ATTRACTING BIRDS TO YOUR GARDEN
It seems that in discussing the process of attracting nature to your yard, the first thing to consider is not how but why?
Although it appears trite, Henry Mitchell put it correctly when he wrote: "Your garden will reveal yourself." He was not referring to an onlooker's response to your garden like: "Oh what an orderly yard - must be an accountant." Mitchell was speaking to the response of your spirit to the natural sanctuary you can create around your home.
In order to make the most of our natural surroundings, we should recognize the greater power that nature possesses.
Patricia Barrett gets it right in The Sacred Garden: "Connection with gardens, even small ones, even potted plants, can become windows to the inner life. The simple act of stopping and looking at the beauty around us can be prayer." Gardening provides something greater than simple beauty for our real estate. Gardening provides beauty for our souls.
So now, question number two is: How do we do this?
Whether you garden in Union County, NC or in Atlanta or in Charleston, there are two very specific ways to attract and provide for creatures in your yard:
The first is, of course, by providing food and water for them.
The second is to provide refuge and protection for birds where they can make their nests and raise their young.
Food and Water are the most important elements in attracting a variety of birds to your garden. The list of food sources for birds and butterflies is endless. The NC State University website has extensive lists of plants for naturally attracting hummingbirds and butterflies to your yard. Try to keep the water clear and fresh at your bird bath. Different types of commercial bird foods attract different species of birds and where you feed is also important.
Hopper feeders are those that may look like a little house that you fill with food and part of the food spills out onto a protected ledge. These ledges are perfect for cardinals and robins to perch - where these birds have a hard time on smaller perches.
Tube feeders with large holes are great for titmice, chickadees, finches, jays, and sparrows.
Tube feeders with small holes attract finches, especially if you use thistle seed. If you feed sunflower chips you will get plenty of chickadees and nuthatches.
Platform feeders attract the same species as the hopper feeders: cardinals, songbirds, jays, titmice, finches, sparrows, chickadees, nuthatches, and robins. A lot will depend on the type of feed you choose.
There are some birds that prefer to feed on the ground. I often see the cardinals and jays at the dog's bowl, eating his food.
Suet feeders attract birds that prefer high fat intake like woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees, and jays.
Splurge for the better quality bird food as inexpensive bird food will create more waste. These contain large amounts of corn, millet, and milo that most birds seem to kick out of the feeder. If you feed on a porch, patio, or deck, use a food like shelled sunflower seeds. If you feed just the meats from the sunflowers, there is less waste to clean up, and you will have lots of winged friends requesting reservations at the best restaurant in the neighborhood!
Cover and shelter for birds is very important as they appreciate shelter from their enemies and from the elements. Diversity of shelter is also important if you want to attract the maximum number of species. Different levels of plant growth provide shelter for different varieties of birds. For example:
Juncos, robins, and sparrows are ground-based for feeding but seek shelter and nesting sites in taller shrubs and trees.
House finches enjoy thick shrubby areas for shelter and prefer to feed off the ground.
Woodpeckers and flickers spend most of their time in the upper levels of trees for both feeding and for nesting.
Bluebird boxes are a sure way to attract that wonderful species for nesting and raising young, but make sure you follow the directions provided by the manufacturer to maximize your chances of having a new neighbor move in.
Brush piles create a wonderful haven for many birds. These and dense shrubs that are 8-10 feet away from feeders and bird baths will help provide cover for birds from the family cat.
Think of the benefits to the birds for you to provide a sanctuary for them in your yard. Think also of the benefits to you, your spirit, and your own well-being as you bring more wild creatures into your yard this winter!
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