ATTRACTING BIRDS TO THE GARDEN

Birds are so much a part of the garden. Their playful actions, lively and usually pleasing song and their showy colours can't fail to attract attention and add to the pleasure of a garden. They also add interest by posing, preening, courting, mating and nesting somewhere within the garden.This is one more environmentally friendly, organic method of insect and weed control that has not been given the attention it should have.

Before birds are encouraged to live in the garden, every possible effort should be made to protect them from marauding predators. Birds are good communicators and, if any of their species is harmed, all become wary. Months may pass before some species will return to an area where one of their own has been harmed. Cats, red squirrels and snakes are some of the most troublesome enemies of birds in the garden.Efforts should be made to attract and protect these feathered creatures for economic reasons as well as for their charm and beauty.

No one is in a better position than the gardener to appreciate the vast contribution birds make to our economic life.

Insects form a large part of a bird's diet. Birds are most numerous just at those times when harmful insects are most proliferous. Not only will adult birds consume large quantities of insects, they also feed them to the young birds. Every plant, tree and shrub will be searched meticulously for insects and thus check the rising tide of harmful insects.

Birds also consume large quantities of weed seeds at a time when autumn winds threaten to scatter them throughout the garden.

A well planned garden can provide a habitat for birds. There are four basic elements to be considered:

1. Food.
2. Water
3. Shelter
4. Protection.

A garden should be aesthetically pleasing while at the same time providing food and Shelter.

1. FOOD.

- Consider late fall and early spring. In late fall, many birds have begun to rely on bird feeders. While this is fine, it would be preferable to vary that menu with other food on the property. For example; Sumac berries / Mountain Ash / Crabapple / Cosmos seeds / Sunflowers / Zinnias can augment their food supply.

In early spring, when the Robins return, quite frequently the ground is still frozen or a late snowstorm occurs and the earthworms are not available. Crabapples on the tree, left hanging from last autumn, are a food source. During winter, the Cardinal will feast on the Crabapples.

In spring, when the Orioles return, they frequently visit the Hummingbird feeders.

If space allows and you have a small strawberry patch, use a diversionary tactic rather than a "scare tactic" to preserve your strawberries for personal consumption. A Mulberry tree planted at one end of the garden performs miracles. Birds prefer Mulberries to Strawberries. A Currant shrub will also act as a diversion, however it is not as effective.

A variety of trees, shrubs, vines, grasses and - yes weeds - that provide food in the form of fruit, berries, nuts or seeds are essential. A "wild spot" that provides seeds from weeds and grasses, should be considered. Some trees and shrubs provide shelter and nesting sites. Flowers of various species provide nectar for hummingbirds and seed for other birds.

For your convenience, we have listed trees, shrubs, vines and flowers which are useful. Click here to see the list.

2. WATER

A reliable source of water for the birds to drink is essential. Besides water to quench their thirst, birds require water for bathing to keep mites under control. A shallow container is preferable. If the bottom of the container is smooth, spread some clean gravel over the bottom or place a larger rough stone in the center so small birds can safely drink and bathe. A small pond or water bowl will be enjoyed by larger birds.

3. SHELTER

Evergreens provide dense foliage which will shelter birds from cold winds in winter and rain in spring, summer or autumn.

Deciduous trees (e.g.: Maple, Ash, Oak, Chestnut), while taller, provide shelter among the broad leaves. As well, these trees provide a hiding place for nests.

4. PROTECTION

Birds need to be provided with a place to escape to for protection from Hawks, Crows and cats. An evergreen placed within a quick flight distance from the feeder or water source will allow a bird to escape.

For ground feeding birds, provide a medium height ground cover with another variety of plants a little taller so they can quickly disappear in the ground cover and then hide among the taller plants.

While all of the above is necessary for bird life, you must also remember your own personal needs. When choosing plants, be sure they are suited for the space available in your garden and that it will compliment your yard and house. The smaller the space available, the more selective you must be.

When choosing flower plants, remember to plant in masses. A bird will not likely notice one plant or two but will be attracted to an entire row of flowers or a group of plants. This is especially true of hummingbirds.

Repeat plant varieties throughout the garden.

Allow the spent flowers of Zinnias, Cosmos, Sunflowers to remain in the garden as these will provide food late into autumn and early winter. The drooping head of a sunflower covered with a generous helping of marshmallow snow or a coating hoar frost is very picturesque in the winter garden. If you do remove spent flowers, place them in a corner of the garden where birds can find them.

By using environmentally sound gardening methods, landscaping to attract birds to the garden is also landscaping for the eco system. Both birds and the gardener benefit while their family and friends enjoy the surroundings you have provided.

The prospect of providing food and shelter to a wide variety of birds is exciting and it is especially so when you have completed your plantings and you are eagerly waiting for the visits of the birds that are attracted to the landscape you have created.

