders for photo opportunities and closer observation. Once the hummingbirds find you, they will return year after year. Letting ornamental grasses and flowers such as cosmos go to seed will provide free food for seed-eating birds.
Add a water feature such as a pond or birdbath. Be sure to keep the birdbath clean and filled with fresh water for the health of the birds (and to prevent mosquitoes). Birds are very attracted to the sound of trickling water so add a fountain or waterfall to your pond. The birds will be splashing about in no time!
Go Wild!
Letting the edges of your garden go to a more natural look with plantings of native shrubs and berry bushes, will not only give birds a safe place to hide should a hawk swoop by, but will give them a source of natural nesting sites and food. Cedar trees are one of the best choices as the thick boughs allow birds to disappear quickly. Cedars are also a favourite of many nesting birds, including hummingbirds. A planting of Serviceberry will have the waxwings arriving in a happy flock once the berries ripen. Plant some larger trees if you have the space to create a shady canopy. Warblers will stop by during migration to hunt for insects amongst the foliage. Avoiding pesticides will create a safe environment for not only birds but also people and beloved pets in your garden.
Let the Show Begin!
Once you’ve set the stage it won’t be long until the main attractions begin to arrive. Sit back and enjoy learning more about our Feathered Buddies. Watch a Downy Woodpecker teach her juvenile how to pick peanuts out of the tube feeder, recognize the warning scold of a House Wren when she spies a cat, marvel at the dainty nest of a Chipping Sparrow and awaken to the lovely chorus of American Robins and Northern Cardinals. Birds can be endlessly fascinating to study as well to simply enjoy their song and beauty.
And it’s time to get out your camera! In our next magazine Tim will be giving us tips on creating beautiful photographs of the birds that visit our gardens. In future articles we shall hear from other buddies about unique techniques, such as digiscoping, to photograph birds, exploring birding further out in the field and in other kinds of gardens.
Birds are a special part of my garden and I hope you make them a welcome visitor to your garden too. Please visit our Birds and Their Environment in the Garden Forum for more stories and photos from Buddies about their close encounters of the “feathered” kind.
Written by Pixc
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