Food, clean water, shelter, and a safe place to raise their young.
When we started looking into creating a Certified Wildlife Area here in our yard, we found that we were providing most of these needs already! We had a bird bath and feeders... trees were everywhere... we were set to go so we thought :)
Then we started looking deeper into the lives of a bird. Here are a few of our discoveries broken down into a two-part series. Part one will cover 'Food' and 'Water'.
First off, water is huge to a bird. They must bathe in order to keep their feathers perfect for flight and warmth. Clean water is vital for drinking of course, but they aren't good decision makers when it comes to a source. Oil slicked water puddles right smack dab in the middle of the road is just fine with them if there is no other source. Then they need to spend even more vital energy preening the filth off of their feathers.
How could one birdbath supply enough area for all of the birds that visit our yard? Water also needed to be provided year-round, so we had to plan for a heat source. The small heated bird bath became fouled too quickly with so many birds bathing. Then we expected them to drink from it too.
Pond number one was built out front :)
No more bathing in the street! The upper part was made shallow so the birds could splash around without fear of falling in the deeper water. The sound of water drew in lots of birds, frogs, and small mammals. Plus it soothes troubles away for us stressed out humans too ;) Doesn't need to be big, and you can add different features in stages. This one started out as a very inexpensive kit (under 125.00 for everything including pump and fall components) purchased at Home Depot. We added the rock and lighting a couple of years later. Considering a heated bird bath can set you back 89.00 plus shipping, this is another option.
Next up, food. We had feeders with various seeds hanging in a few areas... but what about natural sources of food? What if we are gone on vacation? Would 'our' birds go without or leave because of a lack of food? How about adaptation? We don't want generation after generation of birds and mammals teaching their young to depend totally on our seed and suet offerings and fail to learn the art of foraging on their own...
The addition of natural food sources for our friends became a priority. After much research and observation here is what we discovered.
Insects are vital... if we kill all of the insects with broad-range insecticides, we totally remove a food source for the birds. Worse yet, if they ingest enough of the dead or dying insects that have been exposed to the insecticides, they could be harmed themselves. Then if a predator consumes the bird that was poisoned... and so on... the problem could travel up the entire food chain! This problem extends indoors too. Trying to rid your garage or shed of vermin? Please avoid poisons if at all possible. Mice eat the poison, and then head for a water source. Most water sources are outdoors. If an alert raptor picks up that poisoned mouse to take home to his babies, then the poison is now inside the tiny raptor baby. This may not seem like a big deal, but researchers are finding that it has really has an impact. Please remember that once again the poison is attractive to more than just the specific creature that you are trying to remove too. Precious pets, chipmunk, squirrel, moles, and voles for example :(
Organic was the way to go for us.
I wanted our yard to be a haven for wildlife. A safe place where they could eat, rest, and raise their young. Have we lost plants when we were starting out? Yes. Until the natural balance of the garden is restored, there will be losses. Slugs the size of my hand <shudder> destroyed countless perennials. I watched as the leaves on my prized plants disappeared overnight. Squirrels destroyed the remaining plants before they could bloom, and consumed/destroyed feeder after feeder of seed.
Then as time went by, I noticed a change. A regime change was happening in my garden. There were a few new commanders in town! Fox, opossum, raccoon, and owl ruled the night. Hungry insect-eating birds ruled the day. Plucking those nasty little things off the plant leaves and plopping them in the feeder tray, or better yet, having a bird catch it in mid-air was awesome! No chemicals needed, just my hands. Pretty soon the birds came begging when I was out gardening :)
Little by little the plants started to thrive. Nesting owls controlled the squirrel and mice population (with a little help from the fox I suppose).
Did you know that the humble opossum is one of the largest slug eaters? He thinks they are yummy :) How about Northern Flickers? They can have an ant colony consumed in one afternoon! Carolina Wren, House Wren, Finches, Northern Cardinals, American Robin, Catbirds, Thrush, Warblers... all voracious insect eaters. Beneficial insects will return once the poison is gone. Praying Mantis, Ladybugs, Assassin Bugs... they are like our tiny little garden guardians!
Try not to worry about the birds eating the good bugs, it happens, but it's all a part of the balance that we are trying to create.
Brown Thrasher looking for yummy bugs...
Yes... This is how it is around here :)
Next up... Nectar... we of course love to feed the Hummingbirds. The nectar feeders are a huge source,
but like my last blog post mentioned, they love natural sources even more. Try to find a place for some honeysuckle (maintained because it can and will become invasive), hosta (leave the flowers please, that is a hummers paradise), and all kinds of Salvia. That sweet nectar not only brings the hummers, it also brings the insects... which in turn brings the birds :)
Beautiful but deadly. Please note that every part of this plant is poisonous. Care should be taken with children and pets, and make sure you wash your hands well before touching your face or food. Also an interesting note is that the pollen from this plant has been found on neighboring plants with an alarming 80% rate of toxin. No edible plants near-by this beauty please.
(The name might sound familiar because a widely used heart drug by the name of 'Digitalis' was derived from the toxin)
'Raspberry Wine' Monarda
aka:
Bee Balm, Bergamot, Horsemint
Ever heard of 'Earl Grey' tea? This plant is what gives it that distintive flavor and scent :)
When you rub the leaves you can release that lovely scent too!
Bees and hummers absolutely adore it.
Ahhh... Here we go. Hummers paradise that I was talking about earlier. Hosta blooms. Most people I know grow Hosta for the intricate and beautiful leaves. The gardeners that mentored me even went as far as to removing the 'unattractive' flowers that took away from the leaves beauty...
Please refrain from doing that if you are trying to draw in hummingbirds. We had close to twenty in the back shade garden last year :) They were going from flower pod to flower pod, hovering below the plant, and feeding from deep inside. Little heads were just buried in the petal cups. That was an awesome sight!
Next up... Seeds and Berries! There's nothing quite like seeing a flock of Cedar Waxwings or American Robin descend upon a berry covered tree that you planted just for them. There are so many to choose from too! Choke Berry, American Holly, Inkberry, Viburnum... Please note that in some species you must provide a male for every few females in order to pollinate for berry production.
Please leave the seed heads on your Coneflowers and Rudbeckia! Oh how they adore those cones! Goldfinch especially :) They will cling to the stem and eat every seed there. Sometimes you'll find several eating at the same time even! They look like bright gold flowers themselves perched up there so gracefully.
Our first pond grew to a second pond that is three times larger. For areas that can't handle a pond, we added a trickle feature to the birdbath. Once you see the various species and the large number of birds that just the sound of water draws in you'll be amazed.
Providing for our feathered friends becomes a sort of life-style after a while :)
Thank you for following along on our adventure!
Up next is safe shelters and places to raise young.
See you all next week!
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