Going native! Feeding the Birds!

Forum Archives

DebbieTT

Location: Washington, Kitsap Peninsula

Posted: Jun-11-2004 at 12:41pm

Over the last 7 years I have watched the habitat dwindle in my neighborhood as 1/2 acre lots are cleared and burned of Big leaf maples, and a variety of conifers and a new home goes in and a desert of grass goes in. Neighbors on both sides of me are wanting me to get rid of the hedge of Salmon berries on the back of my property. Underneath the salmon berries it is a bit of a peat bog wetland with many various plants growing in the shade of the berries such as piggy back plants. This area helps filter contaminants of the crap my neighbors are putting on their lawns. This drains into the Puget Sound not more than a mile away.

So as the neighborhood habitat dwindles away, I am trying to create and/or restore habitat.

Major plants in my landscape are plants that feed the birds. Although it took up to four years to convince the fruit eating birds that the hedge of Viburnum trilobum was cool to eat. Now they partake of the fruit along a hedge just outside my window where I type this message. In the winter the colorful red berries hang like ornaments all winter long. Now that the birds know it is edible they also provide movement and color to the scene.

What are you growing that feeds the birds? When the going gets tough, the tough need a hug.

Garden Spider

Location: Washington, Puget Sound Corridor

Posted: Jun-11-2004 at 5:20pm

Currently, only a non-native Holly that will be taken out this year, and a Vaccinium, that I suspect is Evergreen Huckleberry. I do have several Salals, but they are still too small to be a significant food source.

I do want to add more native plants to feed the birds, and am slowly building up the inventory. Wish I had room for Salmonberries! We are trying to exterminate the Blackberries (reluctantly, on my part--the birds like them, and so do I). I have planted Fragaria chiloensis in front--we'll see if it produces berries. Barb

Human beings do not eat nutrients; they eat food ---Mary Catherine Bateson

Phlox

Location: Washington, Southwestern

Posted: Jun-11-2004 at 7:55pm

Keep your wild places Debbie, poo-poo to your neighbors. Maybe someday their places will go wild.

I am not going to try to use the botanical names for this short note (sorry). I have two Evergreen Hucks that some of the birds have finally discovered and the only one they have to compete with is my 17 year old grandaughter....they win.

I mentioned before that I do a lot of dead-heading, which I am trying to break the habit of. I'll try leaving seed heads till spring.

I have a woodbine vine on my front fence that the Starlings like the berries of. And under my Magnolia and a couple of other places I have kinnickinick, some Salal, Oregon grape, Ornimental grasses, and I'm sure other plants I can't think of off the top of my head right now. I've also noticed some of the little birds in the spring when the moss puts out seed, that they like those also. I've also left the seed pods on my Vibernum and of course the flowering Currant.

And of course, the ever present hanging seed feeders from the Peanut Butter Tree

Thank you for opening this special place for these special topics, I'm sure it will fill up fast.........I almost forgot, all the flowers for the hummers.....thats another post

"The only limit to your garden is at the boundaries of your imagination." -Thomas D.Church

Garden Spider

Location: Washington, Puget Sound Corridor

Posted: Jun-12-2004 at 6:21am

There are plants here that I'm sure weren't planted for the birds, but that I've noticed the birds love--I've seen bushtits on the silk tree when it flowers, tearing at the poofy blossoms. Have not the slightest idea what they get from it. And of course, the neighbor's Doug Fir, planted right on the property line, with branches hanging over on our side--birds find plenty to eat there, between insects and cones. And of course, there are plenty of weeds--I've seen Goldfinch perch on a dandelion stalk, and rip into the seed fluff. We have an old apple tree; I don't know if birds eat the apples, but squirrels do. The Forsythia are always dripping with birds, I suspect there is food there--seeds or insects.

Very few plants do not provide food for birds--either seeds, fruit, or insects. I try to garden organically, with no pesticides or herbicides, and while many of my plants get chewed up by insect pests, I also find I have an abundance of beneficial insects as well, and birds.

The swallows nesting on the porch have eggs, now, and very soon the parents will be kept busy catching insects to feed the brood. Another reason to encourage these birds to stay!

Barb

Human beings do not eat nutrients; they eat food ---Mary Catherine Bateson

Debbie

Location: Washington Coast

Posted: Jun-12-2004 at 10:36am

Originally posted by Phlox

Keep your wild places Debbie, poo-poo to your neighbors. Maybe someday their places will go wild.

I mentioned before that I do a lot of dead-heading, which I am trying to break the habit of. I'll try leaving seed heads till spring.

