If you want to attract certain birds to your yard, you must plant what they love to eat. Recently, my husband said he was going to plant a hummingbird garden. I was a little surprised by his comment, but soon, he'd put in tall trumpet-like flowers and the tiny miracles appeared like magic. Whether you want to attract finches, hummingbirds or robins, simply plant what they're attracted to and you'll have a multitude of species.
Certain food-bearing shrubs or trees such as sassafras, mulberry or bayberry are sure to attract finches. You can always have a bird feeder to lure them in, but if you plant hollies and hawthorns which are laden with berries, you'll have these little songbirds spring and fall.
If you want to provide safe nesting habitat, plant trees, tall grasses and shrubs. Also, put in some nesting houses so they will have plenty of places out of harm's way to build their nests. The more variety in your yard with regard to the plantings, the more different species you'll have
When you're planting to attract birds to your yard, keep in mind the season and the time of fruit-bearing. There are many plants that fruit at different times of the year. When they are ready to nest, you'll want to make sure you have plenty of food to help them through this period, so you can plant strawberries, blueberries or honeysuckle. If possible, plant your winter persistent fruit or seed plants to hold them over until spring. These might include Chokecherry trees or roses.
Whatever you choose, make sure they produce food for the type of birds you wish to attract. You can design your yard with all-natural native plants, or choose from a list at your local nursery. If you plant a variety, you'll have more species coming to your yard. Eastern White Pine will attract 51 different species; you'll have to get out your bird guide to identify them all! Another berry-producer is Northern Bayberry (and will attract some 21 different species). Plant for the season and your habitat will soon be filled with song and color.
If you want to learn more about birds, join a group of bird watchers in your community or enroll in an online college class in basic ornithology.
Certain food-bearing shrubs or trees such as sassafras, mulberry or bayberry are sure to attract finches. You can always have a bird feeder to lure them in, but if you plant hollies and hawthorns which are laden with berries, you'll have these little songbirds spring and fall.
If you want to provide safe nesting habitat, plant trees, tall grasses and shrubs. Also, put in some nesting houses so they will have plenty of places out of harm's way to build their nests. The more variety in your yard with regard to the plantings, the more different species you'll have
When you're planting to attract birds to your yard, keep in mind the season and the time of fruit-bearing. There are many plants that fruit at different times of the year. When they are ready to nest, you'll want to make sure you have plenty of food to help them through this period, so you can plant strawberries, blueberries or honeysuckle. If possible, plant your winter persistent fruit or seed plants to hold them over until spring. These might include Chokecherry trees or roses.
Whatever you choose, make sure they produce food for the type of birds you wish to attract. You can design your yard with all-natural native plants, or choose from a list at your local nursery. If you plant a variety, you'll have more species coming to your yard. Eastern White Pine will attract 51 different species; you'll have to get out your bird guide to identify them all! Another berry-producer is Northern Bayberry (and will attract some 21 different species). Plant for the season and your habitat will soon be filled with song and color.
If you want to learn more about birds, join a group of bird watchers in your community or enroll in an online college class in basic ornithology.
About the Author:
Carrie Pepper writes on Christian colleges, scholarships, online degrees, and other education-related topics.
