This doesn’t sound like a great idea to all gardeners, those who don’t want the crows, jay, or song birds getting to the ripe raspberries or blueberries before they do. But to bird lovers, this is a very natural desire. Many bird enthusiasts who also enjoy gardening will grow a section of the garden or a separate plot just for their feathered friends. No scare crow will grace that garden, that’s for sure. You look forward to chickadees flitting around as you tend your plants, hummingbirds sipping nectar nearby, and grosbeaks enjoying the dried berries on back yard bushes. Here’s a general plan that will allow you to attract a wonderful variety of birds to your garden. In just a few steps you’ll create an environment that will be very hospitable to them.
How to Attract Birds to your Garden
First of all, have a feeder or two out during the offseason for the garden so that non-migratory birds will get in the habit of looking for food in your backyard. In turn, they will attract seasonal birds who return from warmer climates. Next winter you’ll need fewer artificial feeders, and we’ll show you why shortly. You can probably guess!
Secondly, provide watering spot for visiting birds. A bird bath or several waterers hanging in the yard will do the job nicely. A ground-based bird bath provides a more natural look and feel, but also represents a threat if neighborhood cats are active.
Thirdly, since birds require shelter, plant bushes and trees near the perimeter of your garden, if none exist, or choose to place your bird plot near existing trees. When startled, the birds will scatter to them until the coast is clear. If the trees are large enough, some birds might also choose them for nesting. Evergreens are especially nice since they provide shelter even when the trees are relatively young. Supplying your yard with several bird houses might also invite more permanent guests to the vicinity. Trees and bird houses can be expensive, you work within your budget.
Finally, the most obvious need is for food, so grow the kinds of things birds will enjoy, and let them have their pick of it. Sunflowers are a great choice, since birds love them and they provide high protein for them. Grow a large plot of them, and then let them dry in place for the birds to eat off the flower in autumn and winter. Do the same with grains that birds love, such as winter wheat, milo, millet, and sorghum. You may have to visit your local farming co-op to get some of these seeds, but the birds will gravitate to them quickly, since they form the primary ingredients in most bird seed mixes. Many common weeds and wildflowers are also bird favorites, such as thistle and Common Mullein. If you don’t want to grow weeds, at least don’t cut them down. Seeing a finch enjoying seeds right off the plant is a wonderful sight. Also stock your garden with bright red flowers that will attract the hummingbirds in the area, and grow nectar producing flowers like lilies and gladiolus they’ll love once they arrive.
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