Who Knew Your Backyard Could Support Such a Wide Variety of Birds?

The other day, I heard and/or saw 23 different birds on my property in Hanover—less than one mile from the center of town. These included an Indigo Bunting, a Scarlet Tanager, several Vireos and at least 7 different Warblers, including a Bay-Breasted. Many of these birds are just passing through on their way to more northern nesting ranges, but it’s gratifying to know that they’re finding the fuel they need to continue their journey.

If you’re not already a birder, and you’re interested in knowing what birds your property is supporting, I recommend downloading the Merlin Bird ID app from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (merlin.allaboutbirds.org). It’s a great tool for identifying what birds are visiting your property, as well as learning about the birds themselves.

The Warblers are a whole universe of birds unto themselves with a wide variety, each with its distinctive markings and songs. They’re small and difficult to spot, since they often stay high up in the tree canopy, but the Merlin app will let you know if they’re around.

My yard is blessed with four large oak trees, as well as a variety of evergreens, maples, hornbeam, and ash, to name a few. And I have plenty of understory plants and shrubs, so there is plenty of food and shelter for birds. The only bird feeder I have is a hummingbird feeder which sees so much traffic, I worry I might get impaled as I work nearby. In addition, the combined effect of my woods and those of my neighbors creates a contiguous, mini-habitat for birds and other wildlife.

We hear a lot about the benefits of native pollinator plants in the garden for the bees, butterflies, and insects. Equally important for those same pollinators are the native trees and shrubs, which also provide shelter and nesting sites for birds, both those just passing through and those which breed in our area.

Next time you’re thinking about clearing out bushes or trees on your property, maybe stop to consider the benefit they provide to the many insects, birds and other creatures that combine to make our environment a diverse and healthy one. If you’re removing invasive plants, think about replacing them with native ones, and watch your daily bird count go up!

For great native plants, try Cedar Circle in Thetford (cedarcirclefarm.org)