Gift ideas for bird-friendly gardeners
Wondering what to give to the bird-friendly gardeners on your Christmas list? Here a few suggestions that are relatively easy to find and very affordable.
These items also add decorative appeal to any garden. Your gifts will please the gardeners on your list and help the birds throughout the year.
Bird feeders are an easy option for gift-giving, with many different types to choose from. A simple hopper feeder holds plenty of seed and provides space for even large birds to perch and feed.
More elaborate feeders are made of metal and are adjustable so that the hopper closes when a squirrel or large bird attempts to access the seed. Hopper feeders can be hung or placed on a pole. (Purchase an additional baffle for a pole-mounted feeder to prevent squirrels from climbing.)
Tube feeders are generally specialized based on the size of the feeding ports and can be used for thistle (Nyjer) seed to attract finches or sunflower seed which attracts a wide variety of birds. Other tubelike feeders allow the feeding of shelled peanuts for woodpeckers, blue jays and smaller birds like chickadees and nuthatches.
Many tube feeders have an option weighted squirrel deterrence system.
Feeders that are shaped to take pre-formed blocks or squares of suet often mixed with nuts or berries provide high energy fat to woodpeckers, nuthatches and other species in winter.
Thinking ahead to spring, perhaps a hummingbird feeder would complete a backyard feeding station. Buy one that has red plastic parts, and there is no need to purchase dyed, red nectar.Add a bag of birdseed, too, and your gardener is ready to feed the birds. Visit https://extension.psu.edu/bird-feeder-lessons to learn more about bird feeding.Birdhouses come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes to fit an equally wide variety of potential occupants. Many can be quite decorative and add color and whimsy to a garden.Cavity-nesting species such as chickadees, bluebirds, swallows, wrens and woodpeckers will readily use a nest box. The dimensions should be appropriate to the species, but there is overlap among bird species.Depending on the surrounding habitat, a bluebird nest box can be home to chickadees, nuthatches, swallows or wrens. Purchase ready-made nest boxes at local garden shops, specialty bird watching/feeding stores, and department stores.Look for bird houses that are made with galvanized nails or brass or coated screws, hinges, and catches; cedar, exterior grade plywood, spruce, pine or poplar woods that are weather tolerant; and neat joints with sealed seams.A decorative bird bath placed where there is an open area can be a beautiful addition to an herb or perennial garden.Options include a shallow, ground-level bird bath favored by many species or one on a pedestal that is more visible to birds and provides protection from cats.
Gift accessories for an existing or new bird bath include heaters that keep the water open during winter and a drip or misting system that attracts birds to the bird bath.Too many options to choose from? Give a gift card to local greenhouses, nurseries or garden centers.Planting native plants is one of the best ways to enjoy birds in your yard year-round. Insects and pollinators attracted to flowering plants are high nutrient food for nesting birds and their offspring in summer.In fall and winter, fruit and seeds produced by native plants continue to provide food. Many greenhouses, nurseries and garden centers have developed an awareness of the benefits of native plants and are now more focused on providing selections of native plants, trees, and shrubs for home gardeners.Visit this article at Penn State Extension, https://extension.psu.edu/pennsylvania-native-plants-for-the-perennial-garden, for a detailed list of native plants for the perennial garden.Have fun shopping for both your human and feathered friends!Mary Alice Koeneke is a Penn State Master Gardener of Butler County.
