clean up area beneath seed feeders by raking and disposing of shells and wasted seeds.clean feeders regularly using a solution of 1 part bleach and 9 parts water (allow to dry thoroughly before refilling).Just be sure to avoid fostering the spread of diseases by doing these three things: Most of the time, however, feeding birds probably benefits us more than them. Seeing birds up close at feeders brings joy and makes us feel more connected with nature. Examples include American holly, Eastern red cedar, bayberry and sumac.īird feeders provide a small but sometimes critical percentage of a bird’s diet, particularly during the harshest winter months. Winter-fruiting plants sustain year-round residents, such as northern cardinals.Examples include flowering dogwood, hackberry, pokeweed and red chokeberry. They may even attract rare migrants to your yard in early fall. Fall-fruiting plants are important for migratory birds, allowing them to store energy for migration.Examples include black cherry, serviceberry, blackberry, blueberry and elderberry. Summer-fruiting plants are an important staple during the breeding season.Some of the best examples of nectar-producing flowers are Eastern columbine, white turtlehead, jewelweed, cardinal flower, bee balm, evening primrose, sundrops, beardtongue, tulip poplar and trumpet honeysuckle. Nectar-producing flowers attract hummingbirds and orioles, as well as insects eaten by birds.Piles of brush, sticks or yard refuse offer shelter, nesting habitat, nest-building materials and insects.They also provide seed and cover for ground-nesting birds. Un-mowed grasses attract grasshoppers and crickets that birds consume.They provide nesting habitat and attract a significant amount of insects that many birds eat. Nut and acorn trees, such as oaks, hickories and walnuts, are key winter and fall food sources.They also provide shelter and insect-foraging habitat. Shrubs, vines and ground cover offer nesting habitat for species like gray catbirds and northern cardinals.Examples include pines, junipers and cedars. Conifers, or cone-bearing trees, are important for nesting, foraging for insects and year-round shelter.The following is a breakdown of plant categories and what each offers: Leaving dead tree snags standing and putting up artificial nest boxes will benefit birds that build their nests in cavities, such as house wrens, Carolina chickadees, white-breasted nuthatches, Eastern bluebirds, tufted titmice and a variety of woodpeckers! Include both evergreens and deciduous plants. Maintain a variety of native plants of varying sizes and growth patterns - from low-growing ground cover to vines, shrubs and trees - and with varying schedules for fruiting and leafing. Provide plants that offer shelter, food and nesting habitat.Įnhance your yard’s nesting, shelter and restaurant potential by mimicking natural habitats in your area. Popular plants that are actually invasive include kudzu, English ivy, Japanese knotweed and tree of heaven.ģ. They often outcompete native species, reduce biological diversity and available food for animals, and alter key ecosystem functions, such as nutrient cycling. You can significantly improve the habitat in your yard by removing these plants. Kick out invasive and nonnative plant species. Choosing native plants will help maintain the integrity of your yard’s ecosystem.Ģ. Native plants will attract beneficial insects, which are a key food source for most birds.
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