EXPANDED LIST OF BIRDS IN YOUR GARDEN

NAME	FOOD	NESTING SITE	ECONOMIC STATUS
Cardinal	Sunflower seeds, Nutmeats,Corn, Dogwood, Blackberries and weed seeds	Dense shrubs, hedges and tangles of briers. Likes an informal wild garden	None. However, many enjoy their bright foliage and are attractive visitors to the garden.
Catbird	Fruit, beetles, insects	Dense shrub 3' to 10' from ground (rarely in tree or even small trees).	Useful as destroyer of harmful insects (beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars) (Fruit - wild berries, elderberries, dogwood berries, poison ivy berries)
Brown Thrasher	Beetles, grubs and insects	Thorny shrubs and vines that are almost impenatrable / nests are made of twigs, leaves, strips of bark lined with rootlets.	Useful as destroyer of harmful insects. (grasshoppers, caterpillars, ants, grubs and snails.)
House Wren	Insects	Old woodpecker hole or house made specifically for it.	Useful as destroyer of harmful insects. (100% of its food is insects)
Black Capped Chickadee	Insects	Carves out a hole in stump, branch or tree. Occasionally uses a deserted woodpecker's hole. May use a bird house at times.	Useful as destroyer of harmful insects - 70% of food is insects. e.g.: one chickadee may consume 100,000,000 canker worms in 25 days.
Robin	Insects, grubs, worms and fruit.	Shelves and trees	Useful as destroyer of harmful insects.
Nuthatch	Insects	Old Downy Woodpecker hole - any knothole or natural cavity.	Destroyer of insects harmful to trees (scale insects, weevils, leaf beetles, click beetles, plant lice, ants, spiders and sawflies.)
Brown Creeper	Insects	Crack or hole in large tree.	Destroyer of insects harmful to trees (scale insects, weevils, leaf beetles, click beetles, plant lice, ants, spiders and sawflies.)
Barn Swallow	Flying insects (travels at 40 miles per hour catching insects while flying).	Mud nests on underside of porch roofs or beams of outbuildings	Destroyer of insects (mosquitoes, black flies, lacewings and mayflies).
Mourning Dove	Weed seeds	Forked branch of any tree.	Controls multiplication of weed seeds. 99% of diet being that of weed seeds.
Kildeer	Insects	Hollow spots in garden or field or among leaves in a lawn.	Destroyer of harmful insects. Diet consists 100% of insects.
Blue Bird	Insects, wild fruit.	Dead trees in old orchard or nesting boxes supplied.	Destroyer of harmful insects (beetles, grasshoppers and caterpillars.)
Downy Woodpecker	Insects, grubs and larvae under bark of trees.	Dead trees	Useful as destroyer of harmful insects found in decaying wood.
Flicker	Insects, larvae, grubs and ants.	Dead limbs	Useful as destroyer of insects harmful to trees (ants make up 50% of diet. Bayberries and poison ivy berries make up the other 50%).
Starling (Black Bird or Grackle)	Large variety of insects, beetles and fruit.	Corners of buildings / bird houses / old woodpecker holes / crotches of evergreens	Highly valued as destroyer of harmful beetles and insects. 99% of food is made up of insects. Especially useful in destroying Japanese Beetles but many other species as well.
Junco	Weed seeds and insects	Depression in ground (like the kildeer)	Destroys weed seeds and insects (Lacewings, green caterpillars, grasshoppers and flies).
Song Sparrow	Small seeds and insects	A clump of grass on the ground or at the base of a shrub	Useful as destroyer of harmful insects. 2/3rds of food is weed seeds. 1/3rd of food is insects.
Tree Sparrow	Weed seeds and insects	On ground Sometimes in low bushes	Useful as destroyer of weed seeds and insects. Consumes over 800 tons of weed seeds in one season.
Chipping Sparrow	Insects and small seeds	Low branch of tree / dense ornamental shrub or evergreen / or thick vine.	Controls multiplication of weeds and insects.
Eastern Kingbird	Insects and some weed seeds.	In fruit trees or horizontal branches overhanging roadside.	95% of food consists of insects (mosquitoes, black flies, etc.) (Caterpillars and weed seeds)
Phoebe	Insects and some weed seeds.	In fruit trees or horizontal branches overhanging roadside.	95% of food consists of insects (mosquitoes, black flies, etc.) (Caterpillars and weed seeds)
Purple Martin	Insects	Specially built nesting "houses" "prefers condominium style since they are colony birds"	Useful as destroyer of harmful insects especially black flies and mosquitoes.
Baltimore Oriole	Insects, seeds and fruit	Suspended cradle from high tree limb. Trees most favoured are Willow, Ash or Maple.	Useful as destroyer of harmful insects (Beetles, plant lice and caterpillars).
Goldfinch	Seeds and insects.	Lower trees - forked branch 4 to 20 feet from the ground. Requires thistledown to line a nest made of grasses and other plant fibres.	Useful as destroyer of harmful insects and weed seeds (Dandelion, burdock and chicory) (Caterpillar, beetles, grasshoppers and plant lice)
Purple Finch	Weed seeds	Orchard trees or branch of an evergreen	Destroyer of destructive weeds. Favourite is Ragweed.