attracting birds by ruth h. axelrod. a backyard habitat approach 1.food 2.water 3.shelter (cover)...

Attracting Birds BY Ruth H. Axelrod

A Backyard Habitat Approach

1. Food2. Water3. Shelter (cover)4. A place to raise young

The University of Maryland Extension programs are open to any person and will not discriminate against anyone because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, political affiliation, and gender identity or expression.

Ruth H. Axelrod (2010)

Create an all-season environment

Why?

Consistent with birds’ natural settings. Co-evolved with their environments.

Ecosystem meets birds’ needs. Birds meet other organisms’ needs.

Birds’ needs vary By species By season By lifecycle stage

Ruth H. Axelrod (2010) 3

Why Else?

Bring nature into your home landscape. Help control mosquitos and other insects. Enjoy a low maintenance garden.

Reduce water usage. Protect and enhance soil. Improve air quality.

Help protect and nurture birds.


Where?

Urban, suburban, rural yards Container gardens—patio, deck, balcony


Choose your species. Learn needs and preferences. Build habitat—emulate natural environment;

create corridors to natural areas. Store bird identification book, binoculars and

camera near a window. Enjoy!

How?

Ruth H. Axelrod (2010)Tolerate unintended consequences!

6

Wildlife Corridors


Ruth’ s Home (end unit)

Monocacy River

Riparian Buffer

http://maps.nationalgeographic.com/map-machine 7

Food

Year-round natural sources Species-specific Insects and worms Seeds, berries, nuts

Plant natives as well as exotics Tip: String cable between trees for

bird roost--berry bushes will sprout below


Bird Feeders

Various feeders Large and small birds Aggressive and shy

Seasonal use Summer: Feed irregularly, if at all. Winter: Offer high-calorie (oily) foods—

suet, black sunflower seeds, shelled peanuts, etc.

Spring: Feed until nature provides.Ruth H. Axelrod (2010) 9

Ruth’s Garden—Late Summer 2010

Baptisia (False Blue Indigo)

Coneflower (Echinacea)

Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida)

CoreopsisSundrop (Oenothera fruticosa)

Sedum (Sedum)

Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia nitida)

Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans)

Yarrow (Achillea tomentosa)

Northern Sea Oaks (Chasmanthium latifolium)

Fenneland other herbs

Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica 'Merlot')

New England Aster (Aster Novae-angliae)

Ruth H. Axelrod (2010)Ruth’s Garden—Late Summer 2010

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Water

Clean water Out-of-the-way location Prefer water in-motion--stream, waterfall,

fountain (plug in or solar panel-drive) Check birdbaths every 3

days = the time it takes mosquitos to hatch

Dust bath—sand, wood ash, loam or peat


Ruth’s Garden—Early Summer 2010

Bird Bath

Dust Bath


A Place to Raise Young

Preferred site--ground, tree, shrub, grass, under eves, etc.

Sheltered, away from people Preferred type of nest or box (bats--15’ pole,

sun in eve; martins--condo) Mount with large nail; do not girdle tree limb Songbirds: small

entrance hole; minimal perch (safety)


Shelter (Cover)

Protection--weather, predators

Layers of foliage Large trees—

hardwoods, evergreens

Understory trees Shrubs Herbaceous plants


Ruth’s Garden—Early Summer 2010


Beyond the Garden Gates, Frederick, MD 2010


Beyond the Garden Gates, Frederick, MD 2010Ruth H. Axelrod (2010)

Native Plants Permeable Walks

Layered Foliage (cover)

Groundcover

How to Improve this Garden?

Nectar, seeds, berries

Water

Drifts of plants

17

Converting to a Bird Habitat

Create a natural, not formal, garden—layers of foliage, drifts of plants.

Provide cover, nesting sites, shade, nuts, berries—native trees, shrubs, vines.

Minimize lawn (turf grass). Provide food, nectar, groundcover--native

plants with some non-invasive exotics. Install permeable patio and walks.


