Birdscaping 101: Choose prairie plants that can attract favorite birds year-round A Midewin bird...
Contact Information: Veronica Hinke veronica.hinke@usda.gov
WILMINGTON, Ill. (April 6, 2020) – Looking for things to do at home? Plant a prairie in your yard to attract birds. Some plants can even sustain birds throughout the winter season and provide a resting spot for other birds as they migrate through the area. At the USDA Forest Service – Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, volunteers and staff are working with over 275 species of native Illinois prairie plants, and the great variety of prairie plants is one reason Midewin is a popular bird-watching destination.
Greg DuBois is Vice President and Program Director of the Will County Audubon Chapter. DuBois contributes his personal time to lead bird-watching excursions at Midewin, and he has ideas for gardeners who want to “birdscape” their yard this season. From echinacea to common milkweed; from New England aster, prairie dropseed and more, there is an array of prairie plants that can create a fascinating personal space that also adds value and purpose.
“The average home gardener can make a small but very important contribution to supporting habitat – food and breeding space – for threatened native birds and insects,” DuBois said. “Why should we worry about bugs? Bugs are as essential in pollinating prairie plants as hummingbirds and bees are, and they are a vital food source for birds.”
DuBois provides some of his “field notes” here in this list of his “Top 10” picks of prairie plants for home gardeners hoping to “birdscape” their yard this year:
Birdscaping 101
| Plant | Sun and Soil | Bloom Times | Birds | Field Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black-Eyed-Susan | Full to partial sun, medium-wet to medium dry soils | June – October | American Goldfinch, House Finch, House Wren, Black-capped Chickadee, | Biennial but re-seeds in its second year; provides insect food and seeds for birds |
| Common Boneset | Full to partial sun, wet to medium-wet soils | July – September | House Wren, Black-capped Chickadee, Baltimore Oriole, White-breasted Nuthatch, Red-eyed Vireo | Attracts a wide variety of pollinators |
| Common Milkweed | Full to partial sun, medium-wet to dry soils | June – August (fragrant blooms) | House Wren, Black-capped Chickadee, Baltimore Oriole, White-breasted Nuthatch, Red-eyed Vireo | Vital host plant for monarch butterflies; provides nectar for other insects whose larvae offer food for birds |
Eastern Purple-Coneflower (“Echinacea”) | Full to partial sun, medium- wet to medium- dry | July – September | American Goldfinch, House Finch, Chipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow | Provides insect food and seeds for birds |
| New England American-Aster | Full to partial sun, wet to medium-dry soils | August – October | House Wren, Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Red-eyed Vireo | Very popular with bees and butterflies whose larvae offer food for birds |
| Prairie Dropseed | Full Sun, Dry sandy soils | August | American Goldfinch, House Finch, Chipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow | Grows in clumps; very fragrant |
| Rough Blazing Star | Full to partial sun, wet to medium soils | July – September | Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Baltimore Oriole, House Wren, Red-eyed Vireo | Very popular with bees and butterflies whose larvae offer food for birds; hummingbirds attracted for nectar |
| Side-Oats Grama | Full to partial sun, dry to moist well-drained soils | July – August | American Goldfinch, House Finch, Chipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow | Provides food, nesting material and cover for birds |
| Showy Goldenrod | Full to partial sun, medium to dry soils | September – November | American Goldfinch, House Finch, | Goldenrod does not contribute to fall allergies |
| Wild Bergamot | Full to partial sun, medium-wet to dry soils | July – September (fragrant blooms) | Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Baltimore Oriole, White-breasted Nuthatch, Red-eyed Vireo | Very popular with bees and butterflies (larvae offers food for birds); hummingbirds attracted for nectar |
SIDEBAR 1: Here are some Midewin NTP tours and activities to look forward to in June. There will be guided grassland bird excursions every Saturday in June.
Experience America’s National Tallgrass Prairie; find out why Midewin has been called: “A haven for bird-watchers!” On these guided bird excursions, you might see loggerhead shrikes, Henslow's sparrows, bobolinks, grasshopper sparrows, meadowlarks, blue grosbeaks, orioles, warblers, vireos and more!
Bird Hikes: Saturday, June 13 and Saturday, June 27, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Bird Tram-Auto Tours: Saturday, June 6 and Saturday June 20, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.
SIDEBAR 2: Online Birdscaping Resources The National Audubon Society provides information about native plants to consider for birdscaping in our area here: https://www.audubon.org/native-plants.
Photo Caption: Greg DuBois takes a break from bird watching in the South Patrol Road Prairie at the USDA Forest Service – Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie. DuBois said that native prairie plants in your yard can provide essential habitat for a variety of birds and insects, while creating a colorful and dynamic personal space. Photo courtesy of Greg DuBois