Why Do Birds Like Vegetable Gardens?

A well tended garden is attractive to birds as well as people.

Birds seem to find their way into vegetable gardens throughout the growing season. They come seeking a variety of resources, some beneficial to the garden and some not so good. Understand the role of birds in the garden to better cope with their presence.

Flowers

The colors and scents of the flowering vegetable plants attract some birds. As they seek the nectar of the flowers, they can help with pollination.

Insects

Insect-eating birds feed on the pests which are attracted to a garden, creating a benefit to the gardener and reducing the need for toxic sprays.

Other food

Less attractive are the birds drawn to the young growth and maturing produce resulting from the gardener's efforts. Consider using sound or motion producing apparatuses to discourage these types.

Water

Birds benefit from watering just as the garden does.

Watering a vegetable garden provides a source of water for birds, as well. The droplets on leaves and small puddles between rows attract thirsty birds.

Shelter

Low-nesting birds find plentiful cover in the lush growth of a vegetable garden. The cover of a trellis laden with vines is a natural haven; activity in the garden will often send these guests on their way.

References

• Backyard Birds
• Critter Control