Birds rely on a variety of food sources that can change at different times of their life cycle. Some birds that eat seeds as an adult require insects to feed their young. Planting is the best way to ensure you meet the needs of the greatest diversity of birds throughout the seasons. Here are some tips to make your backyard a bird buffet:
- Choose an assortment of plants and mix taller and shorter trees, shrubs, native flowers, and grasses.
- Diversify the height, leaf type (deciduous and evergreen), and food (fruit, berries, and nuts) provided by the plants in your garden.
- To supply food for over-wintering birds, and early returning migrants, choose some shrubs and trees that hold their seeds and berries well into winter and others that produce them early in spring.
- To provide a food source for warblers and other insect-eating birds, plant native wildflowers that attract insects and avoid using pesticides.
- To attract seed-eaters like finches and sparrows, allow sunflowers, goldenrod, and other flowers to go to seed.
- Add a source of fresh water and you will have created a birds paradise.
To learn more about backyard birds order a copy of CWF’s Wild About Birds poster. Or to find out more about wildlife-friendly gardening visit Wild About Gardening at www.wildaboutgardening.org, a Web site of the Canadian Wildlife Federation.