Finding ways to attract birds to your property
KAYLEA HUTSON GateHouse Plus

Using native plants in landscaping efforts can provide homeowners with a variety of benefits. Among those benefits is the ability to attract birds.

Jeff Cantrell, conservation education specialist, with the Missouri Department of Conservation, calls the effort to use native plants "naturescaping."

"When you use native plants for landscaping, it's good for the environment," Cantrell said. "The plants grow because they adapt well to our weather conditions, soil types, diseases and insects."

The first year requires some maintenance to help establish the plants. After that, Cantrell said the plans tend to require little attention other than weeding.

Native plants attract birds to yards because they provide cover and food. Shrubs with hard berries such as a gray dogwood, aromatic sumac and nine bark pro ries for a variety of species of birds.

The hazelnut tree provides nuts and squirrels alike. The tree also pastel colored foliage in the fall.

"Natural plants provide a cover f from predators, and it also provides rest in," Cantrell said. "Flowers like ers and coreopsis provide a lot - the blooms, and when we let the pla seed, it feeds the birds."

While cardinals, blue jays and c are attracted by bird feeders, Can others like mockingbirds, thrushes birds are drawn into yards by be seeds.

"A diversity of plants means a di wildlife," he continued.

Cantrell said homeowners can their state's conservation depart county extension office to find more tion about native plants.