If you love birds, you might be wondering how you can attract them to your yard. Birds are lovely creatures, and there are over 400 species in Colorado. Having birds fluttering about, dancing and singing in your yard can make it come alive. And spending time watching and interacting with your feathered friends outdoors can provide some much-needed stress relief.
Bird lovers recommend adding bird feeders and baths to your yard. However, after the birds have fed and rehydrated, they venture back into the wild. You can take it a step further and offer them shelter, food and protection by planting bird-friendly trees. Furthermore, you can target specific bird species in Colorado by planting certain types of trees.
In this blog, we’re going to cover some of the best trees for birds in Colorado. Keep on reading.
Benefits of Having Birds in Your Yard
When you plant trees that birds love, they will return the favor. It could be that they’re looking for safety from predators or have been displaced by eco-unfriendly development projects. No matter the reason, having birds in your yard benefits trees and other plants in several ways.
One of the biggest reasons birds are beneficial to your yard is that they are a natural form of pest control. Insects, slugs, worms, spiders and other pests can be a nuisance. Luckily, birds find them delicious. If your yard is full of them, you don’t need to hang a bird feeder because they will become a natural food source. Soon enough, the birds will keep them in control and maybe even eliminate them.
Some species of birds, such as owls and hawks, hunt common yard rodents, such as mice, rats, squirrels and voles. Once these rodents know that sudden death is hovering above them, they will stay away from the yard. Although not a rodent, these birds can also eat snakes. Birds also offer weed control, giving your garden the best chance to thrive. Colorado is full of weed-eating birds, such as sparrows and finches.
Hummingbirds, honeyeaters, sunbirds and other pollinating birds are beneficial for your fruit trees and flower gardens. They can transport pollen from one plant to another, allowing the fruit to sprout and flower beds to bloom. The flowers, in particular, will make your yard more attractive for more pollinating birds to come live there.
What Trees Should You Plant for Birds in Colorado?
As you can see, having feathered friends around benefits you, your yard and them. However, just because you plant a tree, it doesn’t mean that the birds will come. You need to know which trees are best for birds in Colorado.
Here are some trees you can plant in your yard to attract the Colorado feathered wildlife.
Blue Spruce
Many people call this evergreen tree the Colorado Spruce. It’s characterized by a corn-shaped crown, whorled branches and short, stiff needles. The corns of the Blue Spruce are filled with seed. That is why seed-eating birds love nesting in the Colorado Spruce. These birds include chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, finches and grosbeaks.
Serviceberry Saskatoon
The Serviceberry Saskatoon is an instantly recognizable medium-large deciduous tree. The tree is multi-stemmed and produces delicious bluish-purple berries and attractive white flower blossoms. As you’ve already guessed, fruit-eating birds, including mockingbirds, robins, grosbeaks, jays, waxwings, warblers, thrushes, sparrows and chickadees, love this tree.
Chokecherry
The Chokecherry is a small deciduous tree with an irregular-shaped crown. It has green leaves that are dark and glossy on top and pale underneath. The Chokecherry produces reddish fruit that usually has a tart taste when eaten raw. However, some tree varieties produce fruit that is more palatable than others. It’s also a nesting habitat for fruit-eating birds.
Flowering Dogwood
The Flowering Dogwood is another easy-to-recognize deciduous tree. It’s small with hard, grayish bark (some say it is similar to alligator skin in appearance) and a flat-topped crown. The tree has elongated and pointed oval-shaped leaves and showy flowers. The Flowering Dogwood also produces small fruit, which is usually red and oblong-shaped. This tree is another favorite for fruit-eating birds.
Flowering Crabapples
In Colorado, Flowering Crabapples are a popular ornamental deciduous tree. They are medium-sized, with beautiful and fragrant white, pink or reddish flower blooms. Flowering Crabapples also produce jewel-like fruit, which, while edible, is mainly considered ornamental to humans due to its poor eating quality. However, fruit-eating birds love the fruit.
Thornton Towers Tree Service
Are you thinking of adding trees to your yard to attract birds? We can help you select the best species that can thrive in Colorado’s climate and soil conditions. Just contact Thornton Towers Tree Service, and our trained and certified arborists will help you with all your tree planting needs. We serve Thornton and surrounding areas, including Broomfield, Federal Heights, Northglenn and Westminster.
We’re waiting for your call!