Find tips for gardening, birding and landscaping in Alabama on Druid City Online ... including How to Plant an All Season Bird Garden

Plant a Garden that's "For The Birds"

You can attract birds to your yard by placing bird feeders, bird baths and nest boxes in your garden. But you can double the number of species using your property by adding a bird habitat. By planting certain trees, shrubs and flowers, you produce safe nesting sites, winter shelter, and continuous food supplies ... not to mention a beautiful natural setting around your home.

Here's a list of plants that thrive in Alabama and some of the birds they will attract:

Mexican Sage blooms in late summer ... hummingbirds cannot resist it!

Attracting Hummingbirds
The list of worthwhile hummingbird "magnets" is a very long one - a shortened version of favorites would include Pineapple Sage, Cigar Plant, Honeysuckle, Trumpet Vine, Cardinal Flower, Cardinal Climber, Turk's Cap, Crossvine, Pentas, Petunias, Creeping Cypress, Hibiscus, Carolina and Confederate Jasmine, Azaleas, and Weigelia.

Blackberry blossoms become great fruit for birds and cobblers!

Summer-Fruiting
Red Chokeberry (attracts Meadowlarks, Cedar Waxwings, Thrashers, Bluebirds, Catbirds)
Honeysuckle (Succulent berries favored by Bluebirds, produces masses of insect food, good nesting cover; attracts Hummingbirds)
Serviceberry (attracts Chickadees, Towhees, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, Bluebirds, Titmice, Goldfinches)
Blackberry (Attractive to many birds including Cardinals, Red-headed Woodpeckers, Bluebirds, Summer Tanagers, provides excellent nesting cover)

White Flowering Dogwood....beautiful flowers for you in Spring and tasty berries for birds in Fall!

Fall-Fruiting
Dogwood (attracts Flickers, Grosbeaks, Bluebirds, Woodpeckers, Cardinals, Buntings)
Cottoneaster (attracts Cedar Waxwings, House Finches, Purple Finches - also evergreen and provides good nesting sites and cover)
Fringetree (attracts Woodpeckers, Cardinals)
Beautyberry (attracts Finches, Catbirds, Cardinals, Robins)
Pyracantha (attracts Cedar Waxwings, Thrashers, Cardinals, Red-Headed Woodpeckers - also evergreen)

Ivy.... late winter fruits for hungry birds

Winter-Fruiting

Blackhaw (attracts Bluebirds, Cedar Waxwings, good nesting sites and cover)
Hawthorn (attracts Cardinals, Cedar Waxwings, Flickers, provides nesting sites and cover)
Ivy (attracts Thrushes, Flickers with fruits in late winter; provides cover and nest sites for Finches and Cardinals, variety of insect food)

Red Cedar.... tasty fruit and year round cover!

Evergreens
Eastern Red Cedar (attracts Cedar Waxwings, provides nesting and cover for Robins, Juncos and Warblers)
Eastern White Pine (attracts Chickadees, Nuthatches; Provides year-round shelter)

Grasses
Native or ornamental grasses provide ideal nesting sites, cover and an abundance of seeds.

Red Lantana.... attracts hummingbirds and butterflies while in Summer bloom, songbirds with Fall berries

Perennials, Herbs and Annuals
Flowerbeds form ideal "mini-habitats" which are rich in insect food, seeds and cover from predators. Good plants for birds include Aster, Bachelor Button, Black-eyed Susan, Candytuft, Cosmos, Delphinium, Forget-me-not, Lantana, Marjoram, Purple Coneflower, Salvia, Sunflower, Thyme, Tithonia, and Zinnia.

Other Basic Tips for your gardening and birding enjoyment ...
Water: Birds love a slow sprinkler. Hummingbirds,Ttitmice and Chickadees like to bathe in oscillating water and Warblers are especially attracted to the sound of dripping water. Clean birdbaths regularly.

Bird Food and Feeders: Put out a variety of seeds and feeders. Cardinals love Safflower, Thistle feeders are a must for Goldfinches, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks flock to fruit. Black-oil Sunflower is an all time favorite. Suet is especially important during winter and spring because of the high energy and fat content but also as an excellent food source for nestlings in the summer, as they love the softer food. It is also draws all types of Woodpeckers. Be sure to use an all-season suet for the warmer months. Clean feeders monthly. Wash them out with soapy water, then disinfect with a weak bleach solution.

If you want more information about attracting birds to your garden, ask your local Alabama Cooperative Extension office. (the Tuscaloosa County Office is (205) 349-4630.

ALSO SEE ...

Plant An Alabama Butterfly Garden

Plant A Garden "For The Birds"