Landscaping for Birds
Nothing provides an easier or more dependable food supply than “birdscaping” your yard with native vegetation. Because habitat loss is the leading cause of population declines in many bird species, planting native vegetation in your community is one of the best ways you can help improve the environment.
If you decide to landscape your yard for birds, grow plants that bloom and provide fruit in different seasons, providing food throughout the year. Remember that a variety of native plants attracts the greatest diversity of bird species. Some plants to consider include black-eyed susan and sunflowers for their flowers and seeds; tubular-shaped, nectar-producing flowers to attract hummingbirds; plants such as cinnamon fern and thistle to provide soft nesting material; small trees and fruiting plants such as crabapples, dogwoods, serviceberries, sumacs, and viburnums; conifers such as pines and spruces to provide cover, sap, seeds, and nesting sites; and deciduous trees such as oaks, cherries, and hickories to provide nuts, insect-hunting sites, and good nesting locations.
Learn more about landscaping for birds on the Cornell Lab’s All About Birds website, or download “Creating a Garden for Birds” a Cornell Lab BirdNote (pdf file)