There are plenty of birds that will get rid of pests in the garden. Gardening takes a lot of time and for any serious gardener, eliminating pests is important in helping your vegetables and flowers to grow. Many people use herbicides, organic soaps mixed with water, and other methods to help eradicate pests. Aphids, mosquitos, worms, mites, flies, and beetles can devastate anything from tomatoes to peppers to hibiscus flowers. Along with using other methods, you can use a more natural method of attracting birds to your garden to help support the removal of pests, leaving your garden to growth tall and become even more fruitful! Three birds that will get rid of pests in the garden are:
1. Blue Jays
This type of bird sports a blue and gray coat, preferring sunflower seeds, and peanuts over other types of bird feed. You can attract blue jays by adding bird baths to your yard including hanging platforms containing their preferred feed. These birds are intelligent and pretty to view and generally eat most types of bugs that can be found in a garden area. That's why they're one of the best birds that will get rid of pests in the garden.
2. Cardinals
This type of songbird sports a bright red coat and large body, feeding on sunflower seeds, and most types of bird feed. The good news is that it is not hard to attract these types of birds and they feed on snails, grasshoppers, crickets, and beetles.
3. Hummingbirds
Skilled in flying very fast, these birds sport an iridescent coat and are known for plucking bugs in midair to feast upon. They attack and eat aphids (a very hard pest to eradicate from your garden), ants, mosquitos, and wasps. You can help attract these birds to your yard using diverse types of flowering plants including cardinal columbine, foxglove, and hibiscus, in addition to keeping bird baths in your yard, as they love water.
By attracting beneficial birds to your garden and the surrounding area, you can create a safe zone for your plants to grow!
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do blue jays actually help keep garden pests away?
- Surprisingly, yes! Blue jays can be quite helpful in getting rid of certain pests in the garden. They eat a variety of insects which keeps some garden baddies at bay.
- Are all blue birds good for gardens?
- Not all of them! Some, like the blue jays, can be beneficial, while others might just be more interested in your fruits or seeds. It really depends on the type of blue bird.
- What should I do if blue jays are hogging my bird feeders?
- It's a bit of a love-hate situation! You might want to try putting out feeders specifically for smaller birds or use a feeder that closes when something heavy, like a blue jay, lands on it.
- Are there different types of blue jays around?
- You bet! There are actually a few different types across North America, and they can vary in color and patterns. It's fun to see if you can spot the differences!
- Can other birds be helpful for pest control, too?
- Absolutely! Lots of birds munch on insects and can naturally cut down on pests in your garden. It's like having a little army of helpers on patrol!