Bluebirds gather to enjoy fresh water in the birdbath

Therapeutic horticulture gardens are special places designed to promote healing and well-being through engagement with nature. While we often focus on the plants and the direct interaction participants have with them, there’s a whole world of life that can significantly enhance the therapeutic experience: birds! Encouraging birds to visit and thrive in a therapeutic garden offers a wealth of benefits, from promoting biodiversity to enriching the sensory experience for participants. February 3 is Feed the Birds Day, and it’s a perfect time of year in North Carolina to ensure that our garden bird population is healthy and strong.

Why Birds Are Garden Superheroes

Birds are far more than just pretty visitors; they play a crucial role in the health and vitality of any garden, including our therapeutic garden spaces.

• Natural Pest Control: Many bird species, like wrens, chickadees, and warblers, are voracious insect eaters. They help keep populations of garden pests, such as aphids, caterpillars, and beetles, in check. This reduces the need for chemical pesticides, making the garden a safer and more organic environment for both plants and people. Did you know that one nest of chickadees needs 6,000 – 9,000 caterpillars to raise one family of baby birds? Imagine the plant damage those unchecked caterpillar populations could do without birds in the garden! Feeding the parents high-quality food during the time they are caring for their young promotes this natural pest control. Birds are some of the best garden help we could possibly have!

• Pollination and Seed Dispersal: While bees and butterflies often get the credit for pollination, certain birds, particularly hummingbirds, are vital pollinators for many flowering plants. Other birds consume berries and then disperse seeds through their droppings, helping to spread plant life and enrich the garden’s biodiversity.

• Weed Control: Some ground-feeding birds enjoy munching on weed seeds, naturally helping to reduce unwanted plant growth.

• Soil Aeration: As birds scratch and forage on the ground, they subtly aerate the soil, which improves water penetration and nutrient absorption for plants. This behavior also helps worms and other soil life to access air in the top layer and do their work of distributing nutrients to plant roots.

A ruby-throated hummingbird stops at a nectar feeder.

Enhancing the Therapeutic Horticulture Experience

The presence of birds elevates the therapeutic horticulture experience in numerous ways, offering unique opportunities for connection, observation, and mindfulness.

• Sensory Enrichment: The melodic songs, chirps, and calls of birds create a soothing and dynamic soundscape, fostering a deeper immersion in nature. The visual delight of colorful feathers, intricate nest building, and graceful flight patterns adds a captivating element to the garden.

• Mindfulness and Presence: Observing birds encourages participants to slow down, pay attention to the present moment, and engage their senses. Watching a robin pull a worm from the soil or a hummingbird flit between flowers and feeders can be incredibly grounding and meditative.

• Connection to Nature: Birds are a tangible link to the wider ecosystem, reminding participants that they are part of a larger natural world. This connection can foster a sense of wonder, respect, and stewardship for the environment.

• Cognitive Stimulation: Identifying different bird species, learning about their behaviors, and understanding their ecological roles can provide gentle cognitive stimulation and opportunities for learning.

• Stress Reduction: The calming sounds and gentle movements of birds have been shown to reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and improve mood. For individuals experiencing anxiety or depression, the presence of birds can offer a peaceful distraction and a source of joy.

• Opportunity for Social Interaction: Birdwatching can be a shared activity, prompting conversations, sharing observations, and fostering a sense of community among participants. TH facilitators can introduce bird identification activities, games, watch lists, and other fun activities to connect participants to all of the life in the therapeutic garden.

Activities to Welcome Feathered Friends

Therapeutic horticulture facilitators can implement several simple yet effective strategies to make the garden a haven for birds.

1. Provide Food Sources:

   • Bird Feeders: Set up various types of bird feeders (seed, suet, nectar) to attract a diverse range of species. Position them near observation points.

   • Native Plants: Plant berry-producing shrubs (e.g., serviceberry, elderberry), seed-producing flowers (e.g., sunflowers, coneflowers), and nectar-rich plants (e.g., salvias, fuchsias) that offer natural food sources.

   • Leave Seed Heads: Allow some spent flower heads to remain in the garden during autumn and winter, providing natural food for birds. Participants can observe when all the seeds have been claimed.

2. Offer Water:

   • Bird Baths: Install shallow bird baths and ensure they are regularly cleaned and refilled with fresh water. Consider a dripper or mister to attract more birds.

   • Ponds/Water Features: If feasible, a small pond or a gently flowing water feature can be a major draw for birds. Even a container pond with moving water can attract more birds and new species to the garden.

3. Create Shelter and Nesting Sites:

   • Shrubs and Trees: Plant dense shrubs and trees, especially evergreens, to provide safe cover from predators and harsh weather, as well as nesting sites. Birds will flock to a feeder that has a sheltering tree or shrub nearby.

   • Bird Houses: Install appropriately sized birdhouses for different species, ensuring they are placed in safe, predator-protected locations.

   • Brush Piles: A small, tidy brush pile in a less-used corner of the garden can offer excellent shelter and nesting opportunities.

4. Practice Bird-Friendly Gardening:

   • Reduce Pesticides: Avoid chemical pesticides that can harm birds and their food sources. Embrace organic gardening practices.

   • Leave Leaf Litter: In some areas, allowing a layer of leaf litter to remain provides foraging opportunities for ground-feeding birds. Worms and other insects will move in quickly, providing a ready source of food for bird species who don’t frequent bird feeders.

Pinecone bird feeders are garden-friendly and help birds through cold days in the garden

Engaging Activities for Participants:

• Birdwatching Station: Set up a quiet area with comfortable seating, binoculars, and field guides. Participants can record their observations in a journal, or share what they observed in a closing group activity.

• Feeder Filling and Maintenance: Participants can take responsibility for cleaning and filling bird feeders and bird baths, fostering a sense of purpose and care.

• Bird House Building/Decorating: A creative activity where participants can assemble and decorate simple birdhouses. Different bird species prefer different shapes and sizes, which is another opportunity for learning.

• Bird Seed Art: Creating decorative bird feeders using pinecones, peanut butter, and birdseed. Participants can create individual pinecone feeders, or the group can work together to create a seasonal pinecone feeder wreath!

• Sound Mapping: Participants can sit quietly and draw a map of the garden, noting where they hear different bird songs and calls.

• Nature Journaling: Encourage participants to write or draw about their bird observations, fostering reflection and expression.

Learn much more about intentional ways to attract birds to your garden with our NC Extension resource page. By thoughtfully integrating bird-friendly practices into therapeutic horticulture gardens, facilitators can create richer, more dynamic environments that deeply enhance the healing journey, offering a symphony of sights and sounds that nurture participants and the nature that supports us all.