October 15, 2002

Gardening has become the fastest growing leisure activity in the country. Although I sometimes hesitate calling it “leisure”! Following right behind gardening is birding, which includes bird watching as well backyard bird feeding. Many gardeners will tell you they go hand in hand.
A well-planned garden that has many species and types of plants will naturally attract a variety of bird species to the yard. The activities and sounds the birds add to the garden help to create more of a natural backyard habitat. Many bird species are quite beneficial to the garden. Eating insect pests, spreading seeds and aiding in pollination are of a few of their helpful habits.
When the ground is covered with snow even the occasional bird feeder remembers to put some seed or suet out for the birds. If you do not feed the birds year round, putting seed out during the fall and winter months will get them in the habit of frequenting your yard. A feeder placed out in the open on a pole or hanging from the branch of a sturdy tree is a good site. Birds prefer a shelter near the feeder that is a quick flight away form predators. A grouping of large shrubs or evergreens nearby is perfect.
The selection of bird feeders available may seem overwhelming, but keeping in mind the type of birds you want to attract and the place you will be putting the feeder will narrow it down. Finch feeders are usually tube shaped and made to hold a mixed seed blend or thistle depending on the size of the openings. They usually have perches at all the ports to accommodate several birds at one time. There are platform and hopper style feeders that hold blends of seed to attract a larger variety of birds.
There are feeders that can be attached to windows with suction cups for up close and personal viewing and special mounts to attach feeders to a deck railing. Most bird feeding veterans in our area will recommend selecting a feeder that has features for deterring squirrels.
Besides feeding sites the birds will also be attracted to sources of water. A backyard pond is ideal for drinking water as well as a bathing site for birds. A birdbath or large pan of water at ground level will also do. During the winter these need to be kept from freezing. Add boiling water several times a day or invest in a birdbath heater.
To encourage the birds to stay in your yard all year they will need nesting sites. A well-designed landscape with many layers (trees, shrubs, hedges, grasses and flowers) will naturally provide suitable nesting sites and building materials. But you can add man-made nesting boxes to encourage them. Put up nesting boxes in the fall or early winter. Once they are weathered they will be more attractive to the birds.
Nest boxes need not be fancy- the more natural looking the better. The important thing is to choose a birdhouse with the appropriate size opening for the birds you want. Bluebirds and wrens use houses with a 1-½ inch hole, sparrows a 1-¼ inch, and chickadees an 1 -1/8 inch. And all birds except wrens need a house that is firmly mounted and not swaying.
Perches just below the opening are unnecessary. Most birds will prefer a rough surface for easy entry and exit.
Examine your landscape and make note of the bird attracting species that are already in the garden as well as ones you may need to add. Make sure there are adequate places for shelter such as a cluster of evergreens or a hedgerow. Shade trees and large shrubs will often be chosen for nesting sites. Food sources of both fruits and seeds should be in the yard. Dogwoods, crabapples, cherries and viburnums are good fruit bearing selections. Ornamental grasses and perennial wildflowers offer natural seed sources for the birds. Only a select group of birds rely on just seeds for their diet. Many prefer fruit and even more dine on insects and their eggs during the spring and summer months. By landscaping for the birds you will be encouraging a natural insect control to your yard.



Beth Nardone, botanist, is a resident of Hillsborough and is the Nursery Manager at the Belle Mead Co-Op.  Questions and comments can be sent to bethtanical@rcn.com