Wrapping Up a Productive Year

Annual Meeting

Pee Wee Audubon

Summer Vacation

Thank You

Observations

Midweek Walkabout Results

Pee Wee Report

Volunteers Needed

Planning for Pee Wee

City Backs Off Kelly Farm

Welcome New Members

Annual Financial Report

Birdathon Sponsors

Backyard Birding: Birds in Your Yard

Through the Garden Gate

Backyard Birding: Birds in Your Yard

by Judy Brinkerhoff

Birds bring to a yard a flash of color, the delight of song, flurries of activity, a feeling of aliveness, a sense of the joy of the moment. Try to imagine a world without birds; how lifeless it would seem.

I can name about 40 species of birds that visit my yard over the period of a year. Many of them live in trees around my house. They visit for several reasons: my yard is surrounded by open meadows and oak canyons; I provide year-round water, seed, and grain; and, I've spent several years planting native and drought-resistant shrubs and perennials with the well-being of birds in mind.

In exchange for my labors, I receive daily pleasure from the birds' activities and songs. They give direct and continuous reinforcement for my gardening efforts. Watching birds, being around them, makes me feel connected to the earth and to nature. Providing for them allows me to feel that I can do something to assist in the earth's constant battle to maintain its variety of species. 

In a practical sense, birds provide a check and balance system to insect pests. They are nature's vacuum cleaners. For instance, several years ago, I noticed hummingbirds continually working under the deep eaves of my house and around the edges of the plate glass windows. To my amazement, I discovered that, besides being nectar feeders, hummingbirds feast on tiny insects and spiders.

Surprisingly enough, it doesn't take much to tempt birds into your yard. Their needs are fairly simple: shelter, food, and water. Birds are opportunistic, and will make the best of many situations. But you can design a landscape that will fit your yard and your needs, and still provide for the basic requirements of many birds. With one or two well-placed feeders, bird baths, or even nest boxes, you've got a great start. The next step is adding some perennials, annuals, trees, or shrubs that provide food or shelter. In the next issue of the Leaves, I will present several plants for shade and several for sun that are easily obtained and easy to grow.

I would love to hear from you if you've had good experiences with plants that tempt birds. I'll pass the information along to other readers. Please write me at Post Office Box 877, Forestville, California 95436.