Don’t you just love this picture? It’s from Birds N’ Such–a delightful blog managed by Virginia-based gardener and bird watcher, Alan Pulley. Since my own garden has a pathetic amount of bird habitat, I often pop over to Birds N’Such for a little vicarious bird watching. Alan takes gorgeous bird photos and has recently been sharing images (including the one above) taken with his Wingscapes BirdCam–a motion activated digital camera designed to take photos of wild birds. How cool is that?

I asked Alan, who is also a vegetable gardener, if he would mind writing a guest post on how to attract birds to the garden and the advantages birds give to a vegetable gardener (since anyone who has ever had their pea seeds plucked from the soil understands the disadvantages). He most generously agreed and I am excited to share his advice with you. Enjoy!

Tips from Birds ‘N Such

I watched one day as a male northern cardinal hopped from one tomato cage to the other, each time peeking into the tomato plants as if he were looking for something. This continued for a few minutes until he finally came out from under one of the plants with his prize – a big, fat, juicy hornworm. Those familiar with growing tomatoes know the type of damage that these worms can cause if left to run free on your tomato plants. Once the cardinal knew where the food source was, he continued to return throughout the summer, keeping my tomato plants pest free.

Having birds in and around our gardens provides a great natural benefit. Birds are willing assistants that help maintain a natural balance between plants and pests. Fortunately, they go to work for us at just the right time. In order to feed their young the protein they need, birds that eat seeds and berries in the fall and winter switch to a more protein based diet consisting of insects and other bugs in the spring and summer.

Fledglings are insatiable and need food every few minutes. So when birds nest in your yard, they consume a lot of nearby insects. Species such as swallows and flycatchers snare flying insects while others like nuthatches and thrashers eat insects from trees and at ground level. If given the right environment, you can attract a wide variety of birds to your yard and benefit from having organic pest control within the garden.

If you want birds to make their homes in your yard, it is important to provide them with a desirable environment. Birds prefer a multi-layered canopy of plants, shrubs and trees of various sizes that offer food, shelter and a place for nesting. The more diversity you have, the better. If you’re not sure where to start, check with your local extension agency for the best suited trees and shrubs in your area. I’m sure they would be glad to provide recommendations or suggest a good book as a reference for your region.

Pay special attention to native plants and trees that already grow in your area. Native species are quicker to establish and are more recognizable to birds and other wildlife. For a quick start, consider adding a basic birdfeeder filled with black-oil sunflower seeds. A birdfeeder will attract a variety of birds to your backyard in no time.

In addition, a water source can bring in even more birds. Not only will this attract the birds already coming to your feeder, but it will also lure a variety of birds, like warblers, to your yard that don’t normally eat at bird feeders. The water source doesn’t have to be elaborate; an upside down garbage can lid placed on the ground or on a table top will do. Add a stone in the center of it for the smaller birds to perch on and keep the water clean and you will have an instant, portable birdbath.

To check out more of Alan’s bird photos, please visit his blog Birds N’ Such (I’m especially partial to the post BirdCam Adventures 3 because it has some great candid shots of chickens!!).

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