Witchhazel and Nannyberry are shrubs that are shade tolerant. Both provide cover and color. Nannyberry also bears a purple fruit perfect for wildlife.

Texas Clematis and Jessamine are vines that can enhance a fence row or rock ridge. In addition to providing cover, their flowers will provide color for your eye and food for the birds.

The National Wildlife Federation has an excellent Backyard Habitat program (www.nwf.org). Consult this site and your local/state wildlife department. Be sure to ask about native plants and xeriscaping. Native plants are those well adapted to your area and hence are easier to start and maintain. Native plants typically will fit well into the concept of xeriscaping. Xeriscaping is using plants that do not require as much watering. You will be conserving natural resources as well as establishing a curb appeal to your abode.

Birds typically eat insects, seeds, fruits, nuts and berries. When you are planning your backyard environment, you should include species of flowers to attract insects and spiders. For fruits, nuts and berries, chooses a variety of plants, shrubs and trees which will continue to produce food as the seasons change. Another option is birdfeeders. The most common food for birdfeeders is sunflower seeds along with corn and millet. There are different styles of birdfeeders with different feeding areas to attract various species of birds including hanging feeders, platform feeders, tube feeders and suet (for birds to eat insect) feeders.

Safe water, free of pollutants and away from predators is extremely important to birds. Birds use water for drinking, bathing and cleaning their feathers. If you choose a birdbath, make sure it has some rough edges so the birds can get solid footing Birds are attracted to the sound of running or moving water so if you are lucky enough to have a stream, you have a great start. Ponds or pools should have stones, pebbles or sand for the birds.

Providing shelter or cover will protect the birds when they feed and nest. Many birds like to scrounge for food on the ground and look for areas where they can’t be seen by potential enemies. They also need place to build their nests. A combination of dense twigs, shrubs, plants and trees along with thorny plants such as roses with shield the birds. You should also have some open grassy areas. The greenery and shrubbery will also provide great nesting material for the wild birds. You can also set up nest boxes which will provide a place for hole-nesters and their babies since most backyards won’t have their normal habitat, dead trees. You can also either buy or build bird houses in your backyard, providing a safe haven from the wind, rain and cold.

One of the simplest ways not to scare birds away from your backyard and providing happy safe area to raise their young is to keep other animals away, especially cats. Following these easy tips and you will be able to enjoy many wild birds calling your backyard home.

These feathered creatures add dimension to every part of your garden. There songs create a lovely atmosphere, and showy colors rival even your most elaborate blooms in beauty. Birds do not flock to just any garden, however, so you’ll need to know what kinds of factors birds look for in a habitat.

The relationship between the birds and your garden is a a symbiotic one.The birds give your garden a beautiful atmosphere, while the garden provides food, water, and shelter for the birds. Your garden may very well become a regular resting spot for many different species of birds if you take their needs into consideration in the creation of your garden.

There are 3 major elements which need to be achieved in order to draw in different species of birds. Food, shelter, and water are the three life giving elements which your garden needs to provide. The first of these necessities is food.

Food is one of the most obvious factors to include in your garden, and is the most important attraction for birds. First determine what food sources your garden does have, and what kinds you are lacking. Sources of food such as fruits, berries, shrubs, and vines are good basics to include. Plants within these categories include Dogwoods, Virginia creeper, Crabapples, Viburnums or any other fruit and berry bearing plants. Even the flower heads of perennial and annual flowers will attract numerous bird species to your garden. Don’t forget seeds from purple coneflowers and sunflowers.

Now that you have an attractive food source, you can begin to determine what you’ll do for a suitable shelter for your birds. Trees and shrubs with dense green foliage or thickets of shrubs will provide excellent sheltering and a protective place for the birds to avoid extreme weather conditions. These areas also give birds a hiding place from predators and a safe nesting space. Be creative and use your imagination to design a beautiful safe haven for your bird friends. Even the most secluded and remote places of your garden can be used for growing tress, shrubs, and vines to create an excellent living environment for the birds. Fences are a great structure on which to grow vines for your birds. Keep moderation in your ideas, as well, however. Overgrowing your garden’s greenery can lead to an unattractive forest that birds might love, but you won’t enjoy it.

