Note: Original article appeared in Naples Illustrated. Below is the full original article.

1. What types of birds can you expect to see/attract in a South Florida backyard?

Florida has almost 600 documented bird species, and Palm Beach County has an amazing bounty of those birds. According to eBird (an online database of bird observations provided by and used by scientists, and citizen scientists like you and me), 383 species of birds have been documented in Palm Beach County. What you see will depend on the habitat your yard provides, time of year, and the ecosystem your home is situated in. A typical backyard will have the usual “suspects”- Northern Cardinals, Northern Mockingbirds, Bluejays, Woodpeckers, Grackles, and Doves to name a few. All of these are wonderful to see. BUT, a bird-friendly backyard will attract, depending on season, an array of warblers like Black-and-white, Prairie, Pine, Black-throated Blue, Northern Parula, Palm, Ovenbird, American Redstart, Yellow-rumped, and Yellow-throated. Blue-gray Gnatcatchers will flit around making a Pzzz sound, and eating all the insects they can find. Painted Buntings could seek your yard out for food, and stay all winter. Ruby- throated Hummingbirds will migrate through twice a year, and get nectar and insects to power their migration from the native flowering plants you were so smart to install. Cavity nesters like Great Crested Flycatchers, Eastern Screech Owls and Downy Woodpeckers might nest in one of your trees. Cedar Waxwings and American Goldfinches might choose to roost for the night in your yard while migrating or feed in your yard during the day. Instead of getting one species of woodpecker you might get four. You might see Red-shouldered Hawks or other birds of prey eyeing some of your wildlife for a potential meal. Gray Catbirds and Brown Thrashers might be spotted in your shrubs or riffling through the leaf litter. This list is just to give you an idea of what you might attract, and doesn’t include birds that fly over your house or might be in your ditch or local canal. I live in a Pine Flatwoods type habitat, and I have seen all these birds and more in my yard. Some of these birds like the warblers are very tiny, and some of these birds are on the secretive side. You might think there is no way these birds could be in your yard, and I thought that way, too, before I became a “birder”. Binoculars do help. Also, having a birdbath or bird feeder at a chosen viewing area near a window will show you more of what is visiting your yard. If you do have a feeder or birdbath please place it either within 3 feet of the window or at least 20 feet away so birds do not crash into your windows.

Learn more about our resident and migrating birds by joining Audubon Everglades for our monthly programs that include a bird of the month segment by our expert, Clive Pinnock, and a presentation by experts on topics from bird identification tips to conservation. Add to your bird ID’ing skills on one of our 100+ field trips throughout the year where we love to share our knowledge, and enthusiasm. Many of these are family-friendly, free, and don’t require signing up. For more information check out our website at AudubonEverglades.org. Audubon Everglades meets the first Tuesday of every month at FAU Pine Jog Environmental Center, 6301 Summit Blvd., West Palm Beach. Our doors open at 6:30PM and our programs start at 7PM. Monthly programs are open to all.

2. What’s the first thing you should do to begin priming your backyard for birds?

If you plant it, they will come! I am, of course, referring to native plants. You don’t have to tear up your entire yard- just start one plant at a time. By installing native plants you are providing vital food like insects, seeds, berries, nuts and nectar that birds survive on. Your native trees will supply a place for birds to roost, shelter, feed and nest.

Another very simple, but extremely beneficial thing you can do is provide a shallow water source for drinking and bathing. Just make sure you change the water every 2-3 days to keep it fresh. We would suggest placing your birdbath away from dense shrubs that might provide cover for predators like cats. Do place it where you can watch the birdbath action! More on cats later.

3. What’s the biggest challenge individuals face specifically in South Florida when it comes to attracting birds to their backyards?

One of the biggest challenges is access to native plants to create your outdoor sanctuary. Most landscaping plants available in nurseries and box stores are exotic species from other countries. Many are prized for qualities that make them poor food sources for wildlife. They generally also require more chemicals and water to thrive, increasing maintenance time, costs and environmental hazards. Some can even be invasive. Let your favorite plant source know that you want to buy native! You can find local native plant nurseries at Audubon.org/native-plants-resources and at AudubonEverglades.org. Audubon Everglades as part of our Plants for Birds program just completed a successful project with the Palm Beach County Florida Native Plant Society (FNPS), and Atala Chapter of the North American Butterfly Association to provide a give-away of 600 free native plants at the Annual Florida Native Plant Society Garden Tour. The FNPS is having a native plant sale on 10/21 at the FAU Pine Jog Environmental Center from 9-3. This would be another great source for native plants. (palmbeach.fnpschapters.org) Another challenge when you plant for wildlife is understanding that insects are a good thing. I’ve had people tell me they really want to see birds in their yard, but they don’t want any bugs. According to entomologist, Doug Tallamy, author of Bringing Nature Home, 96% of land birds feed insects to their chicks. Even birds that primarily eat seeds or berries feed their chicks insects. A healthy backyard habitat will have a vibrant balance of predator and prey insects, and thrive without pesticides.

A final challenge worth mentioning that can be quite frustrating is when your wildlife habitat gets visited by feral or domestic cats. Cats are hard-wired to be successful killers, and if we could teach them to just kill invasive species like iguanas and pythons we would be in good shape. Whether you feel the trap-neuter-release program is a good thing or a bad thing I think most of us would agree that cats live longer, healthier, safer lives indoors. I have two indoor cats, and while growing up we had many cats that went in and out I have seen the shortened lifespan of the cat, and the havoc they can wreak on wildlife. I will never have a cat that goes outdoors again. I have had several neighborhood cats visit my yard through the years. When I spot them I immediately take down my feeder. Most have been caught and TNR’d. Domestic cats do kill millions of birds and other native wildlife every year in North America, and I urge you to keep your cats inside, and hope that your neighbors do also. Your cats and your wildlife will thank you!

