Gardening For Birds

To entice birds to your garden, plant a variety of trees and shrubs that provide food in the form of fruits and seeds. Providing a large selection of plants with different bloom times spreads out the fruit and seed production over time. Bird feeders and suet feeders can provide a good supplement to their regular diets, especially during winter and spring when natural fruit and seed supplies are diminished. Cardinals, finches, bluejays, and chickadees prefer black oil sunflower seeds. Goldfinches and juncos prefer thistle. Woodpeckers and nuthatches are attracted by suet in the form of cakes or animal fat. Many ground feeding birds, like sparrows, doves, juncos, and towhees enjoy a mixture of seed that includes white millet, safflower, peanut hearts, cracked corn, and sunflower. 
Introducing a water source to your garden is as easy as adding a birdbath. A small or large pond is a great source of water and enjoyment as well. Birds are attracted to the sound of running water. Create the sound of moving water by adding a mister or drip system to birdbaths and waterfalls, or by adding a fountain to ponds. Make sure there are shallow places from which the birds can drink. The addition of a bird bath heater will assure water is available throughout the winter months.
Providing cover can best be achieved by planting various heights of vegetation. Incorporating trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, vines, and ground covers will provide layers of vegetation for birds to hide in when predators (i.e. hawks) are present. Do not plant vegetation immediately under bird feeders as predators (i.e. cats) can hide and take unknowing birds by surprise.
Planting a variety of plants can provide many places for birds to nest. Mockingbirds, catbirds, and brown thrashers prefer thickets of vegetation to better conceal their nests. Cardinals, wood thrushes, and robins prefer thick shrubs and trees. Warblers, tanager, and hummingbirds prefer nesting in taller trees. Chickadees, wrens, bluebirds, and titmice prefer birdhouses, which come in many sizes and shapes and can be hung in trees or mounted on fence posts. Choose the type of birdhouse based on  which bird you are trying to attract.

	GROUND COVERS, VINES, PERENNIALS
Euonymus fortunei	Wintercreeper		Parthenocissus tricuspidata	Boston Ivy
Vitis	Grape		Ribes Sativum	Currant, Garden Red
Lonicera	Honeysuckle		Rudbeckia	Black Eyed Susan
Parthenocissus quinquefolia	Virginia creeper		Vernonia noveboracensis	Ironweed
	SHRUBS
Amelanchier	Serviceberry		Malus	Crabapple
Aronia	Chokeberry		Myrica pensylvanica	Bayberry
Berberis	Barberry		Photinia	Red Tip
Buxus	Boxwood		Pinus	Pine
Callicarpa	Beautyberry		Prunus	Laurel
Cornus	Dogwood		Pyracantha	Firethorn
Cotoneaster	Cotoneaster		Rhamnus caroliniana	Carolina buckthorn
Elaegrus	Russian Olive		Rosa	Rose
Euonymus			Rosmarinus	Rosemary
Ilex	Holly		Rubus	Berries
Hamamelis	Witchhazel		Sambucus	American Elderberry
Ligustrum	Privet		Symphoricarpos	Coralberry
Lindera	Spicebush		Taxus	Yew
Mahonia	Oregon Grape Holly		Vaccinium	Blueberry
			Viburnum	Viburnum
	TREES
Abies	Fir		Liriodendron	Tulip Tree
Acer	Maple		Magnolia	Magnolia
Amelanchier	Serviceberry		Malus	Crabapple
Betula	Birch		Morus	Mulberry, common
Carpinus caroliniana	Ironwood		Myrica	Wax Myrtle
Celtis	Hackberry		Nyssa	Black Gum
Cornus	Dogwood		Picea	Spruce
Crataegus	Hawthorn		Pinus	Pine
Elaeagnus angustifolia	Russian Olive		Prunus maritima	Beech Plum
Fagus	American Beech		Pyrus americana	Mountain Ash
Gleditsia	Honey Locust		Quercus	Oak
Llex	Holly		Sassafras	Sassafras
Juniperus	Juniper		Sorbus	Mountain Ash
Larix	Larch		Thuja	Arborvitae
Liquidambar	Sweet Gum		Tsuga	Hemlock