Make Your Garden a Bird Habitat

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The greater the variety of foliage you provide, the more birds you'll attract to your garden.
The greater the variety of foliage you provide, the more birds you'll attract to your garden.
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Attract more birds to your yard by giving them a sound roof and reliable source of food and water.
Attract more birds to your yard by giving them a sound roof and reliable source of food and water.
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Adding a bath or fountain will attract birds to your yard.
Adding a bath or fountain will attract birds to your yard.
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Songbirds are more likely to stay longer in an area where there's an abundance of food and a few well-placed feeders.
Songbirds are more likely to stay longer in an area where there's an abundance of food and a few well-placed feeders.
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The food preferences of various birds.
The food preferences of various birds.

In just one afternoon, thousands of unwanted bugs vanished from my garden. All I had to do was sit and watch from the comfort of my garden chair as a returning band of hungry swallows dove through the air to snatch up one pest insect after another. In fact, a single swallow can easily devour hundreds of bugs in a single afternoon feast.

Turning our 8,000-square-foot garden into an inviting bird habitat has been beneficial in many ways. Their acrobatics while catching bugs on the wing are fun to watch, and their ceaseless snacking has been a great form of natural insect control. Actually, many species of birds, such as warblers and wrens, dine almost exclusively on insects. Others enjoy a varied diet consisting of seeds and fruits to augment the steady insect diet. Even hummingbirds are known to snack on small insects such as aphids.

Natural pest control is just one of the benefits that birds can bring to your garden. By creating your own backyard bird haven, you’ll enjoy an ever-changing spectacle of melodious sound, graceful movement and lively color. Plus, their antics provide hours of entertainment. To attract a wide variety of birds, you must provide the right environment. Do so and your yard and garden will become the favorite destination of any manner of bird.

Creating a bird-friendly habitat is a bit of a no-brainer. Simply provide the backyard basics — fine creature comforts we all need for survival: food, water, protective cover, and a cozy shelter in which to raise a family.

Plant a Bird-Friendly Habitat

  • Published on Jun 1, 2001
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