Photos and Content by Jaya Ramanathan
November, 2024
Our gardening adventures began with knockout roses, their blooms bringing us cheer, even during winter. I then tried growing Hydrangea and Tulips, enamored by their gorgeous flowers, but nurturing these non-native plants proved a challenge. Our birding hobby has inspired us to grow native plants that attract birds. Such plants are resilient to ice storms, and also entice pollinators. Our trees too are vital for birds. Motivated by visits from birds and pollinators, we continue to transform our garden to cater to their needs.
On Live Oak – migrating Black-and-white Warbler catches a bug, all-year resident Blue Jay pries open an acorn
Trees support birds in many ways. Birds nest on them, feast on fruits and acorns, peck open, or store seeds in their grooves, snack on bugs, take refuge in shade during summers, playfully chase mates in spring, rest, preen, and dry themselves on them, after bath. Lesser Goldfinch loves our neighbor’s Cedar Elm. Blue Jay likes acorns of Oak, while House Finch and Dark-eyed Junco prefer Elm. White-winged Dove, Northern Cardinal, and Red-bellied Woodpecker, gorge Texas Persimmon fruits, during season. Yellow-billed Cuckoo, perches on gnarly oak, calls from patio oak, experiences I would have missed if not for our trees.
Lesser Goldfinch snacks on Cedar Elm, Gulf Fritillary on Turk’s Cap
Shrubs with nectar-bearing flowers are frequented by birds and pollinators. Turk’s Cap entices Gulf Fritillary, Hummingbirds, and Lesser Goldfinch. Salvia and Trumpet Vine, bloom in spring through fall, Coral Honeysuckle in spring, Desert Honeysuckle in summer through fall, serving both migrating Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, and Black-chinned, that stay here spring through fall. Birds once planted their own sunflowers by spilling seeds below our feeders, but squirrels enjoyed all the seeds from these plants. Plumbago, attracts butterflies, and sometimes tempts Hummingbirds too. Multi-color and purple Lantanas, are hubs of a fluttering dance show, as Hummingbirds, and a wide variety of butterflies – Monarch, Queen, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Giant Swallowtail, Gulf Fritillary, sip at one flower, then another.
Lantanas – Monarch Butterfly and Gulf Fritillary at Purple, Queen Butterfly at Multi-colored
Shrubs nourish birds with berries, and insects. Wrens, and Dark-eyed Junco forage for bugs, near shrubs and creepers. Once, Carolina Wren snacked on worms, clinging to thorny rose stems. American Beauty-berry is a favorite of American Robin, Yellow-breasted Chat, Northern Mockingbird, and House Finch. Occasionally, juvenile Northern Cardinal gives it a try.
American Robin enjoys American Beauty-berry, Northern Cardinal munches fruits in Freeman Park
Our multi-purpose, neighborhood parks, also host garden patches that support wildlife. Freeman Park has fruit trees enjoyed by Northern Cardinal, Red-bellied Woodpecker, and Carolina Chickadee. It adjoins Brushy Creek, where waterfowl, such as Great Egret fish. Old Settlers Park has a pond, reeds, and grasslands, that attract Belted Kingfisher, Egrets, Cormorants, and Herons, and winter migrants such as Bufflehead, White-crowned Sparrow, and American Pipit.
Belted Kingfisher (left) and Snowy Egret fish in Old Settlers Park
Early in Fall, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and Monarchs, visit us, enroute to their southern winter habitat. Then, Chipping Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos, and Ruby-crowned Kinglets arrive to winter here, joining all-year residents. Spotting White-crowned Sparrow in Oregon during summer, and now in Old Settlers Park, makes us appreciate its migration journey. Gardens for birds and pollinators, welcome and nourish such wildlife. In return, they enrich our nature experience with splash of colors, melody of calls, and delight of flights.
Bufflehead arrive to winter at Old Settlers Park
