Landscaping for birds involves nine basic principles:

Food

Every bird species has its own unique food requirements that may change as the seasons change. Learn the food habits of the birds you wish to attract. Then plant the appropriate trees, shrubs, and flowers to provide the fruits, berries, seeds, acorns, nuts and nectar.

Water

You may be able to double the number of bird species in your yard by providing a source of water. A frog pond, water garden, or bird bath will get lots of bird use, especially if the water is dripping, splashing or moving.

Shelter

Birds need places where they can hide from predators and escape from severe weather. Trees (including dead ones), shrubs, tall grass and bird houses provide excellent shelter.

Diversity

The best landscaping plan is one that includes a variety of native plants. This helps attract the most bird species.

Four Seasons

Give birds food and shelter throughout the year by planting a variety of trees, shrubs and flowers that provide year-round benefits.

Arrangement

Properly arrange the different habitat components in your yard. Consider the effects of prevailing winds (and snow drifting) so your yard will be protected from harsh winter weather.

Protection

Birds should be protected from unnecessary mortality. When choosing the placement of bird feeders and nest boxes, consider their accessibility to predators. Picture windows can also be dangerous for birds, who fly directly at windows when they see the reflection of trees and shrubs. A network of parallel, vertical strings spaced 4 inches apart can be placed on the outside of windows to prevent this problem. Be cautious about the kinds of herbicides and pesticides used in your yard. Apply them only when necessary
and strictly according to label instructions. In fact, try gardening and lawn care without using pesticides. Details can be found in gardening books like these.

Hardiness Zones

When considering plants not native to your area, consult a plant hardiness zone map, found in most garden catalogues. Make sure the plants you want are rated for the winter hardiness zone classification of your area.

Soils and Topography

Consult your local garden center, university or county extension office to have your soil tested. Plant species are often adapted to certain types of soils. If you know what type of soil you have, you can identify the types of plants that will grow best in your yard.

Continue on to Plants for wild birds……

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I try to always make it a point to bring my camera with me. You just never know when you might find something picture worthy and today I found a birding jackpot!

While walking through my neighborhood, I spotted these two just relaxing in an old scrub pine tree.

Due to the hurricanes that come through a few years ago most of the large Scrub pine trees have been destroyed or just trimmed, making them great places for large birds to sit and perch.

I have seen many large birds in these same trees. It is good to see an eagle, but to see two together is a real treat.

Eagles are coming back from their near extinction from the use of harmful pesticides, particularly DTD. This chemical was running off into lakes, rivers and streams and entering the food chain at the lowest level and working it’s way into the eagle’s main food source. Fish.

With the eagle consuming large amounts of fish, the DTD made it’s way into the eagle’s bloodstream but not killing the eagle directly.

No not at all. It took a much more sinister route. It targeted the eagles eggs making the shells of the eggs so soft and weak that they cracked. Without the eggs protective shell, the embryos or chicks would die. What a way to wipe out a whole species, not killing it direct but by not allowing it to breed any longer.

The popular phrase, ” What came first the chicken or the egg?” was almost transformed into, ” What came last the eagle or the egg?”

Since the removal of DTD, Eagles have made a strong comeback and have been removed from the endangered species list!

While still not a common birding sight, I just happened to be lucky enough to find these two.

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