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Landscaping and Gardening for Birds

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Landscaping and Gardening for Birds Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service HLA-6435 Landscaping and Gardening for Birds David Hillock Assistant Extension Specialist, Consumer Horticulturist Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Fact Sheets are also available on our website at: Mike Schnelle http://osufacts.okstate.edu Extension Floriculture Specialist Kim Toscano berries will be attractive, provide shelter in the winter, and still Extension Horticulture Specialist feed wildlife. Use native plants whenever possible. Our native birds are adapted to the native plants, which are often drought resistant, cold and heat tolerant, and many are proven bird attractors. Attracting birds to landscapes and outdoor areas is an An additional benefit is that they are often low maintenance. activity that can bring much enjoyment to the entire family. Use flowering plants. Hummingbirds require a constant Landscaping and gardening for birds is gaining in popularity as and diverse supply of flowers on which to feed from April people become more aware of the benefits of having a diverse until late fall. Some early blooming plants are the American environment around them. Bringing these beautiful creatures columbine (Aquilegia spp.), petunia (Petunia spp.), foxglove near homesites also helps manage insect populations and (Digitalis spp.), hardy fuchsia (Fuchsia spp.), and larkspur maintain the ecological balance of outdoor environments. (Delphinium consolida). Late blooming plants include red Birds need three things to survive — food, water, and bergamot (Monarda spp.), cardinal flower (Salvia coccinea), shelter. These elements can easily be supplied in your back- scarlet trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicer spp.), salvia (Salvia yard. One of the key elements for attracting many species of spp.), and trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans). For best birds is a wide variety of plants arranged into sheltered areas results, choose plants that prefer bright sunny areas. The of shrubs and trees, open areas of lawns and gardens, and/ plants will yield greater quantities of nectar given adequate or wet areas around ponds and streams. access to sunlight, and the hummingbirds will benefit from Gardeners and landscapers should be aware that the the sun’s warming rays. predominant habitat type in the area will determine which bird species can be attracted to a yard. For example, if the entire neighborhood is heavily wooded, purple martins will Trees and Shrubs be difficult or impossible to attract. On the other hand, areas Many tree and shrub species can be useful for both with many tall, mature trees will have numerous birds, such wildlife and gardeners. There are several selections in the as some of the owls, vireos, and warblers, that open areas listings that follow. An example would be the many oaks that may not attract. Some species such as the cardinal and grow throughout Oklahoma such as chinkapin (Quercus mue- mockingbird require shrub cover. In particular, a new house hlenbergii), live (Q. virginiana), red (Q. rubra), and shumard in a recently built residential area, will need time for the yard (Q. shumardii) oaks. Check for species best adapted to your to mature. As the shrubs and trees grow, so will the number location and soil type. (See Tables 1, 2, and 3.) of birds that visit the yard. New areas with few mature trees and little shelter for birds will take several years to become Herbaceous Plants hospitable places for birds requiring trees and shrubs. Herbaceous plants can be either annuals or perennials. Annuals are those plants that need to be replanted each year. Food Perennial plants that are adapted to Oklahoma’s Winter Hardy Zones 6 and 7 should provide years of benefit to the land- Plant Materials scape. Some perennials are tender and need extra protection Use a diverse selection of plant materials to provide food by mulching during the winter. There are also a few tender and shelter for birds. Fill the yard with fruit- or seed-bearing perennials grown as annuals. Many grasses, both ornamental plants for the best habitat development. Although most plants and native, may serve as resources for food, nesting material, are beautiful, not all benefit wildlife other than to give shelter. or shelter. For example, a forsythia (Forsythia spp.) or lilac (Syringa spp.) Vines on fences and other supports can turn a part of hedge can provide shelter and be a spectacular sight in the the yard into prime real estate for food, nesting, and shelter. spring, but they provide no seeds or fruits for birds. On the Bittersweet (Celastrus scandens), trumpet creeper (Campsis other hand, an evergreen holly (Ilex spp.) hedge loaded with radicans), clematis (Clematis spp.), honeysuckle (Lonicera Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources • Oklahoma State University spp.), grapes (Vitis