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Places where wild animals can live disappear every day — We are losing these creatures because there are fewer and fewer “green” places for them to live.
YOU CAN HELP!
Start a bird garden. Creating a landscape desirable to birds is not difficult. To start, keep in mind the necessities of life for a bird:
Plants
Birds need plants for food, nesting sites, and protection from predators. Plantings should be dense (they can be thorny) and allowed to grow in their natural form. Shaping and trimming shrubs discourages nesting birds, depletes extra leaves used for nest building, and removes flower and fruit food sources. Plants should be located close enough to bird feeders (within 15 to 20 feet) to provide quick protection from predators, yet far enough away so they do not provide “ambush sites” for cats. Dead trees or snags provide much needed nesting and food storage sites for many endangered species of birds. They are in short supply. If there is a dead tree in your yard that is not a hazard or eyesore, why not grow a vine around it and leave it for the birds? Water
People need water. So do birds. Drinking and bathing are essential to a bird’s health. Water may be the single most important factor in attracting birds to your garden. There are many ways to provide water, from a very basic puddle of water on the ground to an elaborate sculptured birdbath or fountain. The birds don’t seem to care as long as it is wet. If you use a birdbath, put it on the ground, under a tree or on a pedestal within 15 or 20 feet of quick cover -- a wet bird cannot make as quick a getaway! Just think of how many times you’ve watched wild birds happily flapping about in a mud puddle and try to recreate that experience in your yard. Food
Do your homework. Different birds look for food at different heights. And, just like people, different birds have different tastes. Sunflower seeds, peanuts and other seeds are always popular. Check out the library for particular favorites.
SHRUBS FOR BIRDS in California
Arbutus unedo (Strawberry Tree) several species Arctostaphylos sp. (Manzanita)
Blue Jay, Mockingbird, Band-tailed Pigeion, Fox Sparrow, Robin, Wren-tit and others.
Cotoneaster Sparrow (Bearberry)
Cedar Waxwing, Warbler, Mockingbird, Robin, Sparrow, Thrush
Heteromeles arbutifolia (Toyon)
Quail, Band-tailed Pigeion and at least 7 other species
Ilex sp. (Holly)
Bluebird, Blue Jay, Chickadee, Cedar Waxwing, Finch, Flicker, Mourning Dove, Mockingbird, Nuthatch, Phoebe, Robin, Thrush, TI, Thrush, Thrasher, Towhee, Vireo, Warbler, Wodpecker
Ligustrum (Privet)
Cedar Waxwing, Finch, Mockingbird, Sparrow, Towhee, wrens
Mahonia sp. (Oregon Grape)
Cedar Waxwing, Mockingbird, Robin, Towhee
Myrica californica (Pacific Wax Myrtle)
Chickadee, Flicker,-Towhee, Warbler, Wren-tit
Pyracantha sp. (Firsthorn)
Blue Jay, Cedar Waxwing, Flicker, Mockingbird, Nuthatch, Robin, Sparrow, Thrush, Thrasher, Towhee, Vireo, Wodpecker
Rhamnus californica (Coffee Berry)
Blue Jay, Cedar Waxwing, Mockingbird, Oriole, Robin, Thrush, Thrush, Thrasher, Warbler
Rhus ovata (Sugarbush)
Quail, Wren-tit, and at least six others
Ribes sp. (Gooseberry)
Bluebird, Finch, Flicker, Robin, Thrush, Thrasher, Towhee
Ribes & rosa californica
Bluebird, Grosbeak, Junko, Mockingbird, Sparrow, Townsend’s Solitaire, Ring-necked Pheasant
Rubus sp. (Blackberry / Berry)
Bluebird, Blue Jay, Cedar Waxwing, Finch, Grosbeak, Mourning Dove, Mockingbird, Phoebe, Robin, Sparrow, Titmouse, Thrush, Thrasher, Towhee, Vireo, Warbler
Sambucus sp. (Elderberry)
Bluebird, Blue Jay, Cedar Waxwing, Finch, Flicker, Grosbeak, Mourning Dove, Mockingbird, Nuthatch, Quail, Phoebe, Robin, Sparrow, Thrush, Titmouse, Thrush, Thrasher, Towhee, Vireo, Warbler, Wodpecker
Symphoricarpos sp. (Snowberry)
Cedar Waxwing, Grosbeak, Robin, Thrush, Thrasher, Towhee
Vaccinum sp. (Huckleberry)
Chickadee, Robin, Flicker, Grouse, Wren-tit, Swainson’s Thrush and many others
Viburnum sp.
Bluebird, Cedar Waxwing, Grosbeak, Mockingbird, Robin, Sparrow, Thrush, Towhee, Starlings
Vitis sp. (Grape)
Bluebird, Blue Jay, Cedar Waxwing, Finch, Mourning Dove, Mockingbird, Robin, Sparrow, Thrush, Thrasher
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