Seven types of plants are important for bird habitat:
Conifers
Conifers are evergreen trees and shrubs that include pines, spruces,
firs,
arborvitae, junipers, cedars, and yews. These plants are important as
escape
cover, winter shelter, and summer nesting sites. Some also provide sap,
buds, and seeds.
Grasses and Legumes
Grasses and legumes can provide cover for ground nesting birds --
especially
if the area is not mowed during the nesting season. Some grasses and
legumes provide seeds as well. Native prairie grasses are becoming
increasingly popular for landscaping purposes.
Nectar-Producing Plants
Nectar-producing plants are very popular for attracting hummingbirds and
orioles. Flowers with tubular red corollas are especially attractive to
humming-
birds. Other trees, shrubs, vines and flowers can also provide nectar
for
hummingbirds.
Summer-Fruiting Plants
This category includes plants that produce fruits or berries from May
through
August. Among birds that can be attracted in the summer are brown
thrash-
ers, catbirds, robins, thrushes, waxwings, woodpeckers, orioles,
cardinals,
towhees, and grosbeaks. Examples of summer-fruiting plants are various
species of cherry, chokecherry, honeysuckle, raspberry, serviceberry,
blackberry, blueberry, grape, mulberry, plum, and elderberry.
Fall-Fruiting Plants
This landscape component includes shrubs and vines whose fruits are ripe
in
the fall. These foods are important both for migratory birds which build
up fat
reserves prior to migration and as a food source for non-migratory
species
that need to enter the winter season in good physical condition.
Fall-fruiting
plants include dogwoods, mountain ash, winter-berries, cottoneasters,
and
buffalo-berries.
Winter-Fruiting Plants
Winter-fruiting plants are those whose fruits remain attached to the
plants
long after they first become ripe in the fall. Many are not palatable
until they
have frozen and thawed numerous times. Examples are glossy black choke-
cherry, Siberian and "red splendor" crabapple, snowberry, bittersweet,
sumacs, American highbush cranberry, eastern and European wahoo,
Virginia creeper, and Chinaberry.
Nut and Acorn Plants
These include oaks, hickories, buckeyes, chestnuts, butternuts, walnuts,
and
hazels. The meats of broken nuts and acorns are eaten by a variety of
birds.
These plants also provide good nesting habitat.
HOW TO GET STARTED
Think of this project as "landscaping for birds." Your
goal will be to plant an
assortment of trees, shrubs, and flowers that will attract birds. If you
plan
carefully it can be inexpensive and fun for the whole family. The best
way to
get started is to follow these guidelines:
Set Your Priorities
Decide what types of birds you wish to attract, then build your plan
around
the needs of those species. Talk to friends and neighbors to find out
what
kinds of birds frequent your area. Attend a local bird club meeting and
talk to
local birdwatchers about how they have attracted birds to their yards.
Use Native Plants When Possible
Check with the botany department of a nearby college or university or
with
your Natural Heritage Program for lists of trees, shrubs, and
wildflowers native
to your area. Use this list as a starting point for your landscape plan.
These
plants are naturally adapted to the climate of your area and are a good
long-
term investment. Many native plants are beautiful for landscaping
purposes
and are excellent for birds. If you include non-native plant species in
your
plan, be sure they are not considered "invasive pests" by plant experts.
Draw a Map of Your Property
Draw a map of your property to scale using graph paper. Identify
buildings,
sidewalks, powerlines, buried cables, fences, septic tank fields, trees,
shrubs,
and patios. Consider how your plan relates to your neighbor's property
(will
the tree you plant shade out the neighbor's vegetable garden?) Identify
and
map sunny or shady sites, low or wet sites, sandy sites, and native
plants that
will be left in place. Also identify special views that you wish to
enhance --
areas for pets, benches, picnics, storage, playing, sledding, vegetable
gardens, and paths.
Get Your Soil Tested
Get your soil tested by your local garden center, university, or soil
conserva-
tion service. Find out what kinds of soil you have, and then find out if
your
soils have nutrient or organic deficiencies that can be corrected by
fertiliza-
tion or addition of compost. The soils you have will help determine the
plants
which can be included in your landscaping plan.
Review the Seven Plant Habitat Components
Review the seven plant components that were described previously. Which
components are already present? Which ones are missing? Remember that
you are trying to provide food and cover through all four seasons.
Develop a
list of plants that you think will provide the missing habitat
components.
Confer With Resource Experts
Review this plant list with landscaping resource experts who can match
your
ideas with your soil types, soil drainage, and the plants available
through state
or private nurseries. People at the nearby arboretum may be able to help
with
your selections. At an arboretum you can also see what many plants look
like.
Develop Your Planting Plan
Sketch on your map the plants you wish to add. Trees should be drawn to
a
scale that represents three-fourths of their mature width and shrubs at
their
full mature width. This will help you calculate how many trees and
shrubs you
need. There is a tendency to include so many trees that eventually your
yard
will be mostly shaded. Be sure to leave open sunny sites where flowers
and
shrubs can thrive. Decide how much money you can spend and the time span
of your project. Don't try to do too much at once. Perhaps you should
try a
five year development plan.
Implement Your Plan
Finally, go to it! Begin your plantings and be sure to include your
family so
they can all feel they are helping wildlife. Document your plantings on
paper
and by photographs. Try taking pictures of your yard from the same spots
every year to document the growth of your plants.
Maintain Your Plan
Keep your new trees, shrubs, and flowers adequately watered, and keep
your planting areas weed-free by use of landscaping film and wood chips
or
shredded bark mulch. This avoids the use of herbicides for weed control.
If
problems develop with your plants, consult a local nursery or garden
center.
And Finally...
Most of all, take the time to enjoy the wildlife that will eventually
respond to
your efforts at landscaping for birds.
Go on to Celentano
Vegetarian Selects
Return to 28 April 1999 Issue
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