Thank you for opening this special place for these special topics, I'm sure it will fill up fast.........I almost forgot, all the flowers for the hummers.....thats another post

Phlox, I definately am keeping the salmon berries no matter what my neighbors think. They can't tell the difference between a blackberry and a salmon berry. They offer a nice buffer to the greenbelt behind me. It was fun to find all sorts of little wildlife trails when one year I hacked a small trail back through it. Too much to maintain though and I like that there is a refuge for the birds in the thicket. I don't need to go back in there.

Breaking the deadheading habit is hard to do, but oh when you watch the birds on the seedheads in winter picking apart the seeds to feed themselves that is a reward in itself. Of course last year I broke the habit so bad I still have some out there. I am way behind my cleanup chores this year.

I am going to do a TOTW on hummingbird plants sometime this year, hopefully before fall when it is a good time to plant.

Debbie

Location: Washington Coast

Posted: Jun-12-2004 at 10:47am

Originally posted by Garden Spider

The swallows nesting on the porch have eggs, now, and very soon the parents will be kept busy catching insects to feed the brood. Another reason to encourage these birds to stay!

Barb, Like you, I love the swallow tails! In writing practice the other day I wrote about their swooping and diving, and how fascinated I am with their aerial acrobatics. They are one of the best mosquito controllers out there too! I know I have to put off the garage building until the fledglings are out of the nest. I hope the contractor will understand!

Lisa A

Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro

Posted: Jun-12-2004 at 1:13pm

I used to keep tabs on the birds I spotted in my garden. At last count, I had 27 birds listed. One of two of these were one-times but there did visit. Not bad, considering that I live smack in the middle of suburbia with its on-going development. I am thrilled that my efforts to create a garden of beauty for me and habitat for birds and other wildlife is proving successful.

Among my criteria for choosing plants is habitat. Not all meet this need - face it, I'm a sucker for a pretty face as much as anyone - but many do either with seed or berry, attracting insects, which birds eat, or by providing nest sites or nest materials. It would be a long list if I included all of them so I'll list the natives that provide berry or seed.

red-flowering currant, Ribes sanquineum
red-twig dogwood, Cornus sericea
evergreen huckleberry, Vaccinium ovatum
red huckleberry, Vaccinium parvifolium
Indian-plum, Oemlaria cerisiformis
California wax myrtle, Myrica californica
vine maple, Acer circinatum
salal, Gaultheria shallon
tall Oregon-grape, Mahonia aquifolium syn Berberis aquifolium
Cascade Oregon-grape (I refuse to call it dull Oregon-grape!), Mahonia nervosa syn. Berberis nervosa
star-flowered and false Solomon's seal, Smilacena stellata and Smilacena racemosa
snowberry, Symphoricarpos albus
hairy manzanita, Arctostaphylos columbianum
kinnikinnick, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Douglas fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii
red elderberry, Sambucus racemosa

Wow, that was a bigger list than I thought it would be. Can you imagine how much longer it would be if I included all my plants, native and non-native, that provide for birds? I have more than met the requirements for my garden to be a National Wildlife Federation certified Backyard Wildlife Habitat (certified 2002 after much nagging, er, I mean, encouragement from a friend who worked for them at the time).

Gardening requires lots of water - most of it in the form of perspiration. - Lou Erickson.

Garden Spider

Location: Washington, Puget Sound Corridor

Posted: Jun-12-2004 at 2:35pm

Originally posted by Debbie

I am going to do a TOTW on hummingbird plants sometime this year, hopefully before fall when it is a good time to plant.

Oh, doing the happy dance here! This will be one for me to print out!

Barb

Human beings do not eat nutrients; they eat food ---Mary Catherine Bateson

Lisa A

Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro

Posted: Jun-14-2004 at 9:55am Next year, if it all works out, I will arrange our 3rd Portland area Rainy Side gathering. I will make a note (although reminders won't hurt) to include Ken and Abby Crouch's garden among the many we visit. Abby speaks regularly (she has spoken at the Seattle flower show) on hummingbirds and gardening for them. Their garden is hummingbird heaven! You would be doing the happy dance many times over, Barb, in her garden with all the hummers happily visiting and swooping (and now and then stoppping for a photo op).

Hummers returned to my garden last year after a year's absence. I never did figure out why they were AWOL that one year - I hadn't changed anything to affect their habitat but it's possible that something else along their migration route affected them. I really missed them and I was thrilled when I spotted them in my garden again. Their brief absence made me step up my efforts to plant flowers that would attract them. Have you ever seen a hummer do his mating dance? What incredibly amazing aerial maneuvers!

