Attracting Wildlife for Nature Photography

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Attracting Wildlife for Nature Photography
Gail Hansche Godin http://www.featherfotos.com/

Gail's program was great! Informative and inspiring!

Attracting Wildlife for Nature Photography
 
Gail Hansche Godin
Resource Lists
 
Flowers for Hummingbirds – preferred colors are red and orange
  • Azalea
  • Columbine
  • Bee Balm
  • Daylilies
  • Cardinal Flower
  • Hanging Fuchsia
  • Cigar Plant
  • Penstemon Salvia
  • Phlox (provides seeds for other birds)
  • Trumpet Vine
Flowers for Butterflies – preferred colors are yellow and purple
  • Aster Blazing Star (Liatris)
  • Butterfly Bush
  • Coneflower (seeds)
  • Black-eyed Susan (seeds)
  • Cosmos (seeds)
  • Bachelor-buttons (seeds)
  • Coreopsis
  • Iris
  • Marigold
  • Petunia
  • Sunflower (seeds)
  • Sedum Zinnia (seeds)
  • Host plant for Monarch butterfly is Milkweed H
  • ost plant for Spicebush butterfly is Spicebush (also provides berries for birds)
Shrubs – provide shelter and food
  • Arrowwood
  • Blueberry
  • Bayberry
  • Blackberry
  • Elderberry
  • Grape
  • Hibiscus (Rose of Sharon)
  • Raspberry Viburnum (High bush cranberry)
  • Winterberry (native wetland holly)
Trees – provide food and shelter

  • Apple
  • Choke Cherry
  • Crabapple
  • Dogwood
  • Mulberry (attracts large variety)
  • Juniper
  • Mountain Ash
  • Serviceberry
  • Cedar
  • Spruce
Water – very important – heat in winter to attract more birds

Birdbaths, pre-formed ponds, waterfalls – find at garden centers

Moving water attracts a wider variety of birds Feeders – Hopper, tube, tray, suet, nectar, butterfly, peanut

A variety of food in a variety of feeders will attract a variety of species

KEEP THEM CLEAN with a 10% bleach/90% water solution-rinse well

Preferred food
  • Black-oil sunflower – largest variety of birds attracted including Cardinals, Chickadees, Nuthatch, Wrens – offer in a hopper or on a tray (preferred by Cardinals)
  • Peanuts – Woodpeckers, Nuthatch, Chickadees, Cardinals, Flying Squirrels
  • Nectar (1 part sugar/4 parts water) – Hummingbirds, Orioles, Catbird
  • Suet – Woodpeckers, Orioles, Bluebirds, Indigo Bunting (Spring Migration) Niger(thistle) – Goldfinch, Pine Siskin
  • Oranges - Oriole, Catbird
  • Fruit Trees – Orioles, Catbirds, Cedar Waxwings, Robins, Warblers in spring
  • Rotted banana – butterflies (will also attract flies)
  • Gatorade in a dish with a clean scrubby (rinse well in water first) will attract butterflies
  • Dried fruit (chopped) and raisins soaked in water will attract Bluebirds and Robins
  • Mealworms will attract Bluebirds and any insect loving birds
If you don’t have a yard but you do have a deck, container plants will attract butterflies and Hummingbirds. Small water attractions with waterfalls are available that will create a wonderful space for you and the birds. A dead tree in a Christmas tree stand can provide an attractive perch and prop. Use your imagination!

Resources for further information

National Wildlife Federation http://www.nwf.org/
Cornell Lab of Ornithology http://www.birds.cornell.edu/netcommunity
Massachusetts Audubon http://www.massaudubon.org/

Vermont Wildflower Farms – Great for native wildflowers and broadcast seeds http://www.vermontwildflowerfarm.com/

Birds and Blooms – Wonderful magazine with lots of information http://www.birdsandblooms.com/