Gardening for Birds – Kevin Kavanagh (NL Members Only)

Indoor Meetings return to the London Civic Garden Complex.

Garden Design that’s Quite Simply: ‘For the Birds’!

Gardeners often know the benefits that native plants can provide as host plants for various insects, as well as providing food (e.g. nectar) to butterflies, bees and other pollinators. Birds also interact with plants in a variety of ways, yet when it comes to attracting birds to the garden, many homeowners think only of placing feeders or nest boxes around the home. Selecting plants and designing gardens with birds in mind can add interesting new elements to the home landscape and often contribute in meaningful ways to bird conservation. 

Kevin will introduce some examples of the fascinating relationships birds have with some of our most cherished native garden plants. He will also speak to some of the simple design principles that gardeners can use to enhance the attractiveness of their property for birds in all seasons, including the use and positioning of conifers to provide shelter from predators and inclement winter weather, incorporation of bird-friendly water features, selection of eco-regionally appropriate native plant species for enhancing food variety through the seasons and creation of vertical structure in the garden to accommodate a wider diversity of birds. It’s time to take a bird’s eye view of your garden!

Kevin Kavanagh is the owner of South Coast Gardens and Consulting. Although an avid gardener (and birder) for much of his life, Kevin spent most of his early career in the field of nature conservation, working with national organizations such as World Wildlife Fund Canada and Nature Conservancy Canada to help develop their stewardship and habitat protection programs. He currently assists Birds Canada with their ‘Gardening for Birds’ initiative and, as a member of the Grand Erie Master Gardeners, coordinates their Gardening for Nature program.

Today, Kevin can often be found leading garden-themed workshops and presentations where he enjoys introducing gardeners to the rich diversity of native plants that provide benefits to pollinators, birds and other wildlife.