Seven types of plants are important for bird habitat:
Conifers are evergreen trees and shrubs that include
pines, spruces, firs, arborvitae, junipers, cedars, and yews. These
plants are important as escape cover, winter shelter, and summer nesting
sites. Some also provide sap, buds, and seeds.
Grasses and Legumes
Grasses and legumes can provide cover for ground nesting
birds -- especially if the area is not mowed during the nesting season.
Some grasses and legumes provide seeds as well. Native prairie grasses
are becoming increasingly popular for landscaping purposes.
Nectar-producing plants are very popular for attracting
hummingbirds and orioles. Flowers with tubular red corollas are
especially attractive to hummingbirds. Other trees, shrubs, vines and
flowers can also provide nectar for hummingbirds.
This category includes plants that produce fruits or
berries from May through August. Among birds that can be attracted in
the summer are brown thrashers, catbirds, robins, thrushes, waxwings,
woodpeckers, orioles, cardinals, towhees, and grosbeaks. Examples of
summer-fruiting plants are various species of cherry, chokecherry,
honeysuckle, raspberry, serviceberry, blackberry, blueberry, grape,
mulberry, plum, and elderberry.
This landscape component includes shrubs and vines whose
fruits are ripe in the fall. These foods are important both for
migratory birds which build up fat reserves prior to migration and as a
food source for non-migratory species that need to enter the winter
season in good physical condition. Fall-fruiting plants include
dogwoods, mountain ash, winter-berries, cottoneasters, and
Winter-fruiting plants are those whose fruits remain
attached to the plants long after they first become ripe in the fall.
Many are not palatable until they have frozen and thawed numerous times.
Examples are glossy black chokecherry, Siberian and "red splendor"
crabapple, snowberry, bittersweet, sumacs, American highbush cranberry,
eastern and European wahoo, Virginia creeper, and Chinaberry.
Nut and Acorn Plants
These include oaks, hickories, buckeyes, chestnuts,
butternuts, walnuts, and hazels. The meats of broken nuts and acorns are
eaten by a variety of birds. These plants also provide good nesting
HOW TO GET STARTED
Think of this project as "landscaping for birds." Your
goal will be to plant an assortment of trees, shrubs, and flowers that
will attract birds. If you plan carefully it can be inexpensive and fun
for the whole family. The best way to get started is to follow these
Set Your Priorities
Decide what types of birds you wish to attract, then
build your plan around the needs of those species. Talk to friends and
neighbors to find out what kinds of birds frequent your area. Attend a
local bird club meeting and talk to local birdwatchers about how they
have attracted birds to their yards.
Use Native Plants When Possible
Check with the botany department of a nearby college or
university or with your Natural Heritage Program for lists of trees,
shrubs, and wildflowers native to your area. Use this list as a starting
point for your landscape plan. These plants are naturally adapted to the
climate of your area and are a good long-term investment. Many native
plants are beautiful for landscaping purposes and are excellent for
birds. If you include non-native plant species in your plan, be sure
they are not considered "invasive pests" by plant experts.
Draw a Map of Your Property
Draw a map of your property to scale using graph paper.
Identify buildings, sidewalks, powerlines, buried cables, fences, septic
tank fields, trees, shrubs, and patios. Consider how your plan relates
to your neighbor's property (will the tree you plant shade out the
neighbor's vegetable garden?) Identify and map sunny or shady sites, low
or wet sites, sandy sites, and native plants that will be left in place.
Also identify special views that you wish to enhance -- areas for pets,
benches, picnics, storage, playing, sledding, vegetable gardens, and
Get Your Soil Tested
Get your soil tested by your local garden center,
university, or soil conservation service. Find out what kinds of soil
you have, and then find out if your soils have nutrient or organic
deficiencies that can be corrected by fertilization or addition of
compost. The soils you have will help determine the plants which can be
included in your landscaping plan.
Review the Seven Plant Habitat Components
Review the seven plant components that were described
previously. Which components are already present? Which ones are
missing? Remember that you are trying to provide food and cover through
all four seasons. Develop a list of plants that you think will provide
the missing habitat components.
Confer With Resource Experts
Review this plant list with landscaping resource experts
who can match your ideas with your soil types, soil drainage, and the
plants available through state or private nurseries. People at the
nearby arboretum may be able to help with your selections. At an
arboretum you can also see what many plants look like.
Develop Your Planting Plan
Sketch on your map the plants you wish to add. Trees
should be drawn to a scale that represents three-fourths of their mature
width and shrubs at their full mature width. This will help you
calculate how many trees and shrubs you need. There is a tendency to
include so many trees that eventually your yard will be mostly shaded.
Be sure to leave open sunny sites where flowers and shrubs can thrive.
Decide how much money you can spend and the time span of your project.
Don't try to do too much at once. Perhaps you should try a five year
Implement Your Plan
Finally, go to it! Begin your plantings and be sure to
include your family so they can all feel they are helping wildlife.
Document your plantings on paper and by photographs. Try taking pictures
of your yard from the same spots every year to document the growth of
Maintain Your Plan
Keep your new trees, shrubs, and flowers adequately
watered, and keep your planting areas weed-free by use of landscaping
film and wood chips or shredded bark mulch. This avoids the use of
herbicides for weed control. If problems develop with your plants,
consult a local nursery or garden center.
Most of all, take the time to enjoy the wildlife that
will eventually respond to your efforts at landscaping for birds.
Go on to CIRCUS
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