Georgia Wildlife Federation

The best way to provide a year-round food source for wildlife is by planting a diverse selection of perennials, shrubs, vines, and trees that are beneficial to wildlife.

There are many native shrubs which will provide food for wildlife while also providing cover. For example, the purple berries from Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) feed small mammals and many birds, including mockingbirds. Blackberry (Rubus spp.) provides summer food for sparrows and robins cover for nesting catbirds and thrashers. The fruit of Sumac (Rhus spp.) is a late winter food source for many birds, such as cardinals, and some game species.

Vines provide a food source as well as cover and nesting opportunities. Appropriate vines for Georgia include coral honeysuckle, greenbriar, trumpet creeper, passionflower, Virginia creeper, wild grape, crossvine, and climbing hydrangea. The vines listed attract nectar-feeders like butterflies and hummingbirds.

Many herbaceous flowering plants, like wildflowers and grasses, provide food for birds and butterflies. For example, Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) produces nectar for butterflies and foliage for caterpillars. The Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) and the Sunflower (Helianthus spp.) offer nectar for butterflies, then provide popular seeds for birds later in the fall and winter.

Many varieties of trees enhance your backyard and provide food, cover, and nest sites for wildlife. The red fruit of the flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) attracts cedar waxwings, bluebirds, grouse, quail, and squirrels in the fall. The female plants of holly (Ilex spp.) produce red berries which last through winter and feed catbirds, bluebirds, house finches and more.

Early spring buds and flowers of maples (Acer spp.) are important to insectivorous birds like woodpeckers. Many animals eat maple seeds, and the leaves are used as nesting materials. In the fall, the acorns of oaks (Quercus spp.) are food for many birds and mammals. Older oaks provide tree cavities, or natural shelter and twigs are used for nesting materials.

There are many types of feeding stations. Platform feeders, hanging feeders and pole-mounted feeders are each likely to attract different types of birds. Good feeders are designed to keep the seed clean and dry, which is important for the health of your birds. Discard wet or moldy seed, which can make the birds sick.

SEEDS, MIXES, and NUTS: Oil (black) sunflower seed is a popular seed with the majority of seed-eating birds, such as chickadees and cardinals. Safflower is also an excellent choice, particularly for those that want to deter squirrels from visits to the feeder.

Seed mixes can include cracked corn, niger (thistle) seeds, sunflower seeds, millet, and peanuts and will feed birds like American robins and rufous-sided towhees. Peanut butter, peanuts, and nutmeats attract birds like bluejays and thrashers, as well as small mammals. Suet feeds insectivorous birds such as woodpeckers.

When feeding seed mixes, you may notice birds eating their “favorite” seeds, while casting other seeds to the ground. Consider using separate feeders for different seed types, as this will reduce seed wastage (e.g. one feeder with only sunflower seeds, another feeder with only thistle, etc).

Allow enough space between feeders since birds are territorial. Keep the area around and under your feeders clean. Rake up sunflower hulls, peanut shells, etc., regularly. Make sure there are no sharp edges or points of wire sticking out on your feeders. Wire can cut or scratch birds' feet and wings, allowing viruses and bacteria to spread and cause health problems or death. Regularly clean and disinfect your feeders (including hummingbird feeders) with a stiff brush and a vinegar and water solution. Rinse well and let dry before filling.

HUMMINGBIRD FEEDERS: Add a sugar-water solution to your hummingbird feeder, made by dissolving 1 part sugar into 4 parts water. Extra solution should be stored in the refrigerator and replaced as needed. In warm weather this solution may ferment within a matter of days -- or even hours in some areas. In the Sonoran desert, experts change sugar water 3 times per day! Periodically monitoring the solution will keep it a healthy source for the hummers - if it smells or tastes like alcohol, it's past time to change the solution. We recommend against using food coloring, as this may be harmful to the birds and is not necessary to attract them. Many feeders come with antguards, to keep fire ants out of your feed.

Butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees are active from early spring until late fall, so select plants for continuous bloom to meet their needs. Pollinator gardens generally require areas with direct sunlight and are attractive additions around a home, school, church or workplace.

An essential part of your wildlife habitat is a dependable water source. Providing clean, reliable water in all seasons, with protective cover nearby, is one of the most effective ways to attract wildlife and enhance wildlife habitat. Creating a birdbath or other water source can be as simple or complex as you wish. A birdbath set into the ground will be useful to birds and other wildlife. A terra cotta dish or upside-down garbage can lid is inexpensive and easy. A plastic tub or simple hole in the ground with a liner and rock border is sufficient to create a larger water source.

If you want to create a larger water feature, remember the edges should slope gradually, allowing wildlife easy access in and out. Add rocks, logs, and plant material around the edge of ponds to add cover. In your birdbath, place several flat rocks or sand to give footholds for birds and to allow for gradual entry. Keep the water supply dependable and clean since unpredictable sources will not be visited as often. The sound or dripping or running water may also draw more attention.

Cover serves to protect wildlife from weather and predators; forms the foundation for nesting, sleeping and feeding areas; and offers corridors during migration. Animals' cover requirements differ. Below are some suggestions.

A diverse selection of plants in your habitat will provide cover for a variety of animals. Using native plants for this purpose is one of the best ways you can help wildlife. Choosing the proper plants will also provide food sources for wildlife: low-growing shrubs and tangles of vine also provide edible foliage, nectar, berries and seeds; trees will provide buds, foliage, and insect-foraging opportunities for birds.

Construct brush piles with fallen branches, Christmas trees, and clippings from plants. Brush and dense shrubs will provide cover for rabbits, thrushes, towhees, and others.

Leave standing one or two dead trees per acre of land to attract woodpeckers and other birds and mammals. These dead trees also serve as nesting area for birds, amphibians and reptiles.

Don't rake. Leaf litter provides valuable ground cover for a variety of amphibians and offers foraging opportunities for ground dwelling birds and mammals.

Provide rocks and stone piles for chipmunks, skinks, and beneficial reptiles and amphibians. Large flat rocks will provide basking areas for lizards and butterflies.

In addition to natural places (like vegetation or dead trees) for cover and nesting, there are many types of nesting and roosting boxes for birds, bats, and squirrels. Some are easy and inexpensive to make.