How can I make my yard more welcoming
to birds?
The most impactful step is planting native plants. Native trees, shrubs and perennials provide the insects, berries, seeds and nectar that birds depend on. A single native oak (Quercus) can support hundreds of caterpillar species ‒ the primary food source for nesting songbirds. Add a shallow water source, such as a birdbath refreshed every two to three days, which birds use for drinking and bathing year-round. Reduce or eliminate pesticide use; insecticides deprive birds of food and can directly poison them. Finally, limit outdoor cats and treat windows with tape or film to reduce collisions. Feeders can supplement a bird-friendly yard: black-oil sunflower seeds attract the broadest range of songbirds, nyjer seed draws finches and suet cakes support woodpeckers and nuthatches. Clean feeders every one to two weeks with a dilute bleach solution to prevent mold and disease transmission.
What colorful birds visit DC in summer, and how can I attract them?
June marks peak season for some of our most striking birds. The Baltimore oriole, a brilliant orange-and-black songbird, nests in tall trees and is lured by halved oranges or grape-jelly feeders. Scarlet tanagers, small, fiery-red birds with black wings, prefer the forest canopy but move through wooded yards; native oaks and cherry trees attract them. Indigo buntings, vivid sky blue songbirds, favor brushy edges and visit millet feeders. The rose-breasted grosbeak passes through in late spring and early summer and is drawn to sunflower seeds. The wood thrush, DC’s official city bird and a brilliant singer, visits yards with native dogwood (Cornus florida) and northern spicebush (Lindera benzoin). American goldfinches, bright yellow in summer, flock to purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) and black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta); let the seed heads stand rather than deadheading. Gray catbirds, familiar Hill regulars, favor elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) and spicebush.
For all these species, the common thread is native plantings: a yard rich in native trees, shrubs and perennials provides far more insects, berries and seeds than any feeder alone.
How do I attract hummingbirds?
The ruby-throated hummingbird is the only hummingbird regularly seen in the DC area, arriving in late April and staying through September. Plant native perennials first: cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis), with its vivid red spikes, is arguably the finest native hummingbird plant in the Mid-Atlantic. Coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), a well-behaved native vine ‒ unlike its invasive cousin ‒ blooms from spring through fall. Native columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) provides early-season nectar. Among annuals, fuchsia (Fuchsia spp.) is a classic hummingbird magnet that thrives in hanging baskets in the dappled shade of Capitol Hill porches. Red salvia (Salvia splendens) is another reliable annual choice. A clean nectar feeder ‒ one part sugar to four parts water, changed every few days in summer heat ‒ supplements plantings nicely but should not replace them.
What are the benefits of attracting birds to
my garden?
Birds are active members of the garden ecosystem. Insectivores like warblers, thrushes and chickadees consume vast quantities of caterpillars, beetles and aphids ‒ natural pest control with no side effects, unlike synthetics whose chemicals can often be toxic to humans and wildlife alike. Hummingbirds pollinate as they feed. Fruit-eaters such as thrushes and robins disperse native plant seeds across the neighborhood. Attracting a diversity of birds signals a healthy, balanced yard. On Capitol Hill’s dense rowhouse blocks, even a modest planting can make a real difference for species migrating along the Atlantic Flyway.
Gardening advice, information and commentary from the Want to learn more about gardening or spend time with people who like plants? For more information, go to the Capitol Hill Garden Club website at www.capitolhillgardenclub.org. Send your questions to capitolhillgardenclub@gmail.com.
