A reader recently asked, “Why are there fewer birds in my yard than there were a few years ago?”
There are many reason why there are fewer birds which needs a column all its own. The key is understanding the factors that influence bird presence in your yard and using that knowledge to develop a targeted plan.
Focusing your efforts on creating a bird-friendly environment will help restore bird variety and abundance next year.
Previously, I discussed how specific plants attract Baltimore Orioles. Now, let’s look at a bigger-picture solution.
With a diversity of native flowers in your yard catering to a variety of small insects, you may unknowingly help songbirds to find a way to your yard. Many avian species rely on moths’ caterpillars as a food source.
Other birds that eat aphids eat many of these insect pests before the aphids get out of hand. By having a diverse native plant selection and cater to many bird types, you’ll help create a strong, resilient, and diverse ecological habitat in the yard.
The National Wildlife Federation has a process to receive a certification for your yard.
To earn this certification will require that a person from this federation would go on a short stroll with you through your garden and discuss a check list to see if you do have a wildlife friendly yard.
This official will discuss foods, water, cover, places to raise young, and sustainable practices. There is great deal of information on ways to make a bird-friendly yard.
Native birds and insects are attracted to native flowers, trees, berries, and other vegetation.
A yard dominated by non-native plants may be contributing to a decline in bird populations, as replacing some of them with native species can help restore bird diversity.
Simply the vegetation in your yard is not as conducive for native birds, and do not find your plants as appetizing as native plants.
For instance cedar wax wings, robins, and eastern bluebirds will find a trellis of bittersweet a magnet to draw them in to your yard. Raising your own sunflowers in your yard will encourage bluejays and woodpeckers to feed at your feeders during the winter.
Starting with native flowering plants can help attract more birds to your yard, as both birds and insects look for familiar sources of food and habitat.
Hungry birds that are flying through your neighborhood need to see seeds, berries, or trees for nesting to be attracted to your yard.
Non-native plants may have shapes and colors that are less accessible or attractive to native species, while native plants and animals have evolved together, providing the nutrition needed.
Native plants attract native insects, which in turn provide protein for native birds during nesting season.
Native plants offer nectar and pollen for pollinators, and their seeds attract hungry songbirds during fall and winter. If your yard has mostly non-native flowers, native birds may not find it enticing.
Because a native bird may finds it easier or more appetizing to chose berries or seeds from plants that you don’t have.
This may mean that you need to be selecting a plant to install in your yard that will be chosen by the native birds flying through your neighborhood. Choose flowering plants that produce seeds, as both flowers and seeds are nutritious for local wildlife.
To create a bird-friendly garden, consider more than just food. Winter is hardest for birds, so provide seeds, berries, or a feeding station to attract flocks.
I also recommend planting early-emerging plants like hellebores, spring-flowering bulbs, currants, serviceberries, and late-fruiting berries like coralberry or snowberry. All of these are unusual, but I have grown them. The more food available year-round, the more birds will show up in your yard.
Tall trees and shelters like bird houses help attract and retain birds, providing places to escape predators, nest, mate, and store food. These are all important aspects of attracting and keeping birds in your yard.
Living in the woods, I see woodpeckers, chickadees, and swallows using tree cavities for shelter. If you’ve cleared dead trees, birds may lack homes. These species nest and raise young in holes within tree limbs.
To attract any bird, you must begin thinking like that bird. To bring more native birds into your yard, focus on growing native plants — this is the most effective step you can take.
This is just the tip of the iceberg for attracting birds to your yard and retaining them.
I hope you have a great stroll through your garden this week. If you see a challenge, let me know at ericlarson546@yahoo.com.