Water is a crucial element in any bird garden, and is easy to provide. A small fountain, waterfall, or simple birdbath can give an attractive answer for your birds’ hydration requirements. Birds will use this water supply to drink from and bathe in, so make sure to keep the supply fresh and clean.

A bird friendly garden is easy to achieve if you use these steps and keep in mind what a bird would enjoy in your garden. You can attract many species of birds, and eventually gather an entire community around your popular garden.

Many people, however, are unaware that there are different kinds of features that are intended to attract different types of birds. Putting up one kind or another can be a very easy way to start getting many different kinds of birds to begin calling a backyard a welcome place to be. In general, a very common type of feeder is one that’s called a “seed feeder.”

A seed feeder usually comes in a certain style and with certain functions, to start. Most bird enthusiasts want to make sure they’re attracting plenty of birds and not so many squirrels, who are opportunistic and intelligent enough to see the possibility of a free meal when it’s hanging up right in front of them. That’s why going with a squirrel-proof feeder is highly recommended.

Several excellent squirrel-proof seed feeders are available nowadays for purchase. A particularly high-tech version is being made that’s sensitive to the weight of a squirrel. For example, a squirrel may land on it somehow and trigger the mechanism, which quickly shuts the doors of the feeder, preventing the squirrel from getting at the seed. Eventually, the frustrated little animal will stomp off.

There are several other kinds of squirrel-proof feeders that aren’t quite so high-tech but are effective nonetheless. One sits on top of a pole and is equipped with a set of baffles that prevent squirrels from getting at the seed. Other people, though, while not into seed-feeding birds do like hummingbirds and other such avian species that live off of nectar. Many feeders are available for them, too.

These hummingbird-specific feeders usually contain a reservoir which can be filled with store-bought nectar or nectar made up from various common ingredients. Most hold at least a pint of the liquid and the feeder is excellent at attracting these beautiful little birds, who happily flit to and fro, drinking from the nectar station. The best part is that they’re actually not very expensive, happily.

There are many bird feeders available these days that come with a variety of capabilities, functions and specific bird species attractants. Some are made to draw in seed-feeding birds while others are meant more for hummingbirds and other species that like nectar. Some are also available unassembled while others come complete and ready for action. Just about all are also fairly reasonable in price, for what it’s worth.

When it gets cold and the winter winds blow, many “snow bunnies” move south to live in warmer weather. Many birds migrate south also, taking advantage of milder temperatures and southern cuisine with a greater variety of insects and seeds. However, you have many year-round residents who are joined by other birds that migrate only as far as your backyard so it is important to create a living area that is enticing to them.

Check over your back yard. Provide a pile of brush or bushes for birds and animals to hide in when predators approach. Small birds will look for shelter from sparrow hawks and other predators. Leave dead trees standing through the winter so woodpeckers can find food and build nests in cavities. Consider providing plants and trees with fruits and berries. The search for food starts at dawn and continues till dusk. If birds are able to eat enough, they will store enough energy to survive a very cold winter’s night. Then they start the process all over again for another day.

Meals for your winter birds must be served in appropriate bird feeders and not just thrown on the ground where it can be spoiled by dampness, mold and pesticides. Choose a location that has easy access for you, so the bird feeders can be refilled in cold weather. Select a place where discarded seed shells and bird droppings won’t be a cleanup problem. Place your feeders out of reach of the neighborhood cats and other predators. The most effective way to attract a large variety of birds to your yard is to put out separate feeders for each of your banquets for the birds.

Don’t forget that even in winter, birds need to drink. Eating snow (if there is any) just doesn’t get it. Sometimes the birds suffer more for lack of water than food. A heated birdbath with fresh unfrozen water will prove attractive to many of your winter visitors.