A Safe Haven for Birds

In order to create a safe haven for the birds will most likely take more than bird feeders and nesting boxes

. Your backyard haven, with a minimum amount of work, can turn a family garden into an attractivce wildlife habitat. By involving your family in this project is a good way to show your children how to share our planet with these winged creatures.

The type of birds you want to attract along with your geographical location will determine which species will flock to your yard. There are basically only three elements that are needed for enticing the birds which are food - generally native plants and a supplement of birdseed; water - for the birds to drink and bathe; and last but not least shelter - basically shrubs, trees, or nesting boxes.

If you have vegetation that is thick in your yard it can provide the birds with shelter, nesting sites, and protection from predators. Dense decidous trees during the summer and coniferous trees will attract many different bird species. Their shelter need not always be live vegetation; they can use dead branches for resting perches. Trees are usually the main feature of a yard that attracts many birds but there are seed-eating birds that would rather be closer to the ground and would prefer to have bushes, shrubs, and flowers for shelter.

The native plants in your yard are the recommended diet for the birds but the birdfeeders should only be a supplement to their natural food. Many coniferous trees attract insects and this is food for many bird species. Shrubs that produce berries and trees that bear fruit provide plenty of food for the waxwings, robins, and mocking-birds.

The plants you use in your garden should be native to your specific area. Some of the native deciduous trees such as dogwood, maples, and some oaks will provide better food for the wildlife than the exotic trees. Some birds have a tendency to avoid the exotic trees because they just do not attract native insects. Pesticides should not be used because they can be quite harmful to birds.

Water is a very important factor to consider for attracting birds to your backyard haven. If you have a yard with a swimming pool or a large pond you could attract herons, ducks, and geese in late summer and early fall. A smaller pond with circulating water can bring in some tanagers, warblers, and orioles along with the thrashers, jays, and towhees. Overhanging branches that have thick cover nearby will have these birds returning for years. Birdbaths with circulating water such as a backyard fountain are much more appealing to the birds.

As long as your backyard haven provides water, shelter, and natural food you should not have any problems attracting the birds and being able to listen to all their different songs. The different seasons will attract different species of bird; the early days of spring when the ground is still a bit hard will bring many birds looking for food.

A Safe Haven for Birds

By: Barbara E. Volkov

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