Birds are the Godzillas of your garden. At least that's how an inchworm sees a sparrow as she swoops down to gobble it up and then feed her nestlings. We just don't think of songbirds as predators, yet they are indeed ferocious insect eaters. The more birds hanging around the yard, the fewer bugs you'll see. There is no better way to ensure your organic garden is pest-free than to make your yard irresistible to all our feathered friends.
There's a huge payoff when you encourage the birds to come into your backyard. It's doubly beneficial to vegetable gardeners because birds flit around the plants and flowers seeking out favorite prey such as beetles, aphids and hornworms. The more bugs they consume, the less trouble you'll have.
WINTER FOOD
One way to lure them in is to begin in the off season. If birds discover a reliable location for seed or suet in winter, they remember these food sources year-round. As spring flourishes, gradually cut back your seed offerings so birds will turn to their richest protein source: bugs. Just remember to start feeding again around Thanksgiving.
WATER
While birds flock to water no matter where you live, in dry regions it's an enormous lure. This year, with epic drought out west, water is far more attractive and beneficial than usual. When all the natural sources dry up, your bird bath becomes a vital resource for survival.
When creating water for birds, consider providing two locations. Many birds, like quail, that spend most of their time on the ground flock to water there.
Other birds prefer elevated bird baths that provide more protection from pets and predators. When you offer both, the range of bird species will increase exponentially.
NESTING
Birds thrive in landscapes where there are plenty of opportunities for nesting. When birds are reproducing in your yard, they're going to stay closer to the nest in their food sourcing, which will include your vegetable garden. When a mother bird is feeding her young, she becomes a real Godzilla, hunting enough food for the entire family. With lots of different kinds of trees and shrubs in your yard, the birds are more likely to find a good nesting spot in the branches. They most often choose brushy places or thickets where the nest and their perches are protected from the weather and predators by dense or thorny vegetation.
BIRDHOUSES
A nesting box may look like a birdhouse, but these are specific boxes carefully designed for the needs of each species of bird. Attach them to your tree branches or the eaves of buildings to bring a wider range of species, including predators like owls that help control field mice and gophers. A barn owl will consume one rodent a day, but when feeding the chicks she'll need even more. Learn how to create, position and manage nesting boxes that suit local species at NestWatch.org.
FOOD
During the growing season through the end of fall, birds are heavy seed and fruit consumers. Plants that produce berries are at the top of the list. Elderberry, crabapple, wild seed plums and currants are just a few examples of long-lived woody plants that produce a crop of fruit every year.
Birds remember where these rich food sources are located to return to year after year. Each climatic region will have its own best plants for attracting birds without increasing maintenance tasks.
HomeStyle on 05/10/2014