Continuing Education and
Communication Services
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
12/17/01
Contacts:
Cindy Haynes, Horticulture Extension, (515) 294-4006, chaynes@iastate.edu
Del Marks, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515) 294-9807,
delmarks@iastate.edu
Yard and Garden Column for week beginning Dec. 21
Brighten Your Winter Landscape with Songbirds
By Megan McConnell
Horticulture student
Iowa State University Extension
Does your landscape look a little lonely this time of year? Stately maples are standing without their leafy mantles and perennial beds are hunched over for a midwinter nap. Liven things up by inviting some winged visitors to your yard. Both you and the birds will benefit from your hospitality -- the birds appreciate the supplement to their winter diet, and your landscape will come alive with activity.
Issuing the invitation is simple. Provide the birds with the essential items for creating a habitat and they will make your yard a regular stop on their daily travels. A habitat has four essential factors: space, food, water, and shelter.
Space is the area needed by the birds. Just as some people are happy in a city apartment and others need to be surrounded by acres of open land, some bird species need more space than others. Space is not a factor that can be manipulated to attract birds in most cases. The landscape that makes up your yard and that of your neighborhood is the space you have to offer birds and will determine what species visit your landscape.
While you can do little to change the physical space available to birds in your landscape, there are many things you can do to enhance the food, water, and shelter available to feathered friends.
Wintertime Feast
Birds gather food from many landscape plants during the winter months. Trees such as hawthorns (Crataegus species), common hackberry (Celtis occidentalis), and crabapples (Malus species) provide fruit for birds in late fall and winter. These natural sources of food are where birds garner most of their energy.
Food provided by humans is merely "icing on the cake." White proso millet, niger thistle seed, and black (oil-type) sunflower seeds are sweet treats. The importance of these foods comes into play during particularly harsh winters. Birds that have supplemental feeding will be more likely to withstand harsh conditions.
Birds have preferences when it comes to types of food. To attract a certain species of bird, offer their favorite food. Goldfinches, for example, favor niger thistle seed. (Thistle seed is not related to the weedy thistles. This seed is not adapted to northern climates.) Cardinals, chickadees, and mourning doves all like black sunflower seeds.
Not all birdseed mixes sold at retailers are the same. One of the best mixes for attracting a variety of birds is 50 percent black sunflower seeds, 35 percent white proso millet, and 15 percent cracked corn. Avoid seed mixes that contain milo (sorghum) and wheat - these seeds are not preferred by most birds.
Not only do birds have favorite foods, but they also have favorite feeders. Use a combination of platform feeders, traditional wooden house feeders, and tube feeders to attract a variety of birds. When placing feeders be sure they are visible through a window so you can enjoy your winged visitors. Also, locate feeders near cover -- shrubs, trees or both -- to provide a place of retreat from cats or other threats and a gradual approach route for "shy" birds.
We can't talk about bird feeding without mentioning the bushy tailed animals that like to partake in the birds' feast. Squirrels are a menace to the feeding stations. Deter them by placing the feeder at least 5 feet above the ground and consider placing a sheet metal cone around the pole to thwart their attempts to climb up to the feeder. In most cases squirrels' acrobatic feats eventually overcome your anti-squirrel scheming.
Ice-free Water Source
Water is another basic habitat requirement and is often missing in the frozen winter landscape. Equipping a birdbath with a heater can provide ice-free water. Commercial heaters are available at garden stores, feed stores, and other stores that sell birding supplies. If birds don't seem to notice the water in your landscape, create a slight drip with a hose or faucet to disturb the surface and alert the birds to the water source.
Regular cleaning of the feeder and water supply is necessary for a healthy bird population. High concentrations of birds at feeders facilitate the spread of disease. As droppings accumulate around the feeder, problems increase. It is a good idea to clean your feeder once a week. Painted, varnished, or metal feeders can be cleaned easily by dunking them in a weak bleach solution. Maintain a fresh water source by changing the water regularly.
Get Out of the Wind
All birds need shelter for cover, roosting, and nesting. If you provide shelter in your landscape, birds are more likely to make your yard a permanent home. In the fall and winter birds are looking for cover in the landscape. Dense evergreens and shrubs provide the most protection from whipping winter winds. Shelter can be found in temporary structures too. A brush pile has many crevices for birds to escape the winter weather. Discarded Christmas trees are another great source of winter protection. Prop your Christmas tree up near a feeder or water source for cover while the birds are feeding.
If you are looking to add a little excitement to your winter landscape, make sure songbirds are on your guest list. Provide the space, food, water, and shelter and winged visitors will be dropping by for a visit.
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Megan McConnell is a senior in horticulture with a minor in journalism
and mass communications at Iowa State University.Sidebar:
Include these trees and shrubs in your landscape for a natural food source
and shelter for songbirds.
Trees
1. Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis)
2. European Larch (Larix decidua)
3. Canada Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)
4. Eastern Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis)
5. Cockspur Hawthorn (Crataegus crusgalli)
6. Common Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)
7. Crabapple (Malus species)
Shrubs
1. Gray Dogwood (Cornus racemosa)
2. American Elder (Sambucus canadensis)
3. Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum)
4. Virginia Rose (Rosa virginiana)
5. Indiancurrant Coralberry (Symphoricarpos orbiculatus)
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