Naturally Kiawah Magazine Volume 34 | Page 41

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 39