Gardening for the Birds is an easy-to-use guide to transforming your yard into an oasis for urban wildlife. By planting the right kinds of flowers, trees, shrubs, and grasses, you may soon be enjoying the sounds of a Carolina wren, following the graceful movements of the black-tailed swallowtail butterfly, and watching the antics of a chipmunk gathering food for the winter.

Which birdseed attracts the most species of birds? What type of feeder is best to use? How do you deter squirrels? Barnes answers all these questions and more. He includes a plant encyclopedia of trees and shrubs native to the Upper South that attract a variety of birds and mammals. He also offers tips for birdwatchers of all levels and includes step-by-step instructions for building nesting boxes for a variety of birds.

Besides revealing which species of wildflowers draw butterflies, moths, and hummingbirds, the book includes garden plans and plant lists that can be used to create a woodland, a prairie, or a water garden. Barnes even explains how to deter garden pests and restore the peaceful coexistence of people and wildlife.