
Songbirds use many
different types of habitat including forests, grasslands, wetlands, and
shrublands. Michigan's
landscape has changed greatly since the early 1800's when the first European
settlers arrived. No longer are there vast forests in southern Michigan, and we have
lost over 35% of wetlands statewide. Land development continues to fragment the
state.
Many songbirds are sensitive to size and shape of their
habitat. "Area sensitive" species including some warblers, flycatchers,
thrushes, and ovenbirds have low tolerance to fragmented habitat. For this reason
area sensitive species tend to seek out grasslands, forests, or wetlands
hundreds of acres in size.
Many of these species are declining in number as
they no longer have these large unfragmented breeding areas. However, other species such as
cardinals, chipping sparrows, and chickadees can tolerate fragmentation and may
even thrive alongside humans. These species are most often seen in urban areas,
and are fairly common.
Conservation
Your landscape determines the opportunities you have for
bird conservation. The following describes some of the basic habitat needs of
songbirds.
- Territory
Territorial needs vary with each bird species. Eastern bluebirds,
for instance, are territorial and need about five acres per pair. You can
create a larger area for those species that are territorial by working with
neighbors.
- Water

Birds are attracted to the noise of flowing water. Providing
moving water may increase songbird usage but is not
mandatory. Misters and drippers are other means to move water and draw more
birds. Songbirds will use water sources year round. In winter consider
providing water in a heated birdbath.
- Food
Natural foods, such as fruits, nuts and seeds provided by
trees, shrubs, grasses, and flowers will attract a variety of songbirds.
Planting highbush cranberry, dogwoods, or other fruiting shrubs on your
property may draw migrants as well as resident birds. These plants can also
provide areas to sing, court, nest, rest and hide, as well as pleasing
landscapes.

Locating feeding stations in several places reduces crowding
and remember to clean the feeders frequently.
- Shelter

Backyard Areas
Many kinds of songbirds are attracted to balconies, decks,
lawns, and ornamental shrubs and trees in both rural and urban settings. You do
not even need to own property to enjoy songbirds as they may visit your
condominium or apartment complex. For example the Cardinal, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, House Sparrow, House Finch, American Goldfinch, European Starling, White-breasted Nuthatch, Downy Woodpecker, and Mourning Dove are among the many species that nest in urban habitats.

Other Considerations
Use native plant species for plantings whenever possible.
Alien species, such as purple loosestrife, garlic mustard, autumn olive, and
glossy buckthorn, should be avoided and actively removed as they displace
native species used by birds as food sources and sheltered sites.
![]() purple loosestrife |
![]() garlic mustard |
![]() glossy buckthorn |

Feeding songbirds can be educational and fun. To enjoy the
full benefit of songbirds, get a good field identification guide that contains
color pictures or paintings and buy a quality pair of binoculars. You may even
wish to keep a checklist of birds that visit your land in order to determine
the variety of birds that you have attracted to your area.
Source: Sargent, M.S and Carter, K.S., ed. 1999. Managing
Michigan Wildlife: A Landowners Guide. Michigan United
Conservation Clubs, East Lansing, MI. 297pp.
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