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Ten Birds That Help Control Garden Pests
AS A GARDENER, it can be your worst nightmare: watching helplessly as
hordes of destructive insects attack your plants. With a little planning
and simple landscaping, however, you can help moderate garden pests
naturally in your yard. Your weapon: bug-eating birds. "During the late
spring and summer months, insects make up the great majority of many
avian species' diets," says NWF Chief Naturalist Craig Tufts.
The trick to enticing these birds to your property, he notes, is to
first learn which of them range in your area, and then to plant
appropriate types of native cover that provide insect- and
bird-attracting natural foods--leaves, fruit, pollen and nectar--to
sustain both adults and their insect-dependent nestlings. Tina Phillips,
project leader of Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Bird House Network, adds,
"The most important thing to do to attract birds to your yard is to
provide an enticing habitat, not just a nest box. Birds choose a nest
site based on its surrounding habitat."
Along with native vegetation, offer birds a water source and a few
different nesting sites: brush piles, ledges, nest boxes, shrubs and
various types of trees--including dead tree limbs and trunks. "As long
as they don't create a safety hazard for people, dead trees provide
nesting areas and are a great food source for insectivores," says Tufts.
Needless to say, birds will not completely rid your yard of insects,
and even if they could, you wouldn't want them to do so. Some insects
are imperative for a healthy garden, and birds do not discriminate
between destructive and beneficial bugs. But they can help keep insect
populations in your neighborhood at a stable, balanced level, benefiting
both you and your neighbors. Subsequently, you'll have a nicer garden to
show for it throughout the summer.
Which bug-eating birds are the best ones to attract to your yard?
There's no simple answer. Scientists cannot say for sure how many
insects a certain bird will eat in a summer day. But depending on where
you live, the following ten species can be valuable allies in your
efforts to sustain a vibrant garden:
Purple Martin: Aerial feeders that forage over land and water,
purple martins eat a variety of winged insects. These swallows
range across the eastern half of the United States and parts of
the Pacific Coast and Southwest. West of the Rockies, purple
martins often nest in tree cavities and building crevices, while in
the East they typically nest with as many as 30 pairs in hotel-like
boxes or hanging, hollow gourds. The migrants often use the
same nesting site each year. In addition to providing nest boxes
in the East, attract the birds with ponds and wetland areas.
Others: tree (summers in northern half of the United States), cliff
(most of the country, except for the Southeast), barn (most of
the United States, except for portions of the Southeast and
Southwest) and violet-green (West) swallows
Red-Eyed Vireo: Until recent population declines, red-eyed vireos were
one of the most common woodland birds in North America. These migrants forage in trees, feeding mainly on crawling insects--especially
caterpillars--but also on other invertebrates and berries. They range
from the upper Northwest to the East Coast, nesting in deciduous shade
trees. Plant Virginia creeper, spicebush, elderberry, blackberry and
dogwood to supplement insect diet.
Others: white-eyed (eastern half of the country) and warbling (most of
the United States, except for parts of the Southwest, Texas and
Southeast) vireos
Chipping Sparrow: Well-adapted to various landscapes, chipping sparrows are common throughout backyards in most of North America, except for areas of Texas and Oklahoma. They eat insects and seeds from the ground, shrubs and trees. These common birds tend to nest in evergreens, making nests out of grasses, weeds, roots and hair. Attract them with pines, spruce, arborvitae and yew.
Others: lark (from central through western United States), vesper
and savannah (both throughout the northern half of the country during
the summer) sparrows
Downy Woodpecker: Smaller than all other North American woodpeckers,
downy woodpeckers readily visit backyards throughout
the United States, excluding some areas in the Southwest. Their diet
consists mainly of insects, though they also feed on sap, berries and
seeds. The birds excavate nesting sites in dead trees and stumps, which
are later used by other birds. They prefer deciduous trees such as aspen
and willow, and may eat the berries of dogwood, mountain ash,
serviceberry, Virginia creeper and poison ivy.
