Gardening for Birds

You can make your garden a welcoming place for birds by taking into account the need for food, water, cover, and nesting sites. As you return to the garden this spring, consider planting for the birds. Choose native plants when possible. They require less water and fertilizer, are more resistant to predators and disease, and are an excellent supply of food and shelter for birds. Many songbirds eat berries, and hummingbirds appreciate nectar-bearing flowers. For information on native plants that are good for birds, see the chart below.  When planting, think vertical. Garden in layers and provide trees, shrubs, native grasses, and ground cover. Birds will make use of brush piles and snags for cover and nesting sites. If possible, conserve water by using drip irrigation and collecting rainwater. Water your gardens early in the morning to minimize loss through evaporation.

For a bird-friendly garden, do not use chemical herbicides and pesticides. These can be harmful to birds and their food sources as well as other animals, particularly amphibians. Mulch inhibits the spread of weeds and manual removal methods are effective. For non-chemical alternatives, see: www.pesticide.org/

Supplemental feeding is a great way to attract birds to your yard. Keep feeders and birdbaths clean. Clear food waste and droppings from around the feeder area. Discard food that is wet, moldy, or musty. Disinfect your feeders with one part liquid chlorine household bleach in nine parts of tepid water.

A birdbath with moving water or spray is especially attractive to birds but just a shallow bowl does the trick. To create a butterfly “puddling” area, fill a pie pan with gravel and water.

Native Bird Food Plant Species of the Willamette Valley, Oregon

compiled by Bruce Newhouse; many records from Oregon Birders Online; draft 10 July 2004