Your Home Can Be A 'Home For The Birds' With More Landscaping Plants

Want to make your dwelling a "home for the birds?"

New research conducted by biologists at the University of Illinois Chicago shows that a lot of this has to do with the type of landscaping plants residents in suburban neighborhoods chose to put in their homes and neighborhoods or surrounding parks, forests or streetside trees for those living in more urban environments.

"We were surprised by the diversity of species we found in people's neighborhoods--36 species in all," said Amy Belaire, UIC doctoral candidate in biological science, who is first author on the study .

For the study, UIC biologists surveyed 25 neighborhoods in the Chicago area during June's peak breeding season. The number and type of birds and "bird-friendly" landscaping features, including berry bushes, evergreens and certain other trees, were also included, as well as bird feeds, ponds and/or bird baths.

The study information is relatively new as backyards are private and their impact on bird populations has been relatively understudied.

"The backyards are where people feel more comfortable landscaping things that they think are important," added Emily Minor, UIC associate professor of biological sciences and principal investigator on the study.
"So a lot of people's bird-friendly efforts are in the backyards."

Researchers asked residents throughout Cook County who were located near forest preserves to fill out surveys, asking residents to note bird-friendly characteristics related to their home and if cats or dogs lived inside. They also stopped every 100 meters to identify and count the birds in each area based on observations such as looking for birds and listening to their song.

Researchers found that the neighborhoods that most attracted birds were those in which many yards carried fruit or berry-bearing trees and shrubs, including a mix of evergreen and other types of trees. They also found that the presence of outdoor animals, more specifically cats, was more likely to keep certain animals away.

"Birds are really living out in the neighborhood," Minor said. "We found that there were simple guidelines for people to follow to increase bird diversity in their own backyards."

More information regarding the findings can be seen via the journal Ecological Applications.

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