Landscaping
If you live on Kiawah Island and would like to attract birds
to your backyard, you are in luck. You already are well on
your way to accomplishing your mission because you are
surrounded by a variety of natural habitats that are ideally
suited for birds. While many areas of the country lose birds
through development, the emphasis residents of Kiawah put
on preserving and maintaining the natural habitat of the
Island means that our birds can thrive even as our population
increases.
The backyard most conducive to attracting birds features
layers of varying heights—trees, shrubs, and groundcover.
Tall trees attract swallows and hawks. The middle level canopy
of trees is perfect for owls, jays, woodpeckers, chickadees, and
nuthatches. Shrubs attract hummingbirds and goldfinches.
Wrens, doves, and sparrows hop through the groundcover.
The Spanish moss that graces so many of our specimens
is an additional plus because it provides further cover and
insects on which our birds can feed. To make your yard even
more inviting, consider adding berry bushes as an extra
source of food.
The Naturally Kiawah Demonstration Garden in Night
Heron Park provides a living example of plants that attract
birds. Additionally the guidelines developed for the Naturally
Kiawah Recognition Program are an excellent source of ideas
for landscaping with a view to enticing birds to visit.
SUMMER/FALL 2015 • VOLUME 34
Above: Bluebird. Below: Chickadee
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