Saratoga Springs, New York

Brush pile

The Backyard Watcher

Behold the Brush Pile


by Lynn Hassler

"What is that?" my guest exclaimed.  Based on the tone of his voice and the horrified look on his face, I was expecting to see something outrageous, like a space monster.  I soon realized that he was pointing at the great pile of branches and sticks that adorns my backyard.  "Why, that's my brush pile," I replied.

My friend was quiet for a moment, then asked tentatively, "Are you waiting for the yard maintenance company to pick it up?"  "No," I replied, "it's for the birds."  My guest eyed me with disbelief.  He was, of course, fully aware of my fascination with birds, but this was going too far.  "Let's see," I thought to myself, "how do I convey this?"

 

Shelter and Food

Brush piles are attractive to birds for several reasons.  First and foremost, they create habitat that provides cover and shelter.  A decent-sized brush pile provides spaces for small birds to sit out a rainstorm or seek refuge from gusty winds.  A well-constructed pile will have lots of hiding places for birds to slip into among the shadowy branches to avoid detection from predatory hawks and house cats.  The top of the pile makes a wonderful perching spot for birds assessing the landscape.  Of course, brush piles also provide protection for other animals, such as spiders and insects.  This is a good thing because spiders and insects are additional food for hungry birds.

After all the hard work that many of us put into pruning our trees and shrubs, why not reuse the branches and twigs?  There's no reason to add unnecessary bulk to the local landfill when you can reuse nature's products and at the same time enhance the effectiveness of your bird garden.

Sure, brush piles may be a little messy looking to the untrained (overtrained?) eye.  But attracting birds is a noble goal.  Even my friend would admit that birds are generally attractive, have nice songs, and exhibit interesting, non-threatening behaviors.  But what about those other forms of wildlife that might be attracted by the brush pile?  I could almost see inside my friend's head:  He was undoubtedly viewing the pile as a haven for packrats, lizards, snakes, spiders, scorpions, and untold other terrifying creatures.  Because of the undesirability (to some) of such creatures, it's important to place the brush pile some distance from the house.  After all, we don't necessarily want to invite these creatures inside.  However, at the back of the yard, they're a welcome addition.  There's always the possibility of a western screech-owl appearing to dine on the scorpions.

Easy to Build

Creating a brush pile is easy.  The only real challenge is to pay attention to how you lay out the branches.  Placing them criss-cross makes it more airy and creates spaces for birds to enter and hide.  It's important that the pile not be too dense.  But believe me, this is not a science.  I've made some pretty haphazard piles in my time, and the birds don't seem to care -- as long as there is space to enter and move about.

Even a small brush pile creates perching spots, and birds love to hunt around for the insects harbored within.  All you need to worry about in terms of maintenance is adding more branches as the pile breaks down over time.

In my backyard I watch roadrunners seeking a meal and cactus wrens investigating every nook and cranny for a choice spider or maybe a small lizard.  During the winter small flocks of white-crowned sparrows love to spend the afternoon atop the branches of my pile, and I'm always hoping to lure a passing house or Bewick's wren.  And I get all this by using natural, recycled material!