Gardening requires lots of water - most of it in the form of perspiration. - Lou Erickson.

JeanneK

Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro

Posted: Jun-17-2004 at 7:54am

Lisa, that would be cool to have a RS gathering in Portland. If you need help organizing, let me know.

I haven't seen any hummingbirds yet but my crocosmia is not blooming yet and they always bring out the hummers. They particularly like "Lucifer".

Jeanne

Sydnie

Location: Western Washington

Posted: Jun-17-2004 at 4:33pm

Debbie- I know what you mean. We plant trees, don't cut anything native on the edges around our yard. But almost all of our neighbors are clearing their property. In fact over time we have planted about- guessing- 60 new trees. The 15 acres below us is not selling. I am grateful for this. It will be expensive to access if someone buys it. Ahh- thats too darn bad. I wish I could afford about 100 acres. Or at least the 15 below us. LOL. I have heard people go on and on about how horrid the lumber co.'s are about cutting down trees and ruining the forests. I beg to differ. They, by law, have to replant. And they do a very good job. (At least in WA. state.)

Urban sprawl is the # one threat I see to wildlife of Oregon and Washington. Very few people leave habitat for animals on their property once they buy it. Many people use nasty products considered 'safe', haha, to control weeds, blackberries, etc. Real yummy in our well water. If I don't want to drink it- I'm probably not using it on my plants- if at all possible. > A good rule of thumb. I don't give a flying leap what my neighbors think. I could tell them what I think about how they manage their property if they care to give me their opinion. LOL. People really don't realize what a great resource unpoluted water and wildlife habitat is. I never could figure that out, esp. since we require it to survive.

I think a good TOTW discussion would be- attracting beneficial insects to your garden. Hmmm. Something I really don't know too much about. A good natural 'pesticide'!

Lisa - The Crouch's garden- that's one I won't miss, no matter what!!! That would be wonderful!!! I am taking note of that crocosmia 'Lucifer' Jeanne. GREAT list Lisa!!! I am always looking to add more hummingbird and bird plants! Esp. plants that bloom from now to Sept. I am lacking blooms for them starting about now. Next yr. I will be doing the happy dance in the Crouch's garden with Barb. LOL.

I too am anxious for that TOTW on plants attracting hummingbirds- but I think you already got that started Barb. LOL Am I wrong. Your other post about hummers? I love it!!

The Earth Laughs in Flowers. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Lisa A

Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro

Posted: Jun-22-2004 at 10:35am

Thanks, Jeanne, I'll be sure to take you up on your offer of help!

Here's a link I should have posted sooner but I forget (that durn CRS disease) to include. Bosky Dell Nursery, a Portland area native plant nursery has an informative web page that includes useful info regarding bird habitat and native plants and includes a link for hedgerow plant suggestions. See Gardening for birds.

Sydnie, I've added "attracting beneficial insects" to our list of topics for future TOTWs. Thanks for the suggestion! Gardening requires lots of water - most of it in the form of perspiration. - Lou Erickson.

Phlox

Location: Washington, Southwestern

Posted: Jun-23-2004 at 2:43pm

Thanks so much for the link Lisa. I've considered putting more bushes in one corner of my small backyard for the birds and the list Bosky Dell has will help a lot. I've also thought that I will be looking for bushes that I can trim the bottom out of as my cat (and neighbor cats) likes to hide under them to watch the birds, and you know the rest of that story.

I also have tried to keep a list of the birds that I have seen in my yard and am thrilled that I have had a stopping place for them, even if its only been once (or more,when I haven't seen them).

It also just occurred to me, do birds eat just the beneficial insects or do they also eat the bad ones?? Do they know the difference?? I know that they left off eating the little stinky bugs that suck the necter out of my columbine flowers, and can they find the spittle bugs and eat them?? So, I'm wondering if they know something we don't know??..............Linda

"The only limit to your garden is at the boundaries of your imagination." -Thomas D.Church

JeanneK

Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro

Posted: Jun-24-2004 at 8:42am

Great link, Lisa. Very informative. I have a lot of the native shrubs in the list but maybe the plants aren't old enough yet to entice the birds. Phlox, I have the same problem with my cats (and the neighbors cats), sitting under the plants, lying in wait for the poor birds. Got to remember to cut off all the low branchs! Those darn cats!

Jeanne

Gardening for the Homebrewer: Grow and Process Plants for Making Beer, Wine, Gruit, Cider, Perry, and More

By co-authors Debbie Teashon (Rainy Side Gardeners) and Wendy Tweton

Top of page