As the winter months go by and your outdoor garden is at rest, now is a great time to consider garden designs that will attract colorful birds next year. Although we certainly can offer food to attract our feathered friends at the present, some foresight in design and plant selections this coming growing season offer natural habitat solutions all season long…….keeping your garden sustainable for life even during these dormant winter months
A general rule of thumb in planning your garden naturally to attract birds is to consider plants that provide winter berries, seeds and dense foliage for shelter. Yes shelter is a consideration in addition to food sources. It is often an overlooked element in attracting winter birds. Dense evergreens such as cedars, hemlock, spruce pine and hew varieties provide shelter from the winter winds, protection from predators as well as roosting and nesting options.
Great trees and shrubs that can provide fruits and nuts for winter birds include crabapple, serviceberry, native dogwoods; holly varieties such as winter berries and inkberries, taxus hews, and junipers. Bluejays are especially fond of acorns from the oak. Viburnums offer an earlier season berry in late summer and fall.
Perennials will often invite winter birds if of course your perennial gardens are not blanketed in several feet of snow. Smaller birds love the seeds from black eyed Susan, aster, anise hyssop, blazing star liatris, sunflowers and ornamental grasses. These plant selections are ones you would not want to cut back during your fall garden cleanups but leave as part of your spring tasks.
Often overlooked as a winter food source is water. My backyard pond, although at rest for the winter provides this critical source for birds. I keep a deicer and bubbler unit going for my fish to winter over. This opening in the ice also serves as a much needed water source for my winter friends.
In addition to the obvious food and shelter needs, a well balanced ecosystem can serve as a natural backyard habitat to attract birds. New research at Cornell has determined specific residential design enhancements that are important to consider.for bird habitats: layers in the vegetative structure, clustering of shrubs and plant diversity. Vegetative layering suggests the need for trees, shrubs and ground-cover in combination to allow the birds amble transition through the habitat. Specific varieties prefer specific layers. Clustering of like shrubs versus a singular plant in the open, also provides this transitional option and refuge. Plant diversity is an element that is found to increase niches and opportunities to attract a variety of bird species.
And of course if you are anxious to welcome colorful birds to your garden NOW….you can always choose commercial feeding options. I enjoy recycling our fresh Christmas tree and loading it up with a variety of purchased suet cakes. These cakes are like high energy bars for birds. Sources say however that if you are looking to attract the brilliant cardinal, bird feeders are a better choice. Seed mixes of safflower, sunflower and millet are said to be a good mix to attract a variety of species such as cardinals, chickadees and nuthatches.
So as Mary Poppins encourages : “Feed the Birds” naturally in your sustainable garden design or jump start with options you can purchase at retail shops. It is a great way to liven up the winter landscape here in the North Country.
