When choosing trees and shrubs for home ground beautification, we should keep in mind their landscape value and their value as havens of refuge and food sources for birds.
Thus we may enjoy the enlivening flashes of birds’ wings about our homes, their cheerful songs, and their entertaining seasonal antics without violating the principles of landscape design.
List Of Plants Inviting To Birds
In compiling a list of plants that are especially inviting to birds with special reference as well to their landscape value, G. W. Longenecker of the University of Wisconsin has performed a very helpful service for horticulturists and their prospective customers who want to get together on those species that please both birds and humans.
Thus the customer can bring into the relative confinement of his suburban home life something of the charm of the woodland-dotted countryside.
Happily for us, much of Longenecker’s painstaking observations that have been recorded in his Circular 514, “Landscape Plants That Invite Birds,” are confirmed in our own landscape plantings in southern Michigan.
Cardinals In Early Spring
Its colorful and melodious cardinals gorge themselves upon the fruits of our fragrant viburnum. (Viburnum Carlese), or mayflower viburnum or Korean spicebush.
Cardinals were still visiting us in early spring before the beautiful waxy flower clusters of this handsome shrub opened during May with a fragrance that reminds us of the arbutus-scented woodlands much farther north.
Other Interesting And Entertaining Bird Species
Many other interesting and entertaining species, including:
- Blue-jays
- Catbirds
- Chickadees
- Meadowlarks
- Orioles
- Quail
- Robins
- Song sparrows
- Wrens
It uses our shrubs and trees in the season to give us year-round companionship and entertainment.
Longenecker declares after a thorough, systematic, and evidently enjoyable study of the subject that we can invite to our surroundings just about any birds we want by the type of home area we prepare.
Needs Of Specific Birds
The wants of our birds are so simple that they are easy enough to provide for. They want food, water, and a cover that affords reasonably safe nesting sites.
Some birds want a place to sing their songs that are rewarded enough to the homeowner for his planning and efforts on their behalf.
Catbirds
For instance, catbirds like to nest well off the ground in a clump of bushy growth that pleases the brown thrasher.
But the latter nests on the ground and needs protection from household pets. Incidentally, well-fed household pets are not so very hazardous to birds, as we have learned.
BlueBirds and House Wrens
Bluebirds and house wrens like clearings and sunlight and man-made nest boxes for shelter if natural protection to their specifications is unavailable.
Cardinals nest in bushy growth near the house but choose higher spots for their recitals.
The last time we used our picnic table, a cardinal perched on an eaves high utility wire pulled a saucy switch on us bird-watchers as he did a little people-watching while thrilling us with the typical song of the loud, clear whistles.
Viburnums
Probably no group of shrubs is regarded more highly now by landscape designers than the viburnums, which are becoming more and more popular with the introduction of handsome new types.
Of these, several species are notably good sources of fall and winter food. In addition, they serve as dinner hosts for about 28 species of birds, notably cardinals.
Species of Viburnum
Among these bird-inviting species of viburnum are:
- Arrowwood ( Viburnum Dentatum)
- Nannyberry ( Viburnum Lentago)
- Blackhaw ( Viburnum Prunifolium)
- American Cranberry (Viburnum Trilobum)
- Our Own Cherished Mayflower ( Viburnum Carlesi)
Susceptibility to fatal graft rotting often charged against Viburnum carlesi can certainly be overcome by planting these treasures in a well-drained sunny location.
The 10-year-old specimens on the north side of our house are 7’ feet tall now and 6’ feet broad and still just as vigorous and floriferous in their season as anything on our home grounds.
Dogwoods
Some of the double-purpose shrubby plant materials that are good sources of fall food for birds are the following:
- Silky Dogwood (Cornus Amornum)
- Cornelian Cherry (Cornus Mas)
- Gray Dogwood (Cornus Racemosa)
- Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus Stolonifera)
For instance, according to Longenecker’s observations, more than 80 species of birds catch the blue fruits of the silky dogwood.
Elders
The elders, like the American elder (Sambucus canadensis) and scarlet elder (S. pubens) are hardly candidates for the small home grounds. Still, they tolerate a wide range of soil conditions from moist to drouthy.
Where they may be used, these thrifty shrubs furnish good cover for birds and produce enormous quantities of excellent fall food for over 100 species known to consume the berries.
Among medium-sized shrubs are:
- Red chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia)
- Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)
- Common winterberry (Ilex verticillata)
They are good sources of fall food that are relished by more than a dozen species of birds.
Dual Purpose Trees
Amelanchier species are good landscape materials and furnish excellent summer food for many species of birds, such as:
- Shadblow Serviceberry (Amelanchier Canadensis)
- Allegheny Serviceberry (Amelanchier Laevis),
- The Very Ornamental Pagoda Dogwood (Corpus Alternifolia).
Good Sources Of Fall and Winter Food
Hawthorns are becoming more and more popular as flowering trees in contemporary landscaping.
These are good sources of fall and winter food for about 80 species of birds, particularly the following:
- The cockspur hawthorn (Crataegus crusgalli) and Washington hawthorn (Crataegus phaenopyrum).
- American plum (Prunus americana) is a good source of fall food.
- Japanese flowering crab (Mains floribunda) is a good winter food source.
- American mountain ash (Sorbus americana) and European mountain ash (Surbus aucuparia) furnish good fall and winter food in abundance that is liked especially by robins and waxwings.
- Among larger trees, the good winter bird food furnished by common hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) is generally liked.
- The excellent fall food from black cherry (Prunus serotina) is enjoyed by 35 species of birds including cedar waxwings.
Good Source Of Summer Food
- The common chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) is a good summer food source for more than 70 birds.
- Among the medium-sized trees, red mulberry (Mores Rubra) is a prolific yielder of excellent summer food that appeals to more than 50 species.
- Pin cherry (Prunus pensylvanica) attracts about 25 species for summer fare.
According to our experience, red mulberry, in particular, should not be grown near driveways or other avenues of traffic because of the objectionable mess of pulpy berries that would be underfoot during the ripening season.
Good Source Of Late Winter Food
Yellow birch (Betula lutea) is a good source of late winter food that finches like.
Of course, any plant materials are more or less inviting to some birds or others for protection, nesting, and sustenance.
However, bird lovers who carefully choose those shrubs and trees that are wholly acceptable for home ground beautification will derive the most enjoyment from their surroundings throughout the year.
44659 by Gordon Morrison