Others: hairy (throughout most of the country, except parts of Texas and
the West) and ladder-backed (arid areas of Southwest and Texas)
woodpeckers, as well as flickers (throughout the United States)
Yellow Warbler: Known for their sweet songs, yellow warblers eat a diet
that is about 60 percent caterpillars. They also eat moths, mosquitoes,
beetles and some berries. Widely distributed throughout North America,
yellow warblers range from Alaska to the majority of the lower 48
states, except for areas of Texas, Louisiana, Alabama and Florida. They
nest in small trees and shrubs and often prefer willow. Plant
berry-producing plants native to your area.
Others: American redstarts (eastern half of the country and upper
Midwest), common yellowthroats (throughout the United States) and
yellow-rumped warblers (throughout most of the country except in areas
of the Midwest)
Eastern Bluebird: With their numbers increasing due to nest-box projects
along "bluebird trails," eastern bluebirds occupy semi-open areas east
of the Rockies. They eat a variety of insects, other invertebrates and
berries. Eastern bluebirds nest in tree cavities, old woodpecker holes
and nest boxes. Plant elderberry, hackberry, dogwood, holly and redcedar
to supplement their diet.
Others: western and mountain bluebirds (both in the West)
Common Nighthawk: In reality not hawks but members of the nightjar
family, common nighthawks cover most of the continent, eating a variety
of flying insects. Partial to open space, they nest on level surfaces,
such as the ground or flat rooftops in suburban and city areas. Attract
common nighthawks to industrial and corporate rooftops.
Others: lesser nighthawks (Southwest), Chuck-will's-widow (Southeast)
and common poorwill (West)
Eastern Phoebe: Easily recognizable by their fee-bee song, eastern
phoebes--members of the flycatcher family--oftentimes take up
residence on buildings and bridges. Found throughout the eastern half of
the United States (frequently near water), they eat many insect species,
as well as other invertebrates and berries. Provide a nesting platform
and plant native hackberry, serviceberry, poison ivy and sumac to
supplement their diet.
Others: black (Southwest) and Say's (western half of the United
States) phoebes
Baltimore Oriole: Colorful migrants that readily visit backyards,
Baltimore orioles eat insects, fruit and nectar. The songbirds range
from the central Midwest to the Northeast and nest in hanging pouches in
deciduous trees. Plant blackberry, serviceberry and cherry for food, as
well as elm, sycamore, tupelo and other shade trees as nesting spots.
Others: hooded (Southwest), Bullock's (mostly western half of the
country) and orchard (eastern half) orioles
House Wren: Regular backyard visitors, house wrens have diets that
consist almost exclusively of insects and spiders. Not very fussy about
sites, these birds may nest in nest boxes, mailboxes, building
crevices--even in pockets of hanging laundry. House wrens range
throughout most of the lower 48 states during parts of the year. Include
low-lying shrubs (such as American beautyberry) or brush piles in your
yard--sources for cover, nesting materials and food.
Other insect-eating wrens that regularly visit backyards include:
Carolina (East), Bewick's (southern half of the United States and
Pacific Coast) and cactus (Southwest) wrens.
These ten birds, of course, are not alone in consuming backyard pests.
Many other species--such as the northern cardinal and black-capped
chickadee--eat insects or feed them to their young during the summer.
Yet as summer winds down, your efforts to attract birds shouldn't come
to a halt. "The natural foods you provide in your yard throughout the
year will encourage these songsters to visit again," says Tufts. As a
result, the birds may return and combat a new generation of insects the
next year.
Source Unknown
Gardening is a matter of your enthusiasm holding up until your back gets used to it.
~Author Unknown
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As peaches mature look for brown, rotten areas. The fungus starts on immature fruit as a small circular brown spot, later enlarging, and ultimately rotting the fruit. Remove and destroy infected fruits and spray a fungicide such as sulfur.
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