In our increasingly built-up and busy world, gardens can create an oasis for native Texas wildlife. Bringing birds into your garden brings color, sound and liveliness into your world – a source of entertainment and education that never gets old! If you want to create a bird-friendly garden, follow these essential tips from our team, the real estate specialists in Dallas who can also help you sell your home for cash.
Stop Using Insecticides
Insecticides are incredibly damaging to the environment, leaking into our water systems and killing plants, fish, beneficial insects and animals indiscriminately. The best natural insecticides are actually birds! Many native species rely primarily on insect life for their diet, eating hundreds of bugs, beetles and more each day. Leaving the insects in your garden to the birds will create a natural, balanced ecosystem where the birds protect your plants while keeping themselves and their young healthy and well-fed!
Add Native Plants, Shrubs and Trees
Native birds and other wildlife have adapted to rely on the plants that occur naturally in the Texas region. By planting native, indigenous plants, you’ll attract local birds and insects to your garden, creating a plentiful food source of nectar, seeds, berries and bugs. Native plants are the best shelter for birds, creating safe shelter during storms and a space to nest. Some of the best plants for birds include Mexican plums, parsley hawthorn, possumhaw, wax myrtle, American beautyberry, purple passionflower, coral honeysuckle, switchgrass, inland sea oats, blazing star, Texas coneflower, water oak, pecan trees, and sugarberry trees.
Provide Year-Round Water
Birds like to stay close to a source of water for drinking and bathing, so installing a bird bath is highly recommended! Choose one that suits your garden and place it where you can see it from a window, about 10 feet away from dense shrubs (so they are safe from potential predators – a must if you have cats). Change the water out every 3 days or so to ensure it stays fresh and clean. You can also install a pond or water feature – just make sure it has some shallow sections or rocks where birds can easily perch and drink.
Create Nesting Spaces
Finding a great nesting space is a challenge for birds, as most species are very specific about where they will build a nest. While planting native trees is a good start, these will take a while to grow, so you can supplement this with nesting boxes, which you can make yourself or buy from your local garden center. Make sure that they have ventilation holes, no perch (this encourages house sparrows to sit and attack other nesting birds), and drainage holes at the bottom.
You can also create nesting spaces for larger birds like owls for some exciting variety. Texas has some beautiful native species, including the Great Horned Owl (the largest in Texas), the Barn Owl, Barred Owl, Long-Eared Owl and Eastern Screech Owl. These nocturnal predators are an essential part of the eco-system, keeping rodent populations under control. They are also wonderful to spot at night, whether you are getting a glimpse of them as they silently fly, or you hear their haunting calls!
Place Some Bird Feeders
Bird feeders are a hit with all bird species, especially during winter months when food is scarce. Place feeders in trees or where you can watch from a window, keeping them safely away from spots where predators can hide. Good quality bird feed is very affordable, and we recommend black-oil sunflower seed, safflower seed, Nyjer seed and whole kernel corn. You can even make your own bird seed treat by mixing suet or natural, pure peanut butter (no sugar or artificial sweetener) with bird seed and sticking it to a pinecone or molding it into balls for the birds.
Sell Your Home for Cash With Our Cash For Houses Dallas Team
If you want to sell your home privately this summer without coming into contact with COVID-19 or paying real estate agent fees, then our cash for houses agency in Dallas can help you out! At Shiny Key Properties, we buy houses for cash and have been working for many years in the Dallas and Fort Worth area. We’re passionate about professionalism and helping our community.
Here’s how our process works:
- You enter your information on our website
- We’ll contact you directly by phone to discuss an offer for your property (you can also get a free property evaluation from our website)
- You can accept or reject the offer
- You can also call us directly on 469-858-0088
- You can sell your home for cash in 24 hours if you accept the offer.
Our team of real estate professionals is fully-qualified, compassionate and highly-motivated to offer you the best possible market-related price for your home you want to sell your home quickly.
At Shiny Key Properties, our trained consultants have years of experience in helping homeowners get out of foreclosure, sell your home privately or sell your home quickly for relocation. To find out more about our cash for houses Dallas service, please contact us today and speak to one of our friendly team members.