Growing Wild: Gardening for Birds and Nature

I just bought a small cottage in Mount Shasta, Ca.  The yard has been neglected for years.  Both sides of the yard have mature lilacs and there are some plantings and lawn, but I'm basically going to be starting from scratch.  I want to make my small yard into a place to relax and meditate and attract different bird species...So far, I've seen alot of jays and ravens but not alot of other species.

My wife and I regularly see northern mockingbirds, ruby-throated hummingbirds, goldfinches, cardinals, bluebirds, and some not so common birds to our area (yellow bellied sapsucker, pileated woodpeckers). The flowers/tree we have in our yard are rose, Zagreb, black-eyed Susan, hydrangea,  and a mature Elm tree.

I enjoy my large backyard space with a large oak tree, backing up to a horse farm.  I have made a butterfly garden. I’d like to learn what to plant to attract more Michigan  birds. I currently have feeders that attract gold finches, house finches, tufted titmouse, nuthatch, cardinal, red breasted grosbeak, red bellied woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, as well as sparrows and grackles, a pair of mourning doves, baltimore Orioles and hummingbirds (I can’t identify which ones.). I’m hoping to learn how to attract indigo bunting and bluebirds.

we plan to reduce the mowing area of our outdoor space, incorporate more natives, and expand our backyard woods.  And we're trying to reduce eliminate if not eliminate some of the invasive species like multiflora rose, honeysuckle, and oriental bittersweet.

Almost 6 years ago, we moved to the outskirts of a metropolitan area.   What attracted us was not the house, but the property.   The house sits on a small mound above a flood plain dotted with groves of locust trees.      Woods were further back.    As we looked at the house, deer were foraging along the tree line.   We enjoy watching nature pass in the peaceful, tranquil surroundings.   We added a gravel patio w/ fire pit to compliment the overlooking deck, and have talked of adding a third sitting area beneath the apple trees.  (the views for each area are different.). The landscaping was overgrown.   But what to do with the yard?   I casually thought of adding some native plants, so I stopped by a local nursery specializing in natives grown from seeds collected locally.   I was hooked by the proprietor's passion.   I now have four beds with native plants and try to select species listed on the state's rare species list.   Watching the birds forage and butterflies flit among the plants is fascinating. Once, when I was outside, a bright orange bird flew by.   An oriole.   Jelly feeders have attracted more orioles with each passing year.   But that can't be healthy.   I have recently planted serviceberries for them and other birds.   Other additions included wild black cherry, hackberry, mulberry, hazelnuts, elderberries, and paw paws.

In my outdoor space I walk around at different times during the day and enjoy the various planting beds. I weed and mulch the beds. I grow various vegetables, flowers. and herbs in raised beds. During warm weather months, I sit and enjoy the area and listen to the birds. In colder months, I watch activity in feeders. I especially enjoy the different colors throughout the year. I hope to expand the planting beds and add more bird-friendly plantings.

Good day to all.  My back yard is a space where: 1.  I grow some fruits and vegetables for consumption in raised beds that I made in 2017; 2.  I grow bird/insect friendly (mostly) native plants; 3.  I have my Project Feeder Watch (PFW) site located; 4.  I have an approximate 50 gallon above ground three-season "pond" where I keep three goldfish and some aquatic plants.  I planned and placed my "pond" in the spring of 2019; and 5.  My wife, the family dog Blue and I enjoy the small, occasional summer's night fire. I live in Kingston, Ontario which is located on the north-east corner of Lake Ontario/mouth of the St. Lawrence River/Seaway. I do greatly enjoy my yard and continually make small landscaping changes/alterations in order to continue in making my yard more attractive to the natural world, be it birds, insects, (small) mammals and even people!