Bird Feeders with Roots

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Of course, if you grow your own fruits and vegetables you may not exactly relish the image of a yard flocked with feeding birds. Rest assured, though, that most fruit- and seed-eating birds strongly prefer natural, uncultivated food sources — trees, shrubs and vines — and generally come to gardens only to consume another favorite meal: insects. Robins, titmice, mockingbirds, bluebirds, nuthatches, cardinals and sparrows are examples of common garden visitors that almost never consume plants or vegetable crops; it’s the bugs they want. Crows and blackbirds that do raid gardens aren’t particularly influenced one way or the other by the landscaping choices you make. (You can, however, unwittingly attract them by putting out cracked corn and other large bird seeds in feeders.)

Another benefit of bird-conscious landscaping is that, in the process, you’ll likely create conditions attractive to other wildlife. Bees, butterflies, predatory wasps, toads and other beneficial critters know a good place when they see one, and they will take up residence along with your feathered friends.

You also might be able to find wildlife-friendly trees and shrubs for less than you would pay for the same plants at a nursery. In many areas, county and state agencies such as soil conservation offices, forestry services, and fish and wildlife departments administer programs that distribute low-cost or free food-bearing trees, shrubs and other landscape plants to landowners. Some programs are designed specifically for owners of large acreages; others are open to anyone. Contact your county’s agricultural Extension office to learn about programs in your area.

When choosing plants, remember to consider not only whether they produce nourishing fruits, nuts and buds, but also what time of year they produce them. Try to establish a sufficient variety of species to keep a steady supply of food coming year-round. (For a list of ideal plants and when they bear food, see “Great Plants for You and the Birds,”)

Serviceberry, for instance, yields fruit for songbirds as early as late March. Viburnums bear fruit from July through September; birch tree catkins produce edible seeds in late September; and holly berries offer sustenance from fall through the following spring.

Likewise, try to create a mixture of plant shapes and sizes.ifferent kinds of birds favor different kinds and levels of cover. Mix shrubs and small understory trees with taller trees, and fill open spaces with dense plantings of grasses and ground covers. Be sure to include both deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs so that birds will have leafy shelter from the environment regardless of the season. Also, of course, you’ll want to keep in mind all the usual principles of good landscaping:

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