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How To
Create Bird Gardens |
How to Transform Your Yard into a Bird Havenby Susan Nelson Hopkins Bird books and articles always expound on the four elements essential to birds... food, water, nesting provisions, and shelter. Are any one of these more essential than another? No. However, consider the purpose of each and you will find that one of them stands out. All will attract birds to your garden, but only one will make them stay. Include this element, and you will always have birds in your garden...Shelter equates to safety for a wild bird. And when a wild bird feels safe, it will eat and drink and possibly nest. More importantly, it will also roost (rest) there during the day AND night. Providing safe shelter for birds in your backyard garden...Selecting the right trees and shrubs can transform your garden into a haven, a sanctuary for wild birds. The key is to make sure each selection provides at least one of these criteria: shelter from the elements; protection from predators; and natural food sources. A beautifully landscaped bird garden is planted in layers... tall canopies, under-stories, low growth, vines, and ground covers. Tall Tree Canopies...If you can only plant one tree in your garden, make it an evergreen. They are essential to bird gardens because they provide protection from winter winds and snow. They also provide winter color for us gardeners. Depending on your location, these are always good choices:
If you have the room, include a deciduous tree (it will loose its leaves during the winter). Some birds prefer nesting and roosting above 25', plus we gardeners can enjoy the summer shade. An added benefit... some of them even provide winter fruit and berries:
Under-Story Trees and Shrubs...Flowering trees are the backbone of bird gardens. Most varieties reach that essential middle height (10' to 20') favored by a great many birds for nesting or quick escapes from predators. They also provide lovely blossoms... always welcome after long winters. Very important during winter are the fruits and berries. Some birds would simply not survive without them. Actually, if there are any left, they can also be life savers to early spring arrivals like American Robins. Some excellent choices for spring blossoms, fall color, and that all important winter fruit:
Flowering shrubs like azaleas and cotoneasters and even perennials also provide birds an easy, quick escape. Of course, they offer us fabulous blossoms. Lower Growing Shrubs...This is an often neglected layer in bird gardens. There are some birds that spend a majority of their lives no more than 10' from the ground, so this layer is absolutely essential to their survival. Planting shrubs in groupings of three or more creates a thicket... a perfect safe haven for these birds. If possible, select fruiting varieties such as...
Vines...Fast growing types quickly create a tangle perfectly suited for nesting by some birds. Some excellent choices that also provide summer fruits are...
Ground Covers...Varieties at least 5" in height are perfect for insect loving birds. They can forage nearly undetected. If you allow the ground cover to grow close to shrubs, birds can make quick escapes into the shrubs from cats and other predators. Go to the Care of Wild Birds section for tips and resources on feeding wild birds, caring for baby birds... even how to prevent wild birds from crashing into windows.
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birds
Whatever landscape design you decide on, just remember to include
plantings from each of these "layers". You will end up with a
natural bird sanctuary... your garden will feel natural and safe to
birds.