Creating a Bird-Friendly Backyard: Tips for Attracting a Variety of Bird Species

Birdwatching is an activity that brings a sense of calm, peace, and connection to nature. It’s an incredible way to witness wildlife’s diversity and beauty right at home. 

Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on Unsplash

This pastime becomes all the more enriching when your backyard becomes a haven for various bird species. To attract an array of feathered friends to your home, it’s essential to create a bird-friendly environment. 

Food Sources for Birds

If you are fond of birds and enjoy watching them, this is the first step in attracting birds into your backyard. As many enthusiasts would confirm, birdwatching doesn’t have to happen just somewhere in the wild, you can actually do it much closer to your home. 

Attracting a rich variety of bird species to your backyard hinges significantly on the food sources you provide. Different bird species have distinct dietary preferences, and catering to these variations will increase the diversity of birds you attract. 

Offering food to backyard birds isn’t just about hanging a feeder and filling it with seeds; it also involves a thoughtful approach to the types of feeders and food you use, as well as the integration of bird-friendly plants into your landscape.

Types of Bird Feeders and Food

Bird feeders are the most direct way to offer food to birds. However, it’s crucial to understand that different types of bird feeders cater to different species. 

Having a variety of feeders can help attract a diverse set of birds to your yard. Here are some common types of feeders and their typical visitors:

• Tube Feeders: Tube feeders are excellent for small perching birds like finches, sparrows, and titmice. They can be filled with a variety of seeds, but sunflower seeds or nyjer (thistle) are particularly popular. Tube feeders often have small perches and feeding ports, making them less accessible to larger birds and squirrels.

• Platform Feeders: These feeders are essentially flat trays and can be placed on a pole or hung from a tree. They attract a wide range of birds, including cardinals, doves, jays, and sparrows. You can fill platform feeders with any bird food, from mixed seeds to fruit and mealworms.

• Suet Feeders: Suet feeders are typically wire or mesh cages that hold a cake of suet. These high-energy, fat-rich feeders are frequented by insect-eating birds like woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees, and starlings, especially during colder months when insects are scarce.

• Hummingbird Feeders: These specialized feeders are designed to hold a sugar-water mixture that simulates the nectar hummingbirds feed on. Hummingbird feeders are typically bright red to attract these tiny birds and have small feeding ports to deter large birds. Make sure to clean these feeders regularly to prevent mold and fermentation.

Planting Bird-Friendly Flora

While feeders are excellent, a well-thought-out landscape can provide a wealth of natural food sources for birds. 

Integrating native plants, shrubs, and trees that produce berries, seeds, nuts, and nectar can significantly increase the variety of birds visiting your yard. Here’s how to plant for the birds:

• Berry Producers: Many birds enjoy feasting on berries. Incorporate plants like dogwood, holly, elderberry, and serviceberry into your landscape to attract fruit-eating birds like robins, thrushes, and bluebirds.

• Seed Producers: Some bird species are particularly attracted to seeds. Plants like sunflowers, coneflowers, cosmos, and aster not only beautify your garden but also attract seed-eaters like sparrows, finches, and chickadees. Allow these plants to go to seed in the fall rather than deadheading them.

• Nectar Producers: If you’re looking to attract nectar-loving birds like hummingbirds and orioles, consider adding flowering plants like bee balm, columbine, and trumpet vine. These plants produce copious amounts of nectar and often have brightly colored flowers designed to attract birds.

By providing a diverse mix of food sources, from carefully selected bird feeders and food to strategically planted flora, you can transform your backyard into a paradise that attracts a wide variety of bird species.

Providing Shelter and Nesting Sites

Besides food, birds need safe places for roosting, nesting, and hiding from predators. By providing shelter, you’ll make your backyard even more attractive to birds.

Birdhouses and Nesting Boxes

Birdhouses and nesting boxes can provide safe places for birds to raise their young. Each bird species has specific requirements in terms of the size of the house, the diameter of the entrance hole, and the height at which the house is mounted. For instance:

• Bluebirds: Prefer houses with an entrance hole of 1.5 inches in diameter, mounted 4-6 feet above the ground.

• Chickadees: Prefer houses with an entrance hole of 1.125 inches, mounted 6-15 feet high.

• Purple Martins: These social birds prefer multi-unit houses mounted on poles 10-20 feet high.

Landscaping for Birds

Incorporating native plants into your landscape design can provide natural shelter and nesting sites for birds. 

Dense shrubs and thicket-like areas offer excellent protection and nesting opportunities. Native plants will also attract native birds and beneficial insects for birds to feed on. Consider including these features:

• Shrubs: Dense, native shrubs like junipers and hollies offer great shelter and nesting opportunities.

• Evergreens: Pine, spruce, and cedar trees provide year-round cover and nesting sites.

• Layered Vegetation: A mixture of ground cover, shrub layer, and canopy layer will accommodate different bird species’ preferences.

Water Sources for Birds

Water is a crucial element for attracting birds. Birds need water for drinking and bathing, and a water source can often attract birds that might not come for food alone.

Birdbaths and Ponds

Birds are attracted to the sound of water. A birdbath or a shallow pond with a waterfall or fountain can be a significant attraction. 

Place the water source in a quiet and safe location, preferably near some shrubs or trees that can provide a quick escape route from predators.

Winter Water Sources

In winter, finding liquid water can be challenging for birds. Heated bird baths or immersion heaters can keep your water source from freezing. A constant water source, even in winter, will draw birds to your yard.

Final Thoughts

Creating a bird-friendly backyard is a rewarding endeavor, providing an opportunity to connect with nature on a deeper level. 

By offering various food sources, safe shelters, and reliable water, you can attract a wide range of bird species and enjoy the enriching experience of birdwatching right at home. 

The key to success lies in catering to the specific needs of different bird species and patiently awaiting their arrival. Over time, your backyard will become a beloved haven for your feathered friends.