KEEP YOUR WINTER GARDEN ALIVE WITH BIRDS

As winter unfolds, the colorful flowers and abundant greenery of the summer garden become merely a memory. The north winds begin to blow in earnest, and plants outside go dormant. Wheelbarrows, lawn mowers, and trowels are tucked safely indoors along with their owners.

We can still enjoy our gardens in winter. An easy way to keep your yard alive during the winter months is to invite your feathered friends in. Visiting birds will add winter interest, color and enjoyment.

By now, most bird species that migrate have departed for the southern parts of the continent. Those that remain in their northern ranges through the winter will face the most trying time of the year. Food is less abundant because plants have gone dormant, and insects are hibernating. Water may be scarce as temperatures fall below freezing. Leaves have fallen from deciduous trees and shrubs decreasing the amount of shelter from temperature extremes, wind and predators. Thus, during winter birds are actively searching for food, water and shelter.

By providing these elements, you can create a haven for birds. The variety of bird species that regularly visit your backyard will increase if you develop an environment that meets the varied needs of bird life for food, water and cover. There are three important steps for creating habitat for birds in your winter garden. 

1. Planting for the birds
2. Supplemental feeding of birds
3. Provide water for the birds

1. PLANTING FOR THE BIRDS

Although planting during winter months is not usually feasible, it is a good time to assess your gardens. The bare bones are visible and you can really get a feel for how your plantings meet a bird's needs for food and shelter. Inventory and map out what is currently planted. Make notes on the birds that come to your yard and the frequency with which they visit. Armed with this information, evaluate what improvements will make your yard more hospitable to greater numbers and species of birds. Finally, make plans to add plants next season that will create first class accommodations for birds in the winter. Here are some tips.

PLANT SELECTION

Shelter comes from an array of plants. Evergreens, both broad leaf and needled, offer the most protection in winter. Make sure your landscape includes both trees and shrubs that retain their leaves in winter. Birds will seek warmth and protection in the foliage. Deciduous trees lose their leaves over the winter, but can still provide shelter for birds as well as perching sites with a view away from ground dwelling predators. Dense shrubs with lots of branches allow birds to get away from the elements and become inconspicuous to predators. Thick ground covers can offer shelter in some instances, especially for small birds. Even the remaining vegetation of dormant summer flowering plants and leaf litter let lay can be effective cover for birds at times. 

Because birds are important in seed dispersal for plants, many have developed edible fruits and seed that are attractive to birds. Tasty berries and fruits can be found on many trees and shrubs - both evergreen and deciduous. 

Most bird-distributed fruits are bright red a color that is showy in the garden as well as attractive to birds. A few herbaceous plants also produce bird edible berries. The diet of some birds includes pine cones, nuts and catkins produced on a variety of trees. Many garden flowers and ornamental grasses produce seed eaten by birds. If spent flowers are allowed to mature on the plant they can provide a bounty of seed through the winter months. It is a good idea to leaves the seed heads on these summer flowering plants through the winter.

Check to see if your gardens include plants that provide food and shelter for a variety of birds. If not, now is a good time to select plants and make plans for next planting season. If you would like to add some bird favorites to your garden, check out The Plant Gallery in this edition for "Plants Loved by Birds in Winter."
 

VARIETY OF VEGETATION

Look to see if your garden includes many different types of food, including berries, fruits, nuts, cones and seeds of different kinds. Furthermore, your plantings should include plants with food maturing at different times to ensure a steady supply of food.

Make sure your garden offers abundant cover of a wide variety of types, both evergreen and deciduous, especially near feeders and bird baths. Also check to see there are a variety of safe places to perch and rest.

When evaluating your garden, keep in mind that birds show strong preferences for the elevation at which they feed and rest. Some birds feed in the canopy, while others like to eat on the ground. Adding levels to your garden will increase the surface area by creating more leaves, stems, nooks and crannies for birds to eat and take shelter. Varying levels can be created by planting shrubs and vines at the base of large trees. Or plant both tall and small spreading shrubs with ground covers. This type of planting will ensure a variety of plant shapes and heights increasing the elevations from which birds can chose.

PLANT PLACEMENT

When grouped, plants provide more effective shelter from the extremes of winter weather and better cover from predators, especially avian predators such as hawks. They can also create an effective windbreak. This is especially important for bird populations in larger cities or in rural areas where agriculture and development have resulted in the loss of hedgerows.

Evaluate your property to see how trees and shrubs can be grouped to establish a windbreak and provide protection. If space permits, a windbreak with two to three rows of plants is preferable.

2. SUPPLEMENTAL BIRD FEEDING

During winter natural food supplies decline drastically and birds will be attracted to supplemental foods provided in bird feeders. But even regular visitors at feeders do not feed exclusively on human, handouts, and will forage in the wild for various weeds, seeds, fruits and insects. I suggest you view your bird feeders as a supplement to the food offered by your garden plantings. once in place they will provide hours of enjoyment for the backyard bird watcher.

Each species of bird has its own food preferences. Some birds eat almost any seed, but most are more choosy. You can lure a wider variety of birds to your birdscape by providing a wide menu of different food. Many different types of bird seed and prepared suet mixes are available at local garden centers, feed stores or bird supply centers. Ashcombe stocks a wide selection, both bagged and bulk.

