Native plants are a fundamental part of a bird’s life. They provide food, shelter, foraging areas, protective cover from predators, a stage for courting and territorial displays, nest building material, and nest platforms. By planting a variety of trees, shrubs, wildflowers, vines and grasses you can provide an assorted array of resources for the birds in your landscape.
Many native trees can provide habitat as well as food for a variety of birds.
Shrubs such as beauty berry and pokeweed provide an important food supply for birds during the lean times of winter.
Incorporating vines into your landscape can provide food as well as nesting sites. Blackberry and grape are especially useful because they tend to form thickets that not only provide food, but nesting areas, foraging habitat, and protection from predators.
Wildflowers are usually planted for nectaring insects particularly butterflies, however, many birds include not only wildflower seeds in their diet, but also the flowers, unopened flower buds, and tender new leaves.
Native grasses planted in the home landscape will provide birds with seeds, nest building material, cover, and nesting sites.