Create a Garden for Your Birds

Gardening for Birds is an exciting new conservation initiative of Birds Canada which promotes the creation of nature-friendly gardens, benefitting birds and other wildlife across Canada. You can make a difference in your own backyard!

The North American bird population has decreased by 2.9 billion breeding adults, a net loss of 29% over the last half-century.* Scientists have identified habitat loss as the biggest reason for the decline. Wild Birds Unlimited, is a proud sponsor of Gardening For Birds https://birdgardens.ca/, a new conservation initiative from Birds Canada.

Wild Birds Unlimited and Birds Canada are dedicated to informing and advising Canadians on ways they can help Save the Song Birds. You really can help birds while making your garden more beautiful and eco-friendly. A bird friendly garden includes four key elements; food, water, shelter and a place to raise young. Often you can meet most of these needs with native plants. By building up the native (i.e., naturally occurring) plant diversity in your garden, you will be able to provide life-saving resources throughout the year for birds. Birds Canada’s gardening for birds website includes a searchable plant database, where you will find details on 500 native plant species from which you can select those most compatible with your area and your garden plan. The suggested species will be based on your Bird Garden Zone and the biogeographical conditions of your area.

* https://www.3billionbirds.org/findings

Become a Certified Wildlife Habitat through the Canadian Wildlife Federation.

In order to become a Certified Wildlife Habitat you must have one or more sources of water, food and shelter in your garden and use earth-friendly gardening practices to maintain it.

  • Food and Shelter
    • One of the best ways to increase biodiversity is by including Native Manitoba Plants in your yard. Flowers, shrubs, and grasses found in Manitoba are often host plants or food for a variety of insects. Where there are bugs, there are usually birds! 
    • Providing extra Shrubs and Trees in your yard increases the amount of shelter. Birds seek shelter for roosting at night and also for escaping predators.
    • Bird Feeders are also a great source of supplemental food and helpful when the weather is tough and when birds need that extra helping hand.
    • Nesting Boxes are also a great addition to any yard. Watch parents feed their young and they'll even bring them to the feeders
  • Water
    • Add a bird bath to your yard to attract species of birds that don't normally visit feeders.
    • Create a Butterfly mud puddle
    • Add rocks to a bird bath to create a bee and butterfly drinking dish
    • Go all out and create a pond! Attract frogs, turtles, and other types of insects to your yard
  • Earth-Friendly Gardening Practices
    • Native Plants are hassle free and tend to take care of themselves!
    • Avoid the use of pesticides
    • Collect rain water for watering your garden
    • Start a compost bin! 

If you're interested in planting Native Manitoba Plants check out Prairie Originals

Click HERE to get started!

 

You can also become a Monarch Waystation!

Learn more about it HERE