Basics

There are four basic bird needs that it is important to consider if you hope to attract them to your garden: food, water, shelter, and space.

FOOD:

- Many birds rely on insects as an important part of their diet.  Plants that attract insects also attract birds and pesticide use discourages insects and deprives birds of a valuable food source.

- Birds need food year-round, so plan ahead when designing your garden to ensure that spring and summer seeds and nectar transition to fall and winter fruit and nuts so the birds don’t go hungry as the seasons change.

- Traditional mown lawns provide little food and shelter for birds.  Using native grasses and allowing them to grow tall and go to seed is a great way to help birds get some extra food and feel safe.

- When gardening for hummingbirds, it is important to remember that hummingbirds are extremely territorial.   You will attract more hummingbirds by spreading out hummingbird food sources throughout your garden.

- Birds love bird feeders, but spoiled birdseed can make birds sick.  It is best to clean out your feeder regularly to ensure that there is no rancid seed that might harm the birds.

WATER:

- In New Mexico, water can attract more birds than food, but make sure that the water stays clean.

- Birdbaths must be shallow enough to be accessible to birds and the edge should be “perchable” so that birds are comfortable using your birdbath without the fear of falling in.

- Bird bath water heaters are available for winter months. Be sure that your water heater has an automatic shut-off so that it doesn’t burn up if the water is gone.

SHELTER:

-Birds take shelter in many different kinds of plants ranging from trees and brambles to grasses and undergrowth.  It is important to have as many elements as possible to accommodate as many different types birds as possible. 

-Birds do not like wind!  Make sure that your garden has some sort of windscreen to make birds feel safe there.

- Birdhouses are a useful and an ornamental element in any bird garden.  It is best if the birdhouse has a way to clean it out when it is unoccupied.

SPACE:

-Although your garden may be small, you can maximize the space available for birds.  By layering your garden with different levels and types of plants, you can create many niches for different birds within a small space.

Xeriscaping Plants and the Birds they Support

In New Mexico, there are three main climate areas, (North/Mountain, Central, and South), as defined by the State Engineer Office Water Conservation Program.  These designations can help fledging xeriscapers select the bird-friendly plants that are most suited to their area.  We have compiled a list of some water-thrifty plants and the birds that depend on them.  This is not a complete list, but we hope it is useful as you create a bird habitat in your xeriscape garden.

Note: These plants are native to New Mexico unless marked by an asterisk.

Area 1: North/Mountain

Trees
Cerro Hawthorn (Crataegus erythropoda),
Fireberry Hawthorn (Crataegus chrysocarpa): hummingbirds, Mountain and Western Bluebirds, songbirds for fruit
Gambel Oak (Quercus gambelii): many birds including jays, ravens, and wild turkeys, eat the seeds
One-seed Juniper, Rocky Mountain Juniper (Juniperus sp.): Piñon Jay, Townsend’s Solitaire, Grey Vireo for nesting sites, Mountain/Western bluebirds for cones
Piñon (Pinus edulis): Piñon Jay and others for nuts, Grey Vireo for nesting sites
White Spruce, Engelmann Spruce (Picea glauca, Picea engelmanni: great nesting site for small birds
Boxelder/ Big Tooth Maple (Acer tataricum, Acer granditatum): provides shelter/nesting, seed
Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana): hummingbirds, game birds, songbirds, Robins etc. for fruit

Shrubs
Sage (Atremisia sp.): shelter/windbreak, nest site, important for Sage Thrasher
Fourwing Saltbush (Artiplex canescens: quail, doves, towhees, Lesser Goldfinch for seed, shelter
Butterfly Bush* (Buddleia sp.): hummingbirds/butterflies, Scott’s Oriole’s and bushtits feed on the insects attracted
Chamisa (Chrysothamnus sp.): shelter/windbreak, browsed by game birds
Golden Currants (Ribes aureum): hummingbirds, Mountain/Western Bluebirds, Robins, songbirds, etc. for fruit
Cliffrose (Cowania mexicana): evergreen shelter/ windbreak, browsed in winter by game birds and songbirds
Mountain Mahogany (Cercocarpus montanus): seeds and leaves eaten by birds such as quail, towhees, etc

Accents
Yucca (Yucca sp.): hummingbirds, Scott’s Oriole habitat, provides shelter and nesting sites for around 25 types of birds
Penstemon (Penstemon sp.): hummingbirds/butterflies, varied blooming times can provide food throughout the summer
Virginia Creeper* (Parthenocissus sp.): shelter, important winter food source for songbirds, chickadees, titmice, etc.
Blanketflower (Gaillardia sp.): butterflies, winter seed source for sparrows, finches, and juncos
Gayfeather (Liatrus punctata) hummingbirds/butterflies
Phlox (Phlox sp.): hummingbirds
Desert Lavender (Hyptis emoryi): hummingbirds/butterflies, provides shelter for various birds
Apache Plume (Fallugia paradoxa): shelter/windbreak
Trumpet Vine (Campsis sp.): hummingbirds, shelter for hummingbirds
Desert Honeysuckle/Chuparosa (Anisacanthus thurberi): hummingbirds/butterflies
Sunflower (Helianthus sp.): doves, quail, finches, sparrows, grosbeaks, songbirds, etc.
Flax (Linum rigidum, Linum neomexicanum): doves, chickadees, sparrows, finches for seeds

Grasses
doves, chickadees, sparrows, finches for seed, shelter for many birds
Blue Gramma Grass (Bouteloua gracilis)
Buffalo Grass (Buchloe dactyloides)
Indian Rice Grass (Oryzopsis hymenoides)
Fescue Grasses (Festuca sp.)
Wheat grasses (Agropyron sp.)

Area 2: Central

Trees
Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis): hummingbirds, buds browsed in winter
Alligator, One-seed, Rocky Mountain Juniper (Juniperus sp.): Pinon Jay, Townsend’s Solitaire, Grey Vireo for nesting sites
Gambel Oak (Quercus gambelii): many birds including jays, ravens, and wild turkeys, eat the seeds
Honey/Common Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa): provides shelter for doves and many other types of birds, seed pods and insects attract birds such as doves, quail, bushtits, orioles, etc.
New Mexico Privet/Olive (Forestieria pubescens): blooms attract hummingbirds, provides shelter, attracts songbirds, robins, quail in the summer
 

3/18/06