4. What are the key type of plants, trees and vegetation people should implement to lure birds?

If you are lucky enough to already have Slash Pines, Sabal (Cabbage) Palms and Oak trees you are well on your way. Doug Tallamy’s research shows that native oaks support more than 550 different species of butterflies and moths alone. A non-native species like a Ginkgo tree supports 5. Caterpillars are the go-to food source for migrant and resident birds. A bird like a Carolina Chickadee feeds it chicks more than 9,000 of them before they fledge from the nest. Oak trees are indeed Mother Nature’s pantry. Consider adding Gumbo Limbo, Paradise Tree, Dahoon Holly or a Red Mulberry. Super shrubs are Firebush, Marlberry, Florida Privet and Simpson’s Stopper. Coral Honeysuckle and Corky Stem Passion Vine are great vines for hummingbirds and many other types of birds not to mention butterflies. I fell in love with the easy to grow red blooms of Tropical Sage when I saw Painted Buntings eating the seeds and Ruby-throated Hummingbirds going to them for nectar. Mono-culture sod lawns have little value to birds. They require more energy for mowing, watering, and fertilizing. Bird-friendly lawns consist of small patches of varied grasses and low-lying ground cover plants like Sunshine Mimosa and Fogfruit.

These trees and plants are some of the best for attracting a variety of birds. The idea is to transition to native plants. When you are planting a hedge, flower bed, or replacing a tree that Hurricane Irma didn’t like- go Native! One plant at a time we will create a corridor of Bird-Friendly habitat. What is good for birds is good for other pollinators, wildlife, and people.
Audubon has created a Plants for Birds program (Audubon.org/plantsforbirds ) that can help people with specific information about what plants to use, what birds they attract, and local resources for native plant information. All you need is your Zip Code! Audubon’s national public native plants database makes it easy to find plants for your area: Audubon.org/nativeplants and Audubon.orgnative-plants-resources.

5. What about bird houses…are they more for show or are they actually effective?

Some birdhouses are just decorative. A functional birdhouse must be placed in the right location for a bird that actually nests here, and has specific requirements on the entrance dimensions, floor height, distance from ground, proximity to people and other details. A quarter of an inch can be the difference between getting Purple Martins or European Starlings, an invasive species. You have just become a landlord and have maintenance and upkeep responsibilities! With so much loss of habitat and suitable trees for cavity nesters there are many birds that rely almost solely on human provided houses for nesting. Purple Martins, and Chimney Swifts are two in this area. Audubon Everglades has several projects to provide more housing for these species. Please contact us if you would like to help.

6. Is there a particular type of bird feeder and seed that birds respond to and squirrels can’t steal?

In my opinion the only truly effective feeder at keeping squirrels out is one on a pole far from any overhanging trees, and with a large baffle preventing them from climbing up the pole. Any squirrel worth the name is going to figure out all the fancy squirrel-proof feeders. They are fun to watch. My preferred seeds are Black Oil Sunflower seed for everyone, and White Millet when I think the Buntings are on the way. The Millet does not seem to be as attractive to the squirrels. Almost everything that eats seeds likes the Black Oil Sunflower Seeds, and it has a beneficial high-fat content. I fill my feeders, and when it’s gone it’s gone. If the squirrels or raccoons have been particularly voracious I skip a day or three of feeding. I do buy 50 pound bags! Many of the other seeds in mixtures just seem to be filler seeds that fall to the ground and sprout because no one eats them. If we have done a good job with our yards the birds are mainly feasting on all of the berries, seeds and insects that our habitat has provided. Bird feeders are primarily for drawing birds to viewing locations for people to see them. I’m not talking about birds that over-winter where it snows. Most birds might get 10% of their nutrition from a feeder, and that’s the way it should be. Northern birds or birds where habitat has been devastated need some extra help.

7. Does the type of birds you attract vary due to the time of the year and how should that impact your ongoing efforts?

Audubon Everglades has an excellent checklist on birds of Palm Beach County, and the season you are likely to see them in. You can also check eBird for exact information to the day for when species are spotted. Native plants, and the insects that co-evolved with them over millions of years are geared to feed the resident and migrating birds. For example, some berries are much tastier, and are eaten right away. Other berries hang onto the plant, ignored, until the tasty stuff is gone, and then finally months later they are the food of choice when not much else is available. Palm Beach County is on the Atlantic Flyway – a superhighway in the sky for migrating birds. We have many species flying through or stopping during Fall Migration which is right now, and Spring Migration during March and April. I definitely don’t have White Millet out all year because Painted Buntings and their friends are usually here from September through May. I am careful when and how I trim things so that I don’t take off the blooms or seeds that are needed. I don’t trim at all near or during nesting season. Birds like a messy yard, but if you like a very neat yard there are natives that would suit you. I had someone calling me very concerned that their neighborhood pond had a problem. They were not seeing certain species like American Coots and Ring-necked Ducks. When I explained that these were birds that migrated (snowbirds), and would be back in the Winter it all made sense.

8. What is one piece of advice you would give to someone looking to turn their backyard into a birding haven?

The secret to success lies in choosing locally native plants. One plant at a time; the right plant in the right place. A Live Oak is one of the best first steps you can take. If you don’t have room for an Oak there are many medium to small trees that could be the focal point of your bird garden. Audubon Everglades has a tip sheet on Creating a Bird-Friendly Habitat that suggests a water source, brush pile for shelter, a dead tree (snag) for cavity dwellers and insects, remove invasive plants, eliminate pesticides, keep cats inside and reduce lawn area.
Enjoy your bird paradise, and thank-you for helping birds.

You can use education@auduboneverglades.org as a contact email for questions. They will come straight to me.