Visitors to Ruth’s Garden

Bluebird Cardinal, northern Catbird, grey Chickadee, Carolina Cowbird, brown-headed Dove, mourning Finch, house Goldfinch, American Grackle, common Grosbeak, rose-breasted Hawks, sharp-shinned and

Coopers

Hummingbird, ruby-throated

Jay, blue Junco, slate-colored Owl Robin, American Sparrow, house Starling, European Titmouse, tufted Warbler, bay-breasted Woodpeckers, downy and

red-headed Wren


(Silver Spring & Frederick, MD)

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American Goldfinch (Spinus Tristis)

Live in flocks to 100 birds; may feed in groups.

Nest high in tree forks. Eat seeds only—including thistle,

sunflowers, cosmos, zinnias. Feeder

Thistle (nyjer) in special feeder; avoid sock or mesh (lose too much seed)

Also, black oil sunflower seeds, millet, canary seeds, nutmeats


Migrating Birds: The Atlantic Flyway


Hummingbird

Ruby-throated (Archilochus colubris) and Rufous (Selasphorus rufus) migrate to MD Mid-April to September (males first). May return to same site as previous year.

Prefer hardwoods, evergreens. Nest in crotch high off ground; walnut-sized,

made of moss, lichen, fluff and spider web. Eat insects, flower nectar (feeder with sugar

water is insufficient)Ruth H. Axelrod (2010) 22

Hummingbird (continued)

Feeder Red container, preferably near nectar flowers Feed 1 week before expected arrival to 3

weeks after last local bird leaves I part sugar to 4 parts water (no honey) Change liquid every 3-4 days to prevent

disease May defend food source(s) from birds, insects Illegal to trap/hold migratory birds, nests, eggs



Questions?

Discussion?

24

For More Information

Bromley, P.T., & Geis, A.D. Feeding wild birds. Virginia Cooperative Extension #420-006. http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/420/420-006/420-006.html.

Cornell Lab of Ornithology. All about birds: Bird [identification]guide. http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/browse.

Eaton, G., & Wright, B. (2009). Backyard wildlife habitats. Virginia Cooperative Extension #426-070. http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/426/426-070/426-070.html.

Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy. Gardening for wildlife plant list. http://www.loudounwildlife.org/Gardening_For_Wildlife_Plant_List.htm

Mizejewski, D. (2004). Attracting birds, butterflies and other backyard wildlife. Upper Saddle River, NJ: National Wildlife Federation.

Peterson, R.T. (1980). Eastern birds. 4th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. Skarphol, B. (2008). Using native plants to attract birds in the Washington, D.C.

area and Virginia. Fairfax County Park Authority, VA. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/gsgp/infosheets/nativeplantsforbirds.pdf.

USFWS. (1997). For the birds. Washington, DC: U.S. Fish & Wilslife Service. http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/misc/forbirds/forbird.htm.


Photo Credits

All photos are the author’s, except: Title page: Montreal Botannical Garden. All bird photos: Cornell Univ., http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/browse. Eco-system diagram:

http://www.fws.gov/invasives/volunteersTrainingModule/invasives/plants.html. Water gardens: Sources unknown. Bird’s nest on balcony: http://www.gardeningoncloud9.com/200906/bird-nest-

on-the-balcony/; cardinals at bird bath: http://www.csnstores.com/API650-XAP1008.html.

Bird seed ring: http://www.petazon.com/price/search.php?q=brand%3A Pine+Tree+Farms%3A&page=1&sort=priceDesc.

Nesting shelf: http://www.hgtv.com/landscaping/birdhouses/index.html; open-front bird house: http://www.justaddworms.com/products-page/; classic bird box: http://coes-creations.com/shop/reviews.php; Poorly-designed cedar bird house: http://www.allthingscedar.com/birdhouse2.htm.

Migrating birds: http://news.caloosahatchee.org/archives/?show=boxes_2010.


The Presenter

Ruth H. Axelrod is a Maryland Master Gardener.

She learned to love gardening as a child and has been studying and practicing it ever since. At her home in Frederick, she gardens--both indoors and outdoors--for natural beauty, relaxation, food, environmental sustainability and the deep spiritual pleasure of mucking around in the dirt.

Ruth can be reached at [email protected].


attracting birds by ruth h. axelrod. a backyard habitat approach 1.food 2.water 3.shelter (cover)...

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