The Bird-Friendly Garden

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A water supply not only quenches a bird's thirst, but also gives them a place where they can dip into a refreshing bath. Adding a bath or fountain brings in birds like vireos and warblers that aren't usually tempted by feeders - like other animals, humans included, birds are drawn to the sound of splashing water. Any shallow, waterproof pan, garbage can lid or large plant saucer placed on a flat rock or log stump can serve as a birdbath. Even a clean plastic pan, such as the type used as a litter box, will do. To roughen up smooth surfaces, apply safety footing like the kind sold for bathtubs. For aesthetic appeal, though, there's nothing like the charm of a decorative birdbath. Those that gently slope to a center depth of no more than three inches are best. Of course, the melody of a gurgling fountain is music to any creature's ears.

Songbirds are more likely to stay longer in an area where there's an abundance of food [from] a few well-placed feeders.

Birdhouses can be used by any of 35 North-American bird species. Some species are found throughout the United States, but others are native to specific areas. The bluebird is a good example the Eastern bluebird being indigenous to the Eastern part of the country, and the Western bluebird sticking close to the Western states. Thus, the species of bird that will set up housekeeping in your birdhouse is determined by three factors: where you live, the surrounding habitat, and the type and size of birdhouse you put up.

Ideally, your birdhouse should be built from an untreated, rough-sawn, high-resin wood such as redwood, cypress or cedar. As far as dimensions go, the most important is the diameter of the entrance hole, which determines the kind of bird will move in. For instance, a house designed for chickadees requires a 1 1/8'-inch diameter hole, while nuthatches, titmice, downy woodpeckers and swallows flock to a diameter of 1 1/4 inches. We have a few birdhouses with a 1 1/2-inch diameter hole for our bluebirds. Generally speaking, the bigger the house and entrance hole, the bigger the bird species that will inhabit it.

The placement and height of your birdhouse will also determine what kind of bird will claim residence. An average height of ten feet above ground will suffice for most cavity-dwelling bird species, but six to ten feet above ground is best for wrens and bluebirds, ten to 15 feet is ideal for swallows, and 12 to 20 feet is suited for purple martins and nuthatches. The best location for all birdhouses is out of direct sunlight in an area protected from weather extremes with the entrance hole facing away from prevailing winds.

RELAX A BIT

In the bird-friendly garden, neglecting certain garden chores is okay. In fact, it's highly encouraged! Forget about deadheading flowers, hauling off all the garden trimmings and cutting down that dying tree. Go ahead and deadhead flowers in summer to keep plants blooming longer, but once fall has arrived leave them alone so the maturing flowerheads can produce seeds. The seedheads of sedums are nature's birdfeeders for seed-eating birds like sparrows and grosbeaks, while the black seed of the purple coneflower serve as food for goldfinches.

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