Bird House in Garden Design

Many homeowners desire more birds in their backyard simply for the joy of watching the liveliness they bring to the garden. And of course, who doesn't love listening to birdsong in the early morning or while relaxing on the patio after a long day? These are fine enough reasons to create a bird garden, but birds also serve an important function in the landscape! In addition to bringing color to the back yard, birds help with insect control and spread plant seeds miles across the greater landscape. But how should we go about creating a space that is inviting to as many bird species as possible?

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Designing your Bird Garden

The good news is that most contemporary landscape design plans are created with a goal of mimicking the nuances of nature. Unless a specific garden style is desired, it's natural that a quality plan will include a wide variety of plant species, varied mature plant heights, and will include native plant species that are hardy to your climate. If you are hoping to attract more birds to your garden, a plan like this is already a great starting point! You can go ahead and cross many of the requirements for a bird garden off your list. But let's look at what a garden with the specific goal of attracting a variety of bird species should include so that you can pinpoint any voids in your plan and create features with this specific goal in mind.

Better Homes & Gardens

Elements of Bird Garden Design

Native Plant Species

Landscapes designed specifically with bird watching in mind will likely include more extensive use of native plants. Native plants will provide plant material and food to which your desired species are already attracted. There are of course a host of other reasons for using native species in your garden, but they are especially useful for the bird garden.

Birds and Bloom

To get the most from your native plants, allow flowering species to go to seed as often as possible to provide a nutritious food source. Consult with local nurseries, experienced landscapers, and extension services to learn more about native species in your area.

Safe Shelter Nesting Sites

Use a mix of coniferous and deciduous plant species to provide plenty of shelter. Coniferous species will provide shelter throughout the year, and many species also provide berries as a food source.  Deciduous trees provide preferred nesting sites for certain species, as well as leaf litter which ground feeders like to dig through when searching for food. Leaf litter will also provide nesting material in the spring and will decompose over time to improve the soil.

Sprigs and Roots

Make sure your design includes a variety of canopy elevations. This will invite many different species to your yard, since different species prefer sheltering at different heights. Some species may even prefer different heights for different functions such as feeding or nesting.

If possible, try to include some densely planted shrubs in your design, as well as shrubs with thorns that will deter predators. This will provide an area where birds will feel safer, encouraging your birds to roost and nest on site instead of just passing through your yard.

You may also consider adding bird houses, especially those for specific species in mind. If you add a birdhouse, but it doesn't seem to get used year after year, look at the surrounding area. Sometimes birds will avoid a bird house if it seems unsafe in some way, such as being easily accessible to predators. In addition, the type of bird house used may not be ideal for the species that frequent your yard.

1001 Gardens

Food

Plant fruit bearing species, especially species with fruit that persists into winter. Some popular choices include crabapples, chokecherries, serviceberries, mulberries and hollies. Fruit bearing species will likely be multi-functional, since they can also provide shelter and nesting sites for some birds.

Consider incorporating a supplemental feeding program. Some birders may feel this step is unnecessary if your yard is well equipped with multi-purpose plant species that can provide a food source through winter. However, for those who are hoping to attract a new species and are committed to providing supplemental food sources, I recommend the following:

• Research the preferred food sources or seed mix for the species you are hoping to attract, as well as styles of feeders designed for different species and that will deter predators.
• Locate your bird feeders adjacent to shrubs, where many species prefer to make nesting sites and hide in between bites.

There are many additional factors that you might consider with a feeding program, both planted and supplemental, which I am excited to specifically address in an additional post; coming soon!

Water

Birds must travel many miles a day to find high quality fresh water sources. Providing your own is a great way to attract birds! A bird bath is a great starting point, especially one equipped with gentle movement such as a mister or bubbler. If you have the budget to include a larger fountain go for it – or even go all the way up to a small (or large) pond equipped with a gentle water fall. The sky is the limit, but any source of water will be loved by the birds. If you stick with a basic bird bath, be sure to change the water out every couple of days to keep in fresh.

Back Yard Bird Lover

Bird Garden Maintenance

• Less Turf, More Plants: Expand your flower beds, plant more trees (with a variety of mature heights), and use groundcovers instead of open lawn to create areas of negative space. As a bonus, your yard will require less mowing and upkeep required from turf.
• Less Raking, More Leaf Litter: Leaf litter will provide shelter, promote a home for bugs and worms which in turn will invite more birds, and will provide the first nesting materials in the spring. This is your excuse to loosen up a bit on the yard work!
• Maintain a Brush Pile:Maintaining even a small brush pile will create shelter and a feeding site for many species of birds, as well as the insects on which they feed.

Audubon

Other Considerations

If applicable, be sure to check with your homeowners association or community guidelines for any restrictions on landscaping. Some communities will not allow certain species of plants or structures such as fixed birdhouses, large water features, or long-term brush piles. In addition, some communities may require a certain ratio of lawn to planted beds.

Make sure that your design considers observation. Consider which window you may be watching out of most often during colder months and locate sheltering and feeding areas within view. Also consider incorporating paths and seating areas that revolve around the best viewing sites.

Pinterest

How can this less kept aesthetic fit into your design? For some people, the more natural landscape will be appealing. For others, it's understandable that you may not want to eliminate every inch of manicured landscape. If you fit the latter, consider using manicured areas more sparingly. You don't need to have a brush pile in the middle of your yard, but perhaps tucked away in that back corner you can't really see from the deck will be a starting point. Try making small changes, focusing first on the bird species you hope to attract, and go with the aesthetic that feels best for you.

Bird House in Garden Design

Source: http://www.thecashmerecottage.com/bird-garden-design-101/

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