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Category: Yards

Creating a backyard refuge for birds takes just a little planning

Although there is still much to do in the garden, the season is starting to wind down, leaving more time to pursue old and new interests. I've always loved watching and feeding the birds but I never really got serious about it until last week, when I decided I would love to be able to take pictures of them. I found that one of the ways to attract more birds to your yard is make it a refuge.

I didn't quite know what a backyard refuge is and wondered how much it would cost to create one. After reading the list on National Wildlife Federation's Web site I realized I already had most of the requirements to have a certified backyard refuge and the ones I lacked were inexpensive to obtain.

The lists includes:

• Food for the birds or wildlife: It can be a mixture of natural vegetation or feeders.
• Water supply: including ponds, lakes, birdbaths, etc.
• Cover for wildlife: Shrubs and brush piles are good.
• A place for wildlife to raise their young: nesting boxes, plants that moths or butterflies can lay their eggs in, etc.
• Let your garden grow green: by going green you can conserve natural resources and by planting native plants you stop using as much fertilizer.

I do have a bird feeder and see evidence that birds have used it, but they haven't stayed too long. I think it sits too close to the house (the other side of the post has our house number) and they probably don't like the activity. So I'll be looking for more birdhouses in the future.

We already have many trees with fruit and bushes for wildlife to find shelter. but I think it would be neat to have a butterfly bush so I'll be staking out a place in our backyard to plant one next spring.

One more inexpensive easy way to provide shelter is a brush pile - maybe in the far corner of our backyard there is room. I'll get started tomorrow with leftover grape vines. Hope Bat won't mind too much.

I think it will be awhile before birds come back to my backyard, so to encourage them I've put another bird feeder out and yesterday I also bought suet and a holder to put it in. I found a web site with a easy to make suet recipe at Organic Garden Buzz so next time I need to replace the suet it will be homemade.

If you are interested in making your backyard a wildlife refuge, most of these things are easy and inexpensive to get us on your way.

You can catch up with my garden at Gardening in Lower MI.