Birds

Attracting Birds in Winter

Q. What can I do to attract birds to my garden in the winter?

Attracting birds to the winter garden

Q. I would like to attract birds to my garden this winter – any suggestions?

A. When attempting to attract birds to your garden, it is important to know what species are in your area as well as their food preferences and feeding habits. For example, some birds such as mourning doves are ground feeders while others such as the cardinal (Illinois state bird) visit feeders. Be sure to check local ordinances before feeding birds on the ground; ground feeding may be prohibited in some municipalities because it attracts other unwanted animals.

Plants That Attract Hummingbirds

Q. Which plants will attract hummingbirds to my garden?

A. Hummingbirds are among the many migratory species of birds that pass through the Chicago area in May, as they fly north, and then again in fall, as they fly south. To encourage these birds to visit your garden in both seasons, and possibly even nest there, you should plant the flowers that give them maximum nectar they can convert to energy. Since hummingbirds also eat insects, gardeners are advised not to spray their plants with insecticides.