spp.), and Virginia creeper (Parthenocis- Seed feeders are visited by cardinals, juncos, sparrows, sus quinquefolia) have the added attraction of flowers and/ chickadees, finches, mourning doves, blackbirds, squirrels, or fruits. (See Tables 4 and 5.) chipmunks, and others. Fruit feeders (wedges of oranges, apples, bananas) are favored by orioles, bluebirds, towhees, Miscellaneous Plant Materials woodpeckers, tanagers, brown thrashers, catbirds, and Vegetable crops make nice choices for many birds. Sac- robins. Nectar feeders attract hummingbirds, orioles, and rifice a few vegetables each year by picking damaged pieces occasionally a variety of other seemingly unlikely birds such and leaving them in another open location for the birds to eat. as woodpeckers and chickadees. Many times the rest of the crop will be left alone. In a smaller section of the garden or landscape, incor- porate legumes, grains, or native grasses like alfalfa, clover, Hummingbird Feeders millet, quaking oats, sea oats, or switchgrass. Harvest a few For the best success, hummingbird feeders should be heads for feed during the winter and then let the finches, quail, placed in or near the hummingbird garden to encourage pheasants, mourning doves, and juncos eat what is left. Farm feeding from natural sources. However, additional feeders supply stores carry these seeds. may be placed near a window or porch in order to see and Bark, leaf, or compost mulches attract insects on which photograph the hummingbirds up close. When placing the many animals and birds feed. feeders near the house, be sure to use several feeders and Lawns play a role in feeding several species of birds hang them far apart. Hummingbirds are extremely territorial such as robins, mockingbirds, and flickers because of the and aggressive around a single food source. insects and worms they find there. For this reason pesticide It is important to use a feeder with a bee and wasp use should be minimized. guard. This will eliminate aggressive competition for nectar Allow weedy areas to grow up at the back of the yard or between these insects and hummingbirds. However, do not wherever the homeowner and the neighbors will not see them. be concerned if small insects are found in the mouth of the Weeds in the right places, usually far away from gardens, can feeder. They fulfill the protein requirements for hummingbirds be very useful for animal food and shelter. Dandelion seeds and should not be removed from the feeder until cleaning. are a favorite of goldfinches, buntings, chipping sparrows, Never use honey or a sugar substitute when making a and finches. nectar mix. Honey will attract bees as well as a black fungus that will cause a fatal liver and tongue disease in humming- Supplemental Feeding birds. Also, the use of red food coloring in the solution is both unnecessary and unhealthy for the birds, especially when the Supplying bird feeders in the landscape will create ad- feeder already has the appropriate red plastic blossom. Either ditional opportunities to watch birds feed. Place bird feeders buy a commercial nectar solution or simply make one using where they can easily be seen from the house and enjoy the one part granulated sugar to four parts boiling water. Allow activities of the birds. Keep feeders stocked, especially during the nectar to cool before filling the feeder. bad winter weather, but do not forget that summer feeding Hummingbird feeders require cleaning every two to three can also be rewarding. Shrubs or trees should be no closer days, especially in warm weather. Feeders made of plastic, than 10 feet so birds can escape in case of danger. glass, or ceramic should be washed with a solution of 1 ta- Bird feeders should be cleaned regularly. Diseases blespoon white vinegar and 1 cup water. Use a bottle brush can grow in wet and moldy seed, in bird droppings, and in to clean hardened debris on feeders, and rinse thoroughly warm sugar water. It is a good idea to move your feeders each with warm water. season to give the ground underneath time to break down the seed debris and bird drop-pings, or rake up the seed debris and place it in the compost pile. Water Water can be supplied by bird baths, shallow edges of decorative ponds, or natural streams, ponds, or lakes. Dripping water is especially enticing to birds and can be as elaborate as a fountain or as simple as a garden hose turned on at low volume. Equally effective is a milk jug (with a small hole in the bottom) hung from a tree branch over a bird bath. Bird baths should have a clear area of ten feet in di- ameter around the bath to prevent predators from sneaking up on birds drinking from the water. The water level should be no deeper than two inches. Place a rock in the center to make it easier for birds to use. Keep the bath away from the bird feeder to prevent food from spoiling the water. The bath should be washed out every three to four days and disinfected once or twice a year with bleach. Do not add any chemicals to the water.
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