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Landscape
for Different Wildlife |
| Plant
fruiting shrubs, vines and trees, such as hollies, viburnums,
dogwoods, chokeberry, Virginia creeper and hawthorn. In general,
plant species that have fleshy fruits (such as mulberry) or make
small berries (such as Yaupon holly) to ensure that birds do not
choke on them. These will attract fruit-eating robins, mockingbirds,
bluebirds, brown thrashers and cedar waxwings, as well as box
turtles, raccoons, opossums and squirrels.
Provide protective cover from predators
such as housecats and sharp-shinned hawks. Hawks may just be looking
for mice or other rodents underneath the feeder. However, to protect
birds from potential predators, place feeders 8-10 feet from a brush
pile or thick shrubbery. This will provide excellent escape cover.
Plant species that mimic natural habitat.
From a wildlife point of view, manicured lawns without native
plantings are sterile environments. Plan your property with a
diversity of trees, shrubs and vines that also are found in the
nearby countryside. Include a mix of open areas surrounded by
plantings of large and small trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants.
Attempt to plant species that will serve multiple functions of
providing both food and shelter for wildlife. |
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Attracting
Birds |
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Nearly
200 bird species spend the winter in Oklahoma. Many migrate here
during winter to escape severe weather and food shortages in their
northern summer breeding range. Other
species like robins and mourning doves are
year-round residents.
Offer different types of food and enhance your
property with native plants. This will
attract a diversity of species in both the winter and summer. You'll
attract many birds to your backyard all year round. |
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Provide
Water Sources |
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Provide
clean water sources year-round. This could include standing
birdbaths or ponds, drippers, misters and flowing creeks. The birds
will drink the water and also clean their feathers, allowing them to
retain more heat in colder temperatures.
If you have a bird bath, ensure that it has
shallow, sloping sides and the water is only one to two inches deep.
If you have a deep birdbath or even a shallow fish pond, you can
easily make them more bird-friendly by placing flat rocks or bricks
in the deep areas. Leave only about one to two inches of water on
top. |
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Provide
Food Sources |
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Maintain
a diversity of feeders year-round. This will enhance the
opportunity of seeing a number of unique bird species in both summer
and winter, including the colorful male goldfinch in breeding
plumage, the blue grosbeak and the elusive painted bunting.
Use at least eight to 12 feeders. Place
them in two to three clusters at different heights. Different bird
species visit different types of feeders. For example, dark-eyed
juncos and Harris’ sparrows prefer to eat from the ground.
Carolina chickadees normally visit feeders hung from trees.
Different foods attract different birds.
Most species that visit bird feeders are seed-eaters and eat
sunflower, millet, corn and thistle. Most woodpeckers prefer
to visit suet. Other species like robins and bluebirds are solely
fruit eaters.
Clean feeders and ground areas underneath
them regularly. Keep spillage and waste to a minimum and protect
food from inclement weather. This will keep rodents and plant weeds
to a minimum. It also will protect birds that visit the feeders from
disease. |
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Food Source
Guidelines |
| Food |
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Birds
Attracted |
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Management
Tips |
| Black
oil sunflower |
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Almost
all seed-eating birds |
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Place
in hanging tube feeder for smaller birds (finches, chickadee,
titmouse, pine siskin)
Place in screened hanging feeder
to attract woodpeckers, nuthatches and brown creeper
Place 3-4’ above ground in
platform/hopper feeder for larger birds (cardinal, blue jay,
house finch)
Place just off ground in platform
feeder for Harris’ sparrow |
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| White
proso millet |
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Sparrows,
dark-eyed junco, mourning dove, quail |
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Place
on or near ground; attracts starlings |
| Cracked
corn |
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Junco,
grackle, sparrows, mourning dove, quail |
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Place
on or near ground; offer in fall and spring |
| Niger
thistle |
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Finches,
sparrows, pine siskin, rufous-sided towhee |
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Place
in hanging thistle feeder |
| Peanuts/nuts/peanut
butter |
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Blue
jay, titmouse, white-crowned sparrow |
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Place
nuts in platform feeder above ground
Rub peanut butter on trees or
hanging pine cones |
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| Safflower |
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Mourning
dove, cardinal, sparrows |
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Place
in hopper or hanging feeders |
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Primarily
used as an alternative to sunflower |
| Suet
cakes/deer ribs |
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Woodpeckers,
nuthatches, chickadee, titmouse |
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Hang
in mesh bag or commercial feeder
Rub on cracks in trees or hang
from branches
Mix with 1 part flour and 4 parts
corn meal |
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Berries/grapes/
raisins/apples |
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Red-bellied
woodpecker, robin, mockingbird, bluebird, brown thrasher,
cedar waxwing |
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Place
in tray 3-4’ above ground |
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Hang
sumac stalks with berries for bluebirds |
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| Mealworms |
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Many
fruit-eating birds |
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Offer
in fall and spring |
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