Mother Earth’s Garden

Creating A Bird Friendly Habitat In Your Garden

by linette on December 28th, 2007

Attracting birds to your garden is not too difficult. If you have a variety of plants in your garden you are probably well on your way to creating a habitat suitable for the many birds who live in your area.

There are three things you need to nurture the birds living in your garden. You will need a regular source of food, shelter from the weather, and a water source the birds can depend on. There is one thing you do not need if you want birds to thrive in your garden, and that’s chemical sprays, or pesticides.

When you’re deciding what to plant in your garden this year consider plants that will help nourish the birds you would like to attract year round. Grow plants that produce berries in the summer, but also plants that produce berries or seed-heads in the fall or winter. Cockscomb, sunflowers, and holly berry are all great examples of natural birdfeeders to help your birds survive the winter. Hazelnut, walnut, and chestnut trees also provide food for some types of birds throughout the winter.

Birds require some shelter from bad weather, and they also need safe place to put their nests in the spring. Low lying evergreen shrubs and bushes make great shelters. Pine and other evergreen trees are also great for the birds. They provide shelter, but they also provide pinecones, a great food source for birds during the fall and winter.

Make sure you have a local supply of fresh water year round for the birds. If there is not a small stream, or pond nearby for the birds to drink out of you may want to invest in a bird bath and place a small heater in it for the winter.

If you attract birds to your garden, you should not use pesticides. Birds and their offspring can be damaged or killed by the use of pesticides. Since they have tiny bodies, it doesn’t take much to poison their system.

As a bonus for you, all of the plants mentioned here will also look very attractive in your garden. Many of these will also add interest year round. You will be able to enjoy many of these plants in the winter, while you’re enjoying the birds visiting your winter garden.

Tags: creating a bird habitat, plants for birds, natural bird shelters, gardening for birds

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POSTED IN: Birds