Shrubs for pheasants and birds

[Haus]

I’m starting to think about adding habitat for pheasants and birds. I’ve found the information about shrubs overwhelming. I have planted red cedars and wild plum so far and wanted to add to it.

What are the best fast going shrubs for pheasants? What provides a good Winter food source? What has worked best for you?

I’d like to plant something native to Iowa if possible. Thanks for the help!

 

[ksgobbler]

http://kfs.mybigcommerce.com/pheasant-bundle/

 

[bwoods11]

Cotoneaster, Chokecherry, Plum, Sand Cherry, crabapples with small fruit ... all good options

 

[ksgobbler]

Fragrant sumac holds its berries late, and is often used as an emergency food source. Kansas forest service link I posted earlier has good choices. I have planted that bundle and the quail bundle previously. Another good shrub to look at is buffaloberry.

 

[Tree Spud]

Midwest Crabapple - food, cover, & nesting.

Midwest Manchurian Crabapple

 

[BuckSutherland]

I’m starting to think about adding habitat for pheasants and birds. I’ve found the information about shrubs overwhelming. I have planted red cedars and wild plum so far and wanted to add to it.

What are the best fast going shrubs for pheasants? What provides a good Winter food source? What has worked best for you?

I’d like to plant something native to Iowa if possible. Thanks for the help!

Are you gonna plant any wind breaks/conifers/switch grass for them to hide in for the winter? Or do you have some of that already? Here in MN we have some great pheasant habitat for 6 months out of the year in CRP fields, but as soon as it snows it is worthless cause it provides no cover. The gov't agencies cut down all the trees in WMAs and CRP fields, etc so we have big tracts of land with very little wildlife. Most of the pheasants I see around here in winter are around people with spruce groves and a place for the birds to escape the elements.

 

[Haus]

Are you gonna plant any wind breaks/conifers/switch grass for them to hide in for the winter? Or do you have some of that already? Here in MN we have some great pheasant habitat for 6 months out of the year in CRP fields, but as soon as it snows it is worthless cause it provides no cover. The gov't agencies cut down all the trees in WMAs and CRP fields, etc so we have big tracts of land with very little wildlife. Most of the pheasants I see around here in winter are around people with spruce groves and a place for the birds to escape the elements.

Are you gonna plant any wind breaks/conifers/switch grass for them to hide in for the winter? Or do you have some of that already? Here in MN we have some great pheasant habitat for 6 months out of the year in CRP fields, but as soon as it snows it is worthless cause it provides no cover. The gov't agencies cut down all the trees in WMAs and CRP fields, etc so we have big tracts of land with very little wildlife. Most of the pheasants I see around here in winter are around people with spruce groves and a place for the birds to escape the elements.

It is next to CRP. I wanted to provide cover for the reasons you described. I already have a row of red cedar, and I planted a row of wild plum, so I’m interested in adding more. I’ve gained recent interest in it since we’ve been getting so much ice.

 

[buckdeer1]

I really like fragrant sumac and sand hill plum

 

[Catscratch]

I really like fragrant sumac and sand hill plum

We have both those native and I have an order from KS forestry (from Ksgobbler's link) for a "western pollinator bundle" to plant in the spring. Hope to build lots of edge with it.

 

[SD51555]

Look around your neighborhood and find out what is growing naturally and try to match species to your site (high vs low, clay vs sand, wet vs dry). Mimic it. You can blow a lot of time and money trying to force stuff that isn't meant to be there.

 

[H20fwler]

Cranberry, winterberry, snowberry, chokeberry, nannyberry, the little crabs, wild plums, indian currant, also partridge pea, clovers and any standing corn that can be left up. Conifer clumps are excellent thermal cover for them in winter.

 

[Ben.MN/WI]

Red Splendor Crabapples provide a great winter food source for pheasants (and grouse). They keep their small fruit until some bird comes around and eats it. They are also pretty cheap and available from a lot of the county soil and water departments. My county has packages of 20-25 seedling red splendor crabapples for $42.50.