Have you ever wondered how to attract more songbirds to your yard? It so often seems like birdfeeders are dominated by sparrows or dove and not enough by the pretty little songsters.
Native plants can help. Using natives not only saves resources and gardening headaches, but they attract songbirds too! Below are more tips on how we can add some music to our gardens.
Feeders
Simply putting out bird food is not a fail-safe for attracting the pretty and melodious songbirds. Some can be quite shy, and if your feeders are frequented by flocks of larger birds, they may not visit at all. Try using different kinds of feeders that are more conducive to small birds and less so for larger birds. These might be tube feeders or feeders with a guard such as this one.
Also, use food songbirds prefer, which is generally a higher quality, no-waste kind. See my post here on my seed recommendation.
Supply a Water Source
There are many types of birdbaths, but be sure to choose one that is shallow. Birds prefer not to go all-in; they like to have plenty of splashing capability! However, if what you already have is too deep, use some river rocks to make it shallower.
Many birdbaths are set on a pedestal, but birds also like ground level bathing. Just be sure there are no cats around that might interrupt the fun.
Plant a Native Border
Plant native shrubs along the edge of your property to provide food and shelter sources at different times of the year. For example, beauty berry is a midsize shrub that is native to my area in Central Texas, and it provides berries in fall and winter. Evergreen shrubs ensure cover in the cold winter months. The best strategy is to plant several of the same plants in a row, with smaller shrubs focused toward your home.
Leave a Brush Pile
Heap dropped limbs into a pile, starting with the larger limbs on the bottom and working the smaller ones in toward the top. This brush pile will provide great cover for songbirds during the long winter.
Keep Cats Inside
Did you know that cats account for the deaths of approximately 2.4 billion birds every year? I was astonished when I read that number. More and more experts are recommending keeping cats inside for their own safety as well. They can be hit by cars and even fall victim to birds of prey or coyotes.
Use Leaf Mulch
Use the dried leaves you rake up in your yard as mulch for your plants. This not only helps keep moisture in, but it gives songbirds the opportunity to scratch for pill bugs, spiders, and worms. Many songbirds have insect rich diets.
Plant Meadow Grasses
Take out some of that high-maintenance lawn, and plant a small stand of native meadow grasses. Tall grass can provide seeds and nesting areas for birds. According to The Cornell Lab’s All About Birds page, about 50 percent of Americans treat their lawns with chemicals “that kill about 7 million birds each year.”