Colorful and ornamental, migratory and resident birds add beauty and birdsong to the home. Birdwatching also has stress-relieving, meditative aspects—simply make a cup of soothing tea, sit out back, and let the cares of the world drift away.
Best of all, these aesthetic delights are more than just happy companions. Birds are nature’s organic pest control, feeding on insects that can damage plants. Warblers, bluebirds, and chickadees, for example, are well-known for having a voracious appetite for caterpillars, aphids, and beetles. And while bees and butterflies get all the glory, birds are very helpful pollinators, particularly hummingbirds. They are also excellent gardeners, as they feed on fruits and berries and then disperse the seeds throughout the garden and neighborhood.
