A snatch of song, a flash of movement, the twitch of a tail: Birds bring life and charm to the garden all year long, if you make it a welcoming place. “Some gardens are more bird-friendly than others,” said Sharon Yiesla, plant knowledge specialist at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle. Birds look no t just for food and water, but for shelter, nesting sites and singing posts — places where they can perch to keep watch over their territories. A garden that is good for birds is not only more enjoyable for people, but helps many bird species thrive and play their part in larger ecosystems. Research has shown that yards, especially those that include mature trees, are critical rest stops for the millions of birds that migrate through the Chicago region every spring and fall.  Here are some tips for creating a bird-friendly garden. Learn more at mortonarb.org/plant-birds. Spread a feast. Birds eat not just seeds and berries, but insects, buds, flowers, berries and nectar. Make sure your yard has a variety of plants that bloom in different seasons, including trees, shrubs, perennials and grasses. “What you plant makes a bigger difference to birds than having a bird feeder,” Yiesla said. The main function of a feeder is to bring birds close, where you can see them.  Favor native plants. Plant species that have evolved alongside local birds are more likely to provide the right kind of food for them, whether it is berries, seeds or insects. Birds time their migration and nesting when native plants are likely to provide the resources they need.  Avoid invasive shrubs. Some non-native plants may provide birds with berries, but they also cause serious problems when the birds carry their seeds into natural areas where they disrupt the ecosystems and outcompete native plants. Common garden shrubs that are invasive include barberry, burning bush, Callery pear, buckthorn and Japanese honeysuckle. Learn more about invasive shrubs at mortonarb.org/problem-plants and find out what you can plant instead through mortonarb.org/woody-invasive-plants. Make sure bugs are on the menu. It’s normal for trees and shrubs to be occupied and eaten by a wide range of insects and insect larvae that provide protein-rich food for birds. Oak trees, for example, support hundreds of kinds of insect larvae that make them a food court for birds. To avoid depriving birds of their food supply or poisoning them through the bugs they eat, don’t use insecticides, if at all possible. “Only relatively few insects cause genuine problems for trees and other plants,” Yiesla said. “Before you consider using any insecticide, make sure you identify the problem and get professional advice for how to deal with it. Often pesticides are not the first choice or the right choice.” Care for mature trees. Large, mature trees provide shelter, places to rest and nest, and feasts of insects. Many, such as hackberry (Celtis occidentalis), also provide fruit, buds and seeds for birds to eat. Older trees also often have holes or cracks that offer refuge. Trees become more valuable to birds as they grow older and larger, which is one of many reasons to value and preserve our large trees. Water them in dry seasons. Make sure their root zones are always covered with a layer of mulch, which will protect their roots and keep lawnmowers or string trimmers from damaging their bark. Layer your plants. If your yard has shrubs, trees and other plants of different heights and shapes, they will create a variety of habitats to appeal to different species of birds. A yard with tall trees, medium-sized shrubs, waving ornamental grasses and low shrubs will have more birds than one with formal hedges clipped to the same size.  Include perennials that bloom all season. Flowering perennials attract insects that birds can eat. A garden that includes late-summer-blooming goldenrod, aster and false sunflower supports fall-migrating birds as well as native bees. Many native perennials and grasses also supply seeds.  Provide clean water. Refill the birdbath often, even in winter. Scrub it regularly so it doesn’t become a breeding ground for disease. Birds are attracted to moving water, so consider adding a dripper. Include conifers. Evergreen trees or shrubs shelter birds from winter winds. Some, such as the native eastern red-cedar (Juniperus virginiana), offer fruits and seeds to eat. “Some evergreens are prone to disease and other problems in our area, so choose them carefully and don’t overplant them,” Yiesla said. Expore evergreens and other plants that benefit birds at mortonarb.org/search-trees-and-plants.  For tree and plant advice, see the online resources of the Morton Arboretum at mortonarb.org/plant-care, or submit your questions online at mortonarb.org/plant-clinic or by email to [email protected]. Beth Botts is a staff writer at the Arboretum. ...read more read less