Lush and warm, South Florida is a gardener's dream and a birder's delight. Yet despite the region's hospitable climate and verdancy, specific plants and special care are required to attract the birds that breed, winter, or migrate through the region. Drawing on their many years of creating bird habitats in South Florida, James Kushlan and Kirsten Hines offer practical, ecologically sound advice for creating gardens that will provide fruit, flowers, insects, and shelter for birds throughout the year. Their invaluable tips on selecting bird-friendly plants and on identifying which birds to attract are suitable for small balcony gardens, suburban yards, or rural acreage. They also suggest ways to incorporate charming water features and other bird-attracting elements into the landscape, as well as how to simplify garden maintenance. Because references that cover the United States or Florida as a whole do not adequately address the needs of this distinctive region, Attracting Birds to South Florida Gardens fills a conspicuous void in the literature on the two most popular hobbies in America, gardening and birding.With brilliant photographs of plants and birds, this volume is essential for first-time or expert gardeners, homeowners or commercial landscapers, and novice or experienced birders seeking to create bird-friendly landscapes and restore ecological health to the area.