Make seed and suet supplies available at dawn and dusk. These are the two main times of the day when birds are actively foraging. Keep the feeders filled. One of the rules for operating a feeding station is "once you start, keep the food coming." Although most birds do not depend on feeder food, some birds may become dependent on a feeding area in winter and starve in the new food supply disappears. Also, once you stop it may be difficult to attract birds later if they are feeding elsewhere in the neighborhood.

There are many types of feeders available. Once again, variety is the key to attracting more species of birds to your yard. Different species of birds have preferences for type of feeder and the elevation at which the feeder is placed. Offering several feeders will also reduce the competition that occurs when you have just one feeder. There are many excellent models of feeders on the market. Ashcombe carries a wide selection.

The location for the feeder is also important. Don't forget to place the feeders where you can see them, and can check them daily to make sure that they are adequately filled. Try to locate feeders near trees or shrubs since this will provide the birds with a refuge from predators such as birds and cats. Dense undergrowth may be dangerous since cats lurk there ready to pounce. Also consider prevailing winds. Site the feeders in s sheltered location so that birds will have a more protected area to congregate and dine.

An evergreen tree can be decorated for the birds, providing outdoor cheer. Many treats for the birds can be fashioned into natural, edible ornaments such as a string of popcorn, bread shapes, fruit and suet or peanut butter covered pine cones topped with seed. You can use any evergreen tree or shrub planted in your yard. Or, place your cut Christmas tree outside after the holidays. Locate the tree where it is visible from the warmth of indoors and it will provide hours of avian entertainment for everyone in the family.

3. PROVIDING WATER FOR THE BIRDS

A supply of fresh clean water is an important, often overlooked element for attracting birds. All bird species need water both for drinking and bathing throughout the year and will travel great distances to find it. Water can be even more attractive to some visiting birds than food, and will help attract birds that seldom visit feeders, such as warblers and vireos. Providing water is especially important in winter as it may be locked away in ice and snow and inaccessible.

Birds love a bird bath all year long, even in the coldest days of winter. Birds bathe and preen in order to keep their feathers in perfect condition for flying and to maintain their waterproofing and insulating properties. Bathing removes dust and parasites from their feathers and probably feels good too, as they seem to revel in splashing about.

Birds will drink and bathe from anything that 's available - puddles, streams, ponds, bird baths, ditches, livestock troughs, or any other container that holds an inch of two of liquid. They prefer shallow water, 1/2 to 1 inch is plenty, but not more than 2 to 3 inches. Use rocks, stones or gravel to alter the water depth or to create perches from which to dip.

Varying the depth of water in your birdbath will cater to the preferences of a greater variety of birds. Choose a container with a roughened bottom, allowing the birds to get a firm grip without slipping.

There are many ways to provide water for birds while enhancing the beauty of the garden. The most expensive method is to install a garden pool or pond. A pond designed for birds will attract many species and add visual interest to a bird garden. To allow bird bathing, an in ground pond should have a shallow slope and rocks placed in deeper water to serve as convenient perches.

The traditional bird bath design is a shallow basin on a pedestal. these are sold in a large variety of sizes, forms and materials. Many are attractive enough to be a garden ornament in and of themselves. Look for shallow basins with gently sloping textured sides. A pedestal bird bath does provide some protection from cats. Many species, however prefer baths at ground level, the normal location for natural rain puddles. It is a good idea to place a second bird bath basin directly on the ground.

Any shallow rough bottom container is a perfect choice. You can make a bird bath from a house hold item such as a trash can lid. Place the lid close to the ground, on a stump or on a stack of bricks or rocks. Avoid plastic lids since they have slippery sides, and birds will find it difficult to gain a foothold. A shallow ceramic pot saucer is another possibility.

You will do the birds a big favor if you keep the water in your bird bath unfrozen. If helps to locate the birdbath where it receives winter sunshine all day. But you will get guaranteed results if you can use a submersible water heater designed for use in bird baths and easy to install. Site the bird bath near on outdoor electrical outlet, lay the heater in the bird bath and plug it in using an electrical cord designed for outdoor use. This will keep your bird bath in use all winter. Keeping the bird bath filled and clean is important. Change the water every few days and scrub off any algae, which thrive in bird fertilized water.

The location of a bird bath determines which birds it will attract. Place your bird bath near protective shrubbery, close enough to allow the birds to escape to safety. These perches will also provide a safe place for birds to land so that they can scope out the water before taking the big plunge.

The musical sound and sight of moving water will greatly increase the number of birds attracted to a water garden or bird bath. A rippling motion on the water's surface will get the attention of birds flying by the garden that might otherwise overlook the water source. Consider incorporating a small bubbling fountain, stream, or waterfall powered by a pump.

Dripping water is especially attractive as many birds are drawn by the sound and motion of the drip meeting the surface of the still water. suspend a dripping hose over the surface of the water so that the pink of the drops falling is audible. use an adapter on the hose and attach to an exterior water tap. Another simple method to create dripping water is to hang a plastic bucket with a hole punched in its bottom over a bird bath. Start with a small nail hole, and keep enlarging it until a regular pattern of water drips from the bucket. Cover the bucket to reduce evaporation and prevent clogging.