Attracting Backyard Birds and Wildlife to the Suburban Garden

A year and a half ago, I made a decision to purposefully try to attract wildlife to my suburban garden. I had the opportunity to hear the founder of High Country Gardens,  David Salman  speak while in Austin, Texas.  He spoke about the importance of suburban gardens and the role that small gardens can play in protecting and nourishing wildlife.

Songbirds are disappearing. Insects are disappearing. What can one small, suburban garden do when the problem of disappearing wildlife seems overwhelming?

A famous line in the J.R.R. Tolken book 'The Fellowship of the Ring' comes to mind: "Even the smallest person can change the course of the future".

The point of Salman's talk was that even the 'smallest garden' can make an impact on turning the tide of protecting wildlife. I believe that and decided to put this idea into action. I've seen evidence of this as some of my blogging friends gardens. Chickadee Gardens and The Humming Gardener have inspired me over the years with their intentional way of providing safe spaces for wildlife to thrive in their gardens.

Collectively, small urban and suburban gardens can make a dramatic impact in saving songbirds and insects.

Here's what I've learned:

Provide a clean and consistent water source.

Pictured above - a shallow bee and bird bath that I keep full. I have placed marbles in it, particularly for bees in the warm months. Chickadees like it too.

Pictured above, a large, deeper bird bath that sits in a partially sunny spot. I keep this bird bath full all year round. It has one taller stone to for perching. It's deep, but not more than 2" when full of water. All types of visiting birds frequent this spot for drinking and bathing,

Provide shelter - bird and bee houses, as well as plants that can offer different layers and heights for birds to rest and nest upon.

Bird houses placed high in the trees to tempt the birds to nest

Provide food - insects are the key. A pesticide free home and garden is essential. No bugs = No birds. I also have feeders with different types of seed as well as feeders for hummingbirds. What is most important is providing natural food sources for birds and bees. 

Bird feeder (Squirrel proof) with bee balm for the hummingbirds in the background

I love plants, all different kinds of plants but now I have a focus....plants for pollinators and plants that support wildlife. I've been making edits in my garden with an emphasis on supporting bees and hummingbirds (who stay year round).

I've added several salvias in my front gardens, where the most sun is had. In my zone 8b garden, Salvia 'Black and Blue' is a perennial and salvia 'Amistad' is as well when the winters are mild.

Coneflowers are a personal favorite, but they are beloved by bees and butterflies. I do not cut them down in the winter as they provide seeds for birds in the winter

I let the naturalized nasturtiums run wild in the summer months - it's favorite of the bumble bees and hummingbirds

Instead of growing vegetables that my family won't eat (maybe someday?) my raised boxes in the backyard now host cut flower gardens that the bees enjoy.

So, who's been visiting my little suburban garden? Well...the hummingbirds sure have.....

This winter a family of Lesser Goldfinches have been regulars at the thistle feeder. 

Below, more feathered friends that I've photographed this autumn.

Black Capped Chickadee

Red Breasted Nuthatch

Song Sparrow

Junco

Ruby Crowned Kinglet

Downy woodpecker (I believe)

Here's a list of the visiting birds I've documented this past year:

Robins

Blue Jays (Stellar and Scrub)

Juncos

Pilated Woodpecker

Downey Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Evening Grosbeaks

Flickers

Gold Finches

Lesser Gold Finches

Spotted Towhee

House Finch

Song Sparrow

White Crowned Sparrow

Golden Crowned Sparrow

Ruby Crowned Kinglet

Grackle (gah!!)

Chestnut Backed Chickadees 

Black Capped Chickadees

Red Breasted Nuthatches

Anna Hummingbirds

Rufus Hummingbirds

Red Winged Blackbird

Sharp Skinned Hawk

Not too shabby for a little suburban garden. I find the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife's page for bird identification helpful.

My next steps are to improve the plant diversity that supports wildlife in my garden. I will be looking to add some strategic winter blooming plants, specifically during Dec/Jan bloom period. I also plan to add more salvias and penestmons to provide good food for the hummingbirds in the warmer months.

Overall, my goal will be to evaluate the current plants in my gardens. I need to ask hard questions like: Is this plant water-wise? Does the plant support wildlife? Is the plant native or climate adapted?

As a lover of unique plants, it's a balance of keeping ornamental plants for my personal pleasure and creating a landscape that supports my broader goals of supporting wildlife. Available planting space is prime real estate in small gardens and I'm finding that a more focused approach has been helpful to determine what makes the cut.

A Hunts Bumblee enjoying Ceanothus 'Victoria'

Back to the idea that a small garden can make a positive impact on attracting and supporting wildlife.....I think I'm getting closer my goal. I consider my gardens to be an ever changing canvas. I can edit and continue to evolve this living palette.

Mid Spring blooms of Siberian Iris (Iris Siberica), Oregon Sunshine (Eriophyllum lanatum) and Euphorbia Wulfenii in the background

Small but Mighty. I think all suburban and urban gardens can be a part of the solution to support song birds and insects. Here are some resources for additional reading:

https://www.gardendesign.com/eco-friendly/wildlife.html

https://blog.nature.org/science/2015/07/20/5-simple-tips-your-yard-pollinator-paradise-bees-butterflies-decline/

https://www.nwf.org/garden-for-wildlife

https://savvygardening.com/wildlife-garden-project/

https://www.audubon.org/news/17-tips-making-your-backyard-wildlife-friendly-budget#

https://www.citylab.com/design/2019/06/national-pollinator-week-bees-birds-butterflies-flower-garden/592267/

Cheers, Jenni