Native Plants for Birds

·      "When you plant native plants, you’re not just gardening—you’re restoring balance to the natural world."

– Unknown

Birds feed on bugs, bugs feed on plants, and plants are the link that sustains this vital food web. Together we can build a network of bird, bug and wildlife friendly habitats by planting native plants in our garden.

Need help planning your native garden. Whether you’d like some expert advice or want to go it alone, ASCM can help:

  • The Wildlife Habitat Advisor Program gives you access to a free one-hour consultation from a trained, volunteer habitat advisor who can empower you with a plan to transform your outdoor space into a wildlife-friendly habitat tailored to your unique goals, or

  • DIY using the below resources!

Selecting Plants

These plants are workhorses for getting the insects needed to attract birds. For a more detailed list, visit Audubon's Native Plant Database where you can tailor the list according to your location and backyard needs.

Garden Planning Made Simple

Need some design inspiration for your native plant garden? Check out these three DIY garden templates from Audubon Mid-Atlantic that cover a variety of light, soil, and moisture conditions.

The templates make it simple to choose the design that best suits your yard and budget. Each design shows three plans that you can tailor to your space, including what to plant where. Take your plan to your local garden center or landscaper to get exactly what you're looking for.  

Certify Your Bird-Friendly Habitat

Whether you have a backyard, a balcony, a rooftop deck, window box, or even an entire community park, you can gain the knowledge and tools needed to plan your own wildlife sanctuary. Check out how with Audubon’s bird-friendly communities pages.

Additional Resources

Books

  • The Humane Gardener - Nancy Lawson

  • The Living Landscape: designing for beauty and diversity in the home garden - Darke and Tallamy

  • Bringing Nature Home - Doug Tallamy

  • Seasons of Heron Pond: Wildings of Air, Earth and Water - Mary Leister

Websites