In my last article, I talked about making a ‘Colorful Winter” landscape by adding or enhancing color in your landscape. Adding to the winter white will reduce the cold monotonous and bland appearance. In this article I will discuss ways to create wildlife activity.

Most wildlife specialists will say you must consider three things to enhance wildlife activity in your landscape, farmyard, windbreak or native woodland. These are 1. creating nesting or homes for your desired wildlife, 2. provide a water source and 3. a source of food.


Nesting or homes for wildlife

Nesting or habitat may be long term such as bird nesting and producing eggs and a young family. Short term habitat may be an overnight bed between migrations. A comment I use when making presentations is “…in North Dakota, whether it’s a single tree or shrub that breaks the wind out on the open prairies or a large windbreak, it will also be a home for wildlife”. Trees are important as windbreaks not only because they stop the wind, but also the cover and collection of snow. They provide cover and insulation against colder weather conditions. Evergreen or conifers are excellent in a smaller yard on the north and west sides to provide wind protection and collect snow immediately nearby. Some birds will huddle in broods under the snow for warmth.

Providing bird houses can determine the type of birds whether it is a small wren house or a larger wood duck house. Birdhouses allow artistic opportunities as long as the critical dimensions especially entrance size. The size of the hole will determine the size of inhabitant and should eliminate birds like sparrows and predators like snakes.

Placement of birdhouses is important to prevent attacks by predators. Hang birdhouses high in the trees out of reach for cats and near openings for a way of escape. If you’re in the country, a small pile of branches is enough for small animals like cotton tail rabbits. This is more difficult in town because the acceptability from neighbors and without predators the populations can grow fast. Rabbits can be a particular problem with feeding on tree and shrub stems and buds.

Cover is never more apparent than during hunting season when deer hide in windbreaks or wooded areas not frequented before. Have you ever looked for the bird with an unusual song and never found it until all of a sudden there is a flutter of wings and he’s gone. That’s providing cover especially to the more shy types of wildlife.



Water Source

The most essential element to attract wildlife to your winter landscape is water. A heated bird bath or water bowl may be all you need. Larger ponds with a floating heater will help in provide water to small and larger animals. A recirculation pump will keep water fresh and add interesting sounds along with the chirps of bird. It is great to have a yard full of songbirds but don’t crowd them. As long as they feel safe and can leave without danger, they will continue to visit.

Food Source

Typically we think of berries and fruit as food but small twigs and buds, leaves are called browse food to deer and larger wild animals.
The attractive cluster of red mountain-ash berries may be a cedar waxwings lunch. When considering the planting flowering crabapples, select a variety with persistent fruit that hangs on the tree through winter. They provide beauty and food for wildlife. The different types of wildlife may include songbirds and squirrels in your backyard city lot or upland game and deer in your windbreak or native woodland. It would be impractical to provide moose browse in a small backyard lot. Sometimes a backyard habitat will attract large wildlife as well.

The accent of birdfeeders may add more variety to your winter landscape. The type of feeder will also determine the user. An uncovered tray feeder placed low to the ground may encourage ground feeders like juncos and partridges. The popular tube feeders will attract Chickadees, nuthatches, grosbeaks and finches and discourage sparrows. Downy and hairy woodpeckers prefer suet or peanut butter cages. The size and type of food will determine the visitors as well. Sunflower seeds will attract sparrows, nuthatches and chickadees. Thistle is a favorite of redpolls and pine siskins. Whole peanuts and cracked corn is a favorite of blue jays. Squirrels will eat and or rob from any bird feeder.

Beware of feeding certain game birds or animals. Two case studies can be found locally when residents in Bluemont Lakes addition of Fargo thought it was neat to feed geese living in the lake. Soon these geese knew they had a good thing. They started hanging around the homes begging for handouts and making messes on patios etc. A similar case was wild turkeys in new developments near Rapid City, South Dakota. Remember “the Yearling” and that pet deer that became a pest to the garden.


Table 1. Examples of winter birds that benefit from shelterbelts in North Dakota.
Reported shelterbelt uses
Bird species--- Feeding ---Nesting ---Resting/Loafing
Ring-necked pheasant N R/L
Mourning dove N R/L
Downy woodpecker F N R/L
Northern flicker F N R/L
Black-capped chickadee F N R/L
American robin F N R/L
Snow bunting F N R/L
Dark-eyed Junco F N R/L
American kestrel N R/L
Sharp-tailed grouse F R/L
Hairy woodpecker R/L
Cedar-waxwing F N R/L
White-throated sparrow R/L

The above list and information was adapted from University of Nebraska Extension Publication EC91-1771-B, Windbreaks and Wildlife.

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