While birders may be delighted to see any new bird in their yard,
some birds are more welcome than others because of all the good they
can do. Whether you are a homeowner, gardener, or farmer with decorative
flowerbeds, a small garden, or extensive sprawling acreage, there are
many beneficial birds you want in your yard.
Bluebirds
These colorful thrushes are highly desirable for their beautiful
plumage and lilting voices, but they offer another benefit as well when
they gobble up insects.
Bluebirds are insectivorous and eat beetles, weevils, caterpillars, grasshoppers, and other insects, and attracting bluebirds can help provide amazing natural pest control for your property, without added chemicals or extra costs.
Wrens
The energetic, perky antics of wrens are always fun to watch, and
it's even more fun to see them catch all manner of unwanted insects.
Because many wrens forage closer to the ground, they will not only
control populations of beetles, caterpillars, and grubs but also happily
eat ants and snails as well.
Attracting wrens is a great way to minimize these insects in your yard without harsh chemicals.
Chickadees
Chickadees are easy to attract
to most yards, and they're voracious insect-eaters. Grubs and
caterpillars are special favorites of chickadees, and because these
birds have larger broods, the parents will quickly hunt hundreds of caterpillars for their young chicks.
One nest usually has 5 to 8 eggs, but nests of up to 10 to 13 eggs
are not unheard of, and that's a lot of hungry chicks eating insects!
Nuthatches
Tree-creeping nuthatches are wonderful at protecting orchards or
landscaping trees, as they forage along the trunk of the tree for moth
eggs, ants, beetles, and caterpillars.
These birds also readily come to suet feeders or will happily snack on black oil sunflower seed, making them easy to invite as guests in your yard. While there, they'll help control the insect population.
Woodpeckers
In areas where wood-boring insects are a problem, woodpeckers can be
the solution. They will drill into bark in search of beetles, aphids,
millipedes, and other insects, and these tenacious birds won't stop
until they've sought out every morsel.
Attracting woodpeckers can be simple, but homeowners may also want to take steps to keep woodpeckers from pecking where they aren't as welcome.
Purple Martins
One of the loveliest swallows, purple martins are also attractive because they feed on aerial insects, including moths, flies, and occasionally mosquitoes.
Attracting purple martins can be a challenge because of their specialized needs, however, but other swallows such as barn swallows are easier to attract and also eat more than their share of flying insects.
Tanagers
Stinging insects can be a problem in some areas, but colorful tanagers such as the scarlet tanager, summer tanager,
and western tanager can all help prevent painful stings. These birds
are wasp-eating specialists and have evolved ways to remove dangerous
stingers before they eat different insects.
Tanagers are around all summer just when wasp and hornet populations are at their highest.
Goldfinches
Weeds can be an ongoing problem in the landscape, but beautiful goldfinches
can help solve that problem. These seed-loving birds happily eat weed
seeds, plucking seeds right off stalks as well as foraging on the ground
after fallen seeds.
Lesser goldfinches and American goldfinches both eat huge quantities of seeds, and the more of these birds there are in your yard, the fewer weeds you'll have.
Hummingbirds
Hummingbirds are the key to successful pollination and more abundant blooms in flowerbeds, as well as a more productive harvest in the vegetable garden.
Opt for flowers that attract hummingbirds
in the yard, and these tiny flying jewels will happily feast on natural
nectar even as they help pollinate all sorts of delicious and beautiful
plants, plus they keep gnat and other small insect populations down.
Hawks
It can be startling to see a hawk in the yard, but when these raptors make a meal out of unwanted squirrels, mice, snakes, large insects, or other prey, they can become honored dinner guests.
Several types of raptors can become frequent visitors, but it may also be wise to take steps to protect backyard birds from hawks, so other feathered friends aren't in danger from their hunting activities.
Owls
Owls
are another type of raptor that can be wonderful to have in your yard.
Not only will they help control populations of mice, gophers, voles,
shrews, and other small rodents, but because they are nocturnal, they
are less of a threat to any other birds.
Attracting owls is a challenge, but the expert pest control is well worth it. Putting up a barn owl box is a great first step.
Helmeted Guineafowl
Unless your property is in Africa, you won't have wild helmeted guineafowl
roaming around, but these are great birds to add to a domestic poultry
flock whether you have a small suburban farm, a larger livestock
operation, or just rural property.
Guineafowl are tick-eating specialists and can help keep these pests
under control, making them valuable guests if they're right for your
needs.
