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Want to turn your yard into a bustling bird haven? Attract more birds with these 4 simple tips that will have them flocking to your feeders in no time.
Whether you're a seasoned birder or just starting out, these easy tweaks will make your yard the hottest spot on the block for feathered friends.
Attracting birds can also help to spread plants, control insects, and more.
Let's get chirping!
Here are four easy tips to attract more birds to your yard!
Tip #1 Feed the Birds
It’s no secret, the easiest way to attract birds is to provide food for them.
If you put out a bird feeder and some seed, they will come to the feeders to get something to eat. Before you know it, the word will spread and you will be dealing with plenty of birds coming to your feeder every single day.
Even better, you can also provide natural food in the form of plants that provide fruit or nectar but make sure you use native plants to the area. If you still aren’t sure exactly what types of food to use, this bird food list can help you select the best food for the species of birds you want to attract to your lawn.
Be aware of local laws regarding the feeding seeds to birds. In some places, there may be laws to prevent feeding bears, and in others, there may be laws protecting bird species. Check out this guide on birding laws from Audubon for more information.
Tip # 2 Provide them Shelter
Simply put, give the birds some shelter.
Here's why, ]the birds in your area need shelter from predators, but also from the hot sun as well as the rain. As a result, attracting birds to your property is easily done with bird shelters.
Provide local birds shelter by installing nest boxes in your area which provide good shelter with proper ventilation for local birds.
There's a catch, don't put the shelter next to a bird feeder though, because the birds won't go to the shelter due to a large number of birds flying around the feeder.
You could take it one step further. If you are going to have a shelter, you can also provide some nesting material for the birds, including yarn, string, straw, hair, cloth and more.
No doubt about it, there are many different types of bird feeders for all types of birds. Selecting the right birdhouse can bring many unique species of birds.
Tip #3 Provide Water
Provide a water source for your birds.
Birds need water for drinking and bathing, so offering a reliable source is crucial for attracting them to your yard.
Here's how to create a bird-friendly water feature:
- Water Source: Provide a shallow dish or birdbath with clean, fresh water.
- Keep it Shallow: Most birds prefer water that's no deeper than 1-2 inches. This allows them to easily access the water for drinking and bathing without feeling threatened.
- Maintenance: Clean the water source regularly to prevent algae growth and mosquito breeding.
- Movement: The sound and sight of moving water are irresistible to birds. Consider adding a dripper, mister, or small fountain to your birdbath to attract more feathered visitors.
- Placement: Place your water feature in an open area where birds can easily spot it and feel safe from predators. Avoid placing it near dense shrubs or trees where cats or other animals might hide.
- Don't Forget Winter: If you live in a cold climate, make sure to use a heated birdbath or provide fresh water daily to prevent freezing. Birds need access to water year-round.
Tip #4 Grow Native Plants!
Again, go with native plants. A local field guide can tell you what plants grow best in the area, and which will attract birds to your yard. One of my favorite tools for finding native plants is Native Plant Finder. With this tool, you can find native plants by zip code, it's pretty cool!
It gets better, attracting birds to your lawn isn’t even the only benefit of using local plant spices.
Besides attracting birds native plants also:
- Attract and support local pollinators such as honey bees
- Easily established in your gardens
- Require little maintenance, water, fertilizer, or pesticides
- Resist local plant pests such as bugs, and fungi
As you can see native plant species are amazing for many reasons, attracting native birds is only one of them!
Frequently Asked Questions About Attracting Birds to Your Yard
What attracts birds the most?
- Food
- Water
- Shelter
- Nesting sites
Birds are primarily attracted to resources that meet their basic needs for survival and reproduction. A reliable source of food, clean water for drinking and bathing, safe shelter for protection from predators and weather, and suitable nesting sites are essential for attracting birds to any area.
What color attracts most birds?
Most birds are attracted to bright colors such as red, orange, and yellow.
Here's why:
- Red: Associated with ripe fruit and flowers.
- Orange: Signals a potential food source.
- Yellow: Catches the attention of hummingbirds.
What color do birds avoid?
Birds tend to avoid the color bright white, as it is often associated with danger or alarm signals in nature.
What food attracts the most wild birds?
The foods that attract the most wild birds include Nyjer seeds, black oil sunflower seeds, suet, peanuts, mealworms, and nectar for hummingbirds.
What’s the Bottom Line?
Birds are vital for ecosystems and attracting them is easy. In fact, it is an important part of landscaping.
Feed them using bird feeders and native plants, provide shelter and water sources like birdbaths. Native plants attract birds, support pollinators, and need less maintenance.
Landscaping for birds adds beauty and benefits.
If you are going to use the lawn care services here at YourGreenPal, then you should consider adding features to your lawn which attract birds.
While you are at it, you can help attract things like butterflies to your yard, which are, of course, a great addition to the birds.
If you go the extra mile, it will be a regular sanctuary for birds and butterflies.
You can also take pleasure in journaling the types of birds in your area. Nowadays there are even apps where you can help local birding communities track local bird populations! Cornell University has two great birding app. One is called Merlin Bird ID, which helps you identify the birds that visit, and eBird which allows you to work with others in keeping track of bird populations across America.
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