As home gardeners, we often think about the benefits of plants for our enjoyment and eye candy. However, it must be remembered that our gardens also play an important role in wildlife conservation. Birds, insects and other animals depend on plants for food, shelter and nesting. By understanding how birds use plants, we can make informed decisions about which species to include in our garden.
Birds mainly use plants for food. Many marine species, including terns and sparrows, depend on seeds and berries for food. Most California annuals produce seeds that birds prefer. Try growing sedges, spring salvia, or blue eyes in your garden.
Much of our native bird life has co-evolved with our native plants, but many non-native plants can also be beneficial. If you have planted zinnias or sunflowers in your garden, you know how much birds love these seeds.
Native shrubs such as brown and ribberry produce juicy berries for jays, purple finches, thrashers, robins and ribbon doves. Elderberry is a favorite food item for almost every bird.
Hummingbirds visit gardens for insects and nectar - native herbs such as plum, penstemon and monkeyflower. Sage and heuchera flowers provide an excellent source of nectar, and be sure to invite hummingbirds to become regular visitors to your garden. Hummingbirds are very attracted to plants with cylindrical red flowers. I see them every day on my Grevillea, an Australian plant that is well adapted to our dry summer climate.
Native plants can play a dual role in feeding birds. For example, the flowers of the western robin provide nectar for hummingbirds, and goldfinches eat the seeds. An Oregon grape provides nectar for hummingbirds and fruit for robins, thrushes and finches. A madrone ribbon dove and black-capped cardinals feed on the flowers, while ornamental woodpeckers, song sparrows, robins, cedar waxwings and thrushes feed on the fruit.
Many native plants attract insects and are another important food source for garden birds. Coyotebush provides food and nesting shelter for golden-crowned sparrows. Coyote bushes also attract insects that many other bird species feed on. Goldfinches, black cardinals, and duskybills eat the seeds and flowers of a native maple, while herons, kingbirds, warblers, and vireos feed on plant insects.
One of the largest bird trees is the oak. Acorns and insects serve as food for many species of birds. Oaks are also great nesting sites for birds, such as the oak shrike, which likes to build in oak holes.
An important function of garden plants is to provide shelter and nesting sites for wildlife. Shrubs, bushes and trees provide shelter for birds and other animals to hide from predators and rest at night. Some species, such as the California Towhee found in most marine gardens, prefer low-growing shrubs and bushes. By including different types and sizes of plants in your garden, you can help create nesting sites for different species.
Of course, while it is important to consider the needs of wildlife in the garden, we must balance these concerns with our own desires and priorities as gardeners. In some cases, certain species can be more attractive to wildlife than desired. For example, fruit trees can be a popular food source for birds, so the gardener needs additional shelter from rodents to ensure a good harvest.
By incorporating wildlife-friendly plants and practices into our gardens, we can create a thriving ecosystem that benefits both us and the surrounding nature.
Whether you're an experienced gardener or just starting out, there's more to learn about how to create a sustainable and vibrant garden environment. Learn more about environmentally friendly gardening at marinmg.ucanr.edu/BASICS/EARTHFRIENDLY.
The University of California Marine Master Gardeners, sponsored by UC Cooperative Extension, provides scientific and research-based information for marine home gardeners. Email your questions to helpdesk@marinmg.org. Include photos to ask about crop pests or diseases. Please call 415-473-4910 to find out when a master gardener will be in the office or to drop off samples 24 hours a day in the sample box outside the office. To attend a gardening workshop or to subscribe to Leaflet, the free quarterly e-newsletter, visit marinmg.ucanr.edu.
