Tips for the Garden - November 2019

Attracting Birds to your Neighborhood

There are a number of ways to attract birds to your garden, from planting native plants to providing safe stopover areas for them to eat, drink and nest.

Provide water year-round - A simple birdbath is a great start. Change water every 2-3 days in summer and use a heater in the winter. Place the water container about 10 feet from dense shrubs or other cover that predators may use.

Then, install Natives Plants-- Select a variety of native plants to offer year-round food in the form of seeds, berries, nuts, and nectar. Try to recreate the plant ecosystem native to your area. Evergreen trees and shrubs provide excellent cover through all seasons, check our www.grownative.org for an amazing lists of local natives great for pollination and food sources.

Eliminate insecticides in your yard - Insects are the primary source of food for many bird species and are an important source of protein and fats for growing juvenile birds.

Keep dead trees - Dead trees provide cavity-dwelling places for birds to raise young and as a source to collect insects for food. Many species will also seek shelter from bad weather inside these hollowed out trees.

Put out nesting boxes - Make sure the boxes have ventilation holes at the top and drainage holes below. Do not use a box with a perch, as house sparrows are known to sit on a nesting box perch and peck at other birds using the nesting box. Be sure to monitor the boxes for invasive animal species known to harm or out-compete native species.

Build a brush pile in a corner of your yard - Start with larger logs and top with smaller branches. Some birds will hunt, roost or even nest in brush piles.

Put out bird feeders--Bird feeders are great sources of supplemental food during times of food scarcity, and also enhance bird viewing opportunities.  Wintertime is beneficial for this as the natural source of pods and seeds become scarce.

Remove invasive plants from your wildlife habitat - Many invasive plants out-compete the native species favored by birds, insects and other wildlife. Check with your local U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperative Extension System office for information on plant species to avoid.

I hope you enjoy these tips for enjoying more wildlife in your yards!

Enjoy every minute! 

Sandi Hillermann McDonald

January Tips for the Garden 2008

JANUARY IS FOR THE BIRDS!!! SO ENJOY THEM!!!

It is hard to say who benefits more from backyard bird feeders - the birds or the people who feed them. Some of life’s more enjoyable moments include the songs and antics of the birds outside our windows. Watching them is so captivating that it can alter an entire day’s plans, turning a twenty-minute breakfast into a three-hour brunch. Activity at your feeders probably can hold your attention all day with its ever-changing pattern of form and color, from fluffed-up chickadees to sleek cardinals.

Often the brightest spot on the winter landscape, with the most activity, is the bird feeder in the backyard. No matter what size yard or garden you have, you can create your own bird haven. All you need are food, water, and shelter. Shrubs and evergreens are good, not only to offer cover during harsh northern winters, but also to protect birds from their natural enemies. They also provide safe nesting sites in the spring.

Whether you are just beginning or greatly expanding your bird-feeding program, give careful consideration to making it easy and fun for the whole family. If the feeders are hard to reach, the bags too heavy for the kids to maneuver, or the birdbath too far from the hose, pretty soon someone will lose patience and object to being involved.

Hang different types of feeders at different heights and near enough to your house so you can watch the birds at relatively close range. You can use empty coffee cans and homemade funnels (cut the bottom off a large soft drink bottle) for feeder-filling convenience. Don’t be discouraged if you have just put up a new feeder and the birds don’t flock to it immediately. Because birds recognize food by sight, it can take a while for them to locate a new source. Try putting aluminum foil on the ground underneath the feeder to reflect the sunlight. If you already have other feeders, put the new one nearby until the birds discover it. Bird feeding activity attracts other species, so when you add a specialty feeder (such as a thistle feeder for finches) to your feeding station, it probably will not take long for new birds to find it.

Open water in freezing weather will attract as many, or more birds, as a well-stocked feeder! Birds use it to help keep them warmer in winter! By cleaning their feathers and then grooming them with natural oils, our feathered friends are able to help insulate their bodies from cold. You can keep water thawed with a submersible heater placed directly in the water; it is economical and safe as long as you use a high quality, outdoor extension cord to plug the heater into an electrical source. As a firm believer in providing water year round, there are many options on the market to suit the need.

Remember that, for the sake of the bird’s health, it is always important to keep the feeders and the ground beneath them cleaned up of old seed that can harbor disease. So fill your feeders and enjoy the show!

See you in the garden…
Sandi Hillermann McDonald

Key Elements for Attracting Birds

It’s fun to watch the activity of wild birds in your yard. Sitting back and listening to a mix of their songs can help you relax and forget a stressful day. These, as well as diminishing habitat and food sources, are good reasons to attract birds and provide some necessities to help them flourish. Food, shelter, water and nesting habitat are the four key elements that will attract birds to your yard.

Feeding the birds has been a popular hobby for many years. However, we do not always think about different species and the different foods they require. Attract a variety of bird species by using several types of feed such as seed, suet, and meal worms. There are also different types of bird feeders to work well with the different types of food. Plants and flowers also provide a food source for the birds. Many trees and shrubs produce berries and fruit, and flowers provide nectar and seeds.

Birds need shelter not only for nesting but to escape from weather and predators. Trees and shrubs are a natural form of shelter. Plant a variety of them in your yard including evergreens and varieties that provide a food source. Birdhouses or nesting boxes provide places for the birds to raise their young and escape extreme weather. There are different types of houses available to accommodate different species of birds.

Water is a vital necessity for birds in all seasons. Garden ponds, fountains, and birdbaths beautify your yard and provide drinking and bathing sources for birds. We offer all of the above in our Garden Center including pond kits for do-it-yourselfers. Contact our Landscape Division if you’re interested in a professionally installed garden pond. Even plant saucers will work as birdbaths lying in a flowerbed or on top of a tree stump. Change water frequently to prevent disease and mosquitoes. Use a deicer to provide needed unfrozen water in winter. Visit our Garden Center for help with selection. Pick up some of our free information sheets on birds, wildlife, gardening, plants, and more!