You Can Do It: 10 Tips to Creating a Bird-Friendly Garden

Introduction

• Presenter: Brian Derking
• Organized by Kathy Kramer, coordinator of Bringing Back the Native Garden Tours
• Part of the "You Can Do It" series
• Event recorded and available on the tour's YouTube channel
• Native Plant Resource Teams overview by Jennifer Durkin

Key Participants

• Kathy Kramer: Coordinator and host
• Jennifer Durkin: Speaker and creator of keystone species signs
• Jeff Minker: Bird expert and experienced ornithologist
• Landscape Designers: Kelly Marshall, Sandra Neva Lee, Valerie Litman

Overview of Native Plant Resource Teams

• Emphasis on native plants for biodiversity
• Teams organized by geographical area and interest
• Activities include learning, sharing plants, and community advocacy
• Upcoming events and field trips

Steps to Creating a Bird-Friendly Garden

1. Know Your Customers

• Understand local birds and their food preferences
• Types of birds: seed eaters, berry eaters, nut eaters, insect eaters, nectar feeders

2. Choose Native Plants for Year-Round Bounty

• Focus on plants that provide berries, seeds, nuts, nectar, and support insects
• Examples include Toyon, elderberry, Manzanita, coffee berry

3. Examine Your Garden Situation

• Evaluate size, sun/shade, soil type
• Use calscape.org for plant selection

4. Design Your Bird-Friendly Garden

• Use resources like "Designing California Native Gardens"
• Sketch your garden and consider plant communities

5. Plant in Layers

• Use ground covers, shrubs, trees, and vines
• Create visual interest and habitat diversity

6. Provide Shelter

• Thickets, trees, and other structures for protection
• Consider bird nesting boxes

7. Provide Clean Water

• Maintain bird baths with regular cleaning
• Use natural cleaning agents like vinegar

8. Protect Birds from Hazards

• Prevent window collisions with safety films or screens
• Reduce light pollution
• Keep cats indoors or in catios

9. Maintain a Pesticide-Free Environment

• Avoid pesticides and herbicides
• Encourage natural pest control through balanced ecosystems

10. Engage and Inspire Others

• Share your garden and knowledge
• Participate in tours and community events

Additional Resources

• Calscape.org for plant selection
• I-Naturalist and Merlin for bird identification
• Local CNPS chapters for further learning

Conclusion

• Importance of native gardens in supporting local ecosystems
• Encourage participation in community efforts
• Consider supporting the Bringing Back the Native Garden Tours through donations

Q&A Highlights

• Discussion on handling cats and bird feeders
• Importance of leaving natural elements like leaves and acorns
• Recommendations for bird-friendly plant species