My Attempt to Create a Bird Friendly Backyard Environment

As many of you know by now I enjoy gardening. Having songbirds visit is one of the many benefits of having a garden in the first place. It is always a delight to see the variety of birds drop by for a nibble or a rest. So when I want to create a bird-friendly garden, here are a few easy steps I have taken to enjoy seeing birds all year long and you might want to do as well.

Birds have a few really simple needs: food, water, shelter, and protection from predators. Naturally, native birds thrive on native plants, so choose a selection of regional beauties that produce seeds, berries, or nectar. You can even work your dead trees or old stumps into your landscape to attract insect-eaters and provide shelter.

The more diverse your food supply is, the more variety of birds you will see in your garden. Also you can help birds out by placing bird feeders in your yard filled with a good quality wild bird food (as can be found at places like Wild Birds Unlimited or Backyard Bird Shops. Both of these have online stores as well if you are not fortunately enough to have one of these fine shops nearby. Here are the web addresses http://www.wbu.com/ and http://www.backyardbirdshop.com/).

Different birds seek shelter at different heights. You can make your garden more hospitable to them by growing vines, shrubs and trees. Evergreens provide excellent winter shelter, as well as protection from cats and other predators. If you have a dying tree, let it stand, since its cavities make great nesting spots.

Putting out a birdbath, especially one with a trickle or fountain will make your garden a very popular spot. If you have a pond or stream, place flat rocks in them for bird perches.

For those of you that have seen my yard these are a few of the things that I have tried to incorporate in my landscaping; it really does not take that much work and in some cases it is easier in the long run. Next time you are in the area and have a question stop by and look around; smell the roses and watch the birds.

I can lose myself for hours watching birds fly in to eat or bathe and you can as well. If you have binoculars or a zoom lens on you camera, you can see incredible details as they visit. You will learn a lot, and have a great time while you are doing it.