Gardening Is For Birds?Gardening Is For Birds?Thomas G. Barnes, Ph.D.Thomas G. Barnes, Ph.D.

Extension ProfessorExtension ProfessorDepartment of ForestryDepartment of Forestry

If you build it, they will comeIf you build it, they will come

The Key is to Create Wildlife HabitatThe Key is to Create Wildlife Habitat

FoodFoodWaterWaterCoverCoverSpaceSpace

American Goldfinch love sunflower seeds American Goldfinch love sunflower seeds (common weedy sunflower) but love other(common weedy sunflower) but love otherspecies like coreopsis, purple coneflowers,species like coreopsis, purple coneflowers,and blackand black--eyed Susan even more!!!!!eyed Susan even more!!!!!

Important Points to RememberImportant Points to RememberA little less lawn please! A little less lawn please! This leads to the This leads to the creation of a healthy creation of a healthy environment.environment.Diversify your plantings Diversify your plantings –– the more variety of the more variety of plants, the more variety plants, the more variety of animals that will use of animals that will use them.them.Use the plants the Use the plants the critters are adapted to critters are adapted to using using –– natives!!!natives!!!

Is Turf Good Wildlife Is Turf Good Wildlife Habitat?Habitat?

It dependsIt dependsYes Yes -- starlings, robinsstarlings, robins

No No -- Songbirds & butterfliesSongbirds & butterflies

The Single Most Important The Single Most Important Factor in Creating HabitatFactor in Creating Habitat

Reduce the amount of lawnReduce the amount of lawn

The Turf WarsThe Turf Wars

Gas mower (1 hr)Gas mower (1 hr)63 g VOC63 g VOC858 g CO858 g CO4.2 g NO x4.2 g NO x67.2 g Smog67.2 g Smog.43 g particulate.43 g particulate1990 g CO21990 g CO2

New Subcompact Car New Subcompact Car /mi driven/mi driven.09 g VOC.09 g VOC4.20 g CO4.20 g CO.3 g NO x.3 g NO x.39 g Smog.39 g Smog.08 g particulate.08 g particulate

Source: EPASource: EPANote: string trimmers even worse than mowersNote: string trimmers even worse than mowers

Think Ecologically!Think Ecologically!Create Healthy EnvironmentCreate Healthy Environment

Batty about bugsBatty about bugsBirds & other predator food supply!Birds & other predator food supply!

Once You Reduce Lawn:Once You Reduce Lawn:WhatWhat’’s NEXT?????s NEXT?????

Diversity of Plant MaterialDiversity of Plant MaterialMost Bang for the BuckMost Bang for the BuckFlowersFlowersFlowering (fruit) ShrubsFlowering (fruit) Shrubs

Use a Variety of Groups & Use a Variety of Groups & Species Within GroupsSpecies Within Groups

Large TreesLarge TreesSmall TreesSmall TreesDeciduousDeciduousEvergreenEvergreenShrubsShrubsFlowers, fernsFlowers, fernsVinesVinesGrassesGrasses

Large TreesLarge Trees

Long term investmentsLong term investmentsThink outside the box Think outside the box ------ dondon’’t use t use those that are over planted (silver, those that are over planted (silver, red maple, pin oak, etc.)red maple, pin oak, etc.)Unusual Unusual –– like buckeye, persimmonlike buckeye, persimmon

Small TreesSmall Trees

Think FruitingThink FruitingServiceberry, pawServiceberry, paw--paw, dogwoodpaw, dogwood

EvergreensEvergreens

Spruce, pine, cedarSpruce, pine, cedarUse for providing a cover screen Use for providing a cover screen

against winter windsagainst winter winds

ShrubsShrubs

Think flowering & fruitingThink flowering & fruitingServiceberryServiceberryshrubby dogwoodsshrubby dogwoodsviburnumsviburnumshawthornshawthornsnative mulberrynative mulberrygooseberrygooseberryblueberries, raspberries, blackberriesblueberries, raspberries, blackberries

WildflowersWildflowers

Those that provide seedsThose that provide seedsThose that provide nectar Those that provide nectar

(hummingbirds)(hummingbirds)Those that attract insectsThose that attract insects

Native GrassesNative Grasses

Widely underusedWidely underusedProvide excellent winter color in Provide excellent winter color in landscapelandscapeBirds & butterflies use food & or coverBirds & butterflies use food & or cover

What Type of Plants??What Type of Plants??Why Native of Why Native of Course!Course!Wildlife Are Adapted Wildlife Are Adapted to Using Themto Using ThemNaturally HardyNaturally HardyIncredible Diversity & Incredible Diversity & BeautyBeautyMeet Any Meet Any Challenging Challenging Gardening SituationGardening Situation

Spring Spring -- HummingbirdsHummingbirds

LateLate--Spring Spring -- HummingbirdsHummingbirds

Early Early --summer summer HummingbirdsHummingbirds

Early Early --summer summer HummingbirdsHummingbirds

Summer Hummingbird Summer Hummingbird FlowersFlowers

Summer Hummingbird Summer Hummingbird FlowersFlowers

Summer Hummingbird Summer Hummingbird FlowersFlowers

Summer Hummingbird Summer Hummingbird FlowersFlowers

LateLate-- Summer Hummingbird Summer Hummingbird FlowersFlowers

Hummingbird Vines & Hummingbird Vines & ShrubsShrubs

Trumpet CreeperTrumpet CreeperCrossCross--vinevineTrumpet HoneysuckleTrumpet HoneysuckleAzaleasAzaleasRhododendronsRhododendronsNew Jersey TeaNew Jersey Tea

The Seed ProducersThe Seed ProducersThe Best of the Best The Best of the Best –– Sunflowers & Sunflowers &

SilphiumsSilphiums

The Seed ProducersThe Seed ProducersThe Best of the Best The Best of the Best –– Sunflowers & Sunflowers &

SilphiumsSilphiums

The Seed ProducersThe Seed ProducersThe Best of the Best and Now The RestThe Best of the Best and Now The Rest

The Seed ProducersThe Seed ProducersThe Best of the Best and Now The RestThe Best of the Best and Now The Rest

The Seed ProducersThe Seed ProducersThe Best of the Best and Now The RestThe Best of the Best and Now The Rest

The Insect AttractorsThe Insect Attractors

The Insect AttractorsThe Insect Attractors

VinesVines

Virginia creeper, passionflower, leather Virginia creeper, passionflower, leather flowerflower

Woo Wildlife With WaterWoo Wildlife With Water

Shallow Shallow –– no more than 2no more than 2”” deepdeepDripping & flowing is betterDripping & flowing is better

Bird BathsBird Baths

Best if placed on the groundBest if placed on the ground

Water GardensWater Gardens

Death traps for songbirdsDeath traps for songbirdsGreat for herons, raccoonsGreat for herons, raccoons

The Best & Most Consistent The Best & Most Consistent AttractorAttractor

SeedsSeeds

There are some downsides to There are some downsides to feeding wildlifefeeding wildlife

If you provide it, they will come If you provide it, they will come –––– Squirrels, chipmunks, deer, etc.Squirrels, chipmunks, deer, etc.

RememberRemember

Create a healthy environmentCreate a healthy environmentWe are asked to be good stewards of We are asked to be good stewards of our environment, including our yardsour environment, including our yards

RememberRemember

Reduce the amount of lawnReduce the amount of lawnProvide food, water, coverProvide food, water, cover

Diversify your plantingsDiversify your plantingsUse native plantsUse native plants