Birdscaping in the Midwest: A Guide to Gardening with Native Plants to Attract Birds

by Mariette Nowak

This informative books shows Midwestern gardeners how to create outstanding bird habitats with native plants that offer food, cover, and nesting sites for birds, and is illustrated with helpful photographs and landscape plans. Features Instructions and plans for creating nine different habitat gardens for hummingbirds, bluebirds, winter birds, migrant birds, shrubland birds, prairie birds, woodland birds, wetland birds, and water birds. Photos and landscape plans of successful bird gardens in the Midwest -recommended plant species for each type of bird garden and information on the birds they attract Details on visual characteristics and cultivation of recommended plant species, along with their native ranges in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin Advice about nest boxes, bird baths, misters, perches and other garden features to attract birds Guidance for maintaining your naturally landscaped bird gardens.

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction

336 pages, Paperback

First published June 25, 2007

Reviews

[PamG · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent resource for gardeners wanting to use native plants, trees, shrubs. vines and grasses to attract birds if you live in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, or Ohio. It covers a wide range of garden habitats. While this is focused on birds, it also lends itself to gardens for many pollinators.

The book is well organized and includes information on birds' needs, specific habitat garden information including case studies, building and maintaining gardens as well as additional resources. It has great plant lists, but you have to double-check elsewhere for your specific area because plants that are native to one state (or even region within a state) are not necessarily native in your area. Besides all of the details provided in the book, each chapter ends with a section on additional resources. The garden layout diagrams are rather basic, but give you a general idea of how to tackle each habitat garden.

This is the most comprehensive book on this topic that I have found.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Promotes native plants for landscaping to attract birds. Covers a wide range of habitats for all types of yards/landowners. Glosses over some issues with certain plants but overall a good book to have for its intended purpose. Like all such books the visions of what things could be like in 10-20 years is far more appealing to think about than the work it will take to get there.

[Ian Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are you the target audience, i.e. living in the midwest and wanting to landscape for birds? If so, you will be entirely happy with this book. It has tons of information on bird needs, case studies, suggested garden plans, and best of all, plant lists. Oh, the excellent plant lists. Lots of plants, organized by size and type, and with all the information you might want, from scientific name to soil conditions to size to flowering and fruiting dates.

It's entirely focused on native plants, and the author makes a good case for preferring natives in birdscapes. Still, if you're looking to include some non-natives in your landscaping (say, for human food production), you'll have to look elsewhere for that information.

If you're looking to focus on hummingbirds, you'll probably do better with another resource like Attracting Butterflies & Hummingbirds to Your Backyard: Watch Your Garden Come Alive With Beauty on the Wing. But for all other bird needs, this is the one, and the only one you'll need at that.

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've just started exploring the whole native plant movement and I'm working towards the goal of making my suburban yard a natural habitat for birds, bees and butterflies. This book is thorough and provides lots of lists. It breaks things down into doable projects and has some inspiring photos. I know you can find all this information online but I like this book so much I'm going to purchase it. Great little bible to carry around to the nursery next time you go plant shopping.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. Lots of information to get through and some repetition but very informative. I went out and bought it to use as a future reference. If you are serious about making your yard or property more bird friendly this is the book for you!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful handbook for anyone wanting to attract a greater variety of birds to their yard. It will require a lot of work and expense to create the landscape you want, but this book will guide you through the process.

[Katie Jodarski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good reference for the future

[Jeremy H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book. Very readable with tons of great suggestions and also provides a good platform for discussion of use of native plants in various residential and commercial settings. I am loving it!

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book, worth buying.

The author was director of Wehr Nature Center for many years.

Comprehensive lists of recommended plants.

Lots of good gardening advice.