Promote more birdsong in your garden

Among the many threats facing birds and other wildlife is habitat loss.

Maybe you’re already helping by keeping your cats indoors and preventing window strikes. Another great thing you can do is to think of your garden as an extension of their habitat. Here are several steps you can take -- but don’t be daunted, making just one or two of these changes can be positive steps toward promoting more wildlife in your neighborhood. 

Plant native plants. Many birds and insects specialize in very specific plants. By providing a variety of natives, you will attract a greater diversity of species to your home garden, and, critically, provide food in a time when their wild sources are diminishing. 

Avoid pesticides. Once you have all of those native plants in place you’ll be delighted to find how well they look after themselves. You won’t need to apply pesticides, except maybe the occasional ant bait for those pesky Argentinian ants. 

Avoid fertilizers. Another great thing about native plants is that they are adapted to the soil in which they are planted. You can skip fertilizing, which helps keep weeds down, and prevents polluting runoff from going into our waterways. 

Don’t overwater. California native plants evolved for our climate. Once established, they need very little additional water. Minimizing watering also prevents weeds from growing and is friendly on your pocket book!

Take it easy on the trimming and cleaning.  A well established native garden only needs upkeep a few times a year. Leaf litter provides important nutrients to the soil and provides overwintering habitat for many pollinators. Allowing flowers to go to seed provides an important and rich food source for seed eaters like finches.

When you are ready to prune, make sure that nesting season has passed.  Hummingbird nests can be the size of a walnut, and can be found in shrubs as well as trees. Our nesting season goes from February to September. So leave your shrubs and trees intact until all of those chicks have had a chance to fledge. 

Provide fresh clean water. A small, well kept, bubbler or bird bath can provide a much needed water source especially in the heat of summer. Keep in mind that soaps can be harmful by stripping critical oils from birds’ feathers. The National Audubon Society recommends a dilute vinegar solution for cleaning. 

What about feeders? If you follow all the steps above your garden will be a rich food source for a huge diversity of birds. Feeders have been known to spread disease and can attract unwanted animals. If you do choose to use feeders though, be sure to clean them regularly, as they can easily become a source of disease. 

Ready to get started? We've created a guide that highlights the native plants that best thrive in our coastal microclimate. You can also find lots of helpful information through the California Native Plant Society and CalScape. CalScape also has a directory of native plant nurseries; the closest to Solana Beach is Neel’s Nursery at in Encinitas.

Whether your garden is already a wildlife oasis, or you are just getting started with your first native plant you can join the growing movement of native gardening at sites like Homegrown National Park or Wildr Places. Both have simple instructions you can follow to create habitat in your garden.