Turning your backyard into a bird sanctuary is a rewarding way to help local bird populations thrive. With some planning and bird-friendly landscaping, you can create an oasis that attracts a variety of species. Here are some tips to get you started.
Why Create a Backyard Bird Sanctuary?
There are many benefits to establishing a bird sanctuary in your yard:
- Attract beautiful songbirds – Enjoy watching colorful birds like finches, chickadees, and cardinals in your own yard.
- Help bird conservation – Provide much needed food, shelter, and nesting sites for birds as their natural habitats shrink.
- Experience nature – The sights and sounds of different birds will bring daily joy and connection to the natural world.
- Pest control – Many bird species eat insect pests, acting as free natural pest control.
Provide Bird Feeders
One of the simplest ways to start attracting birds is to set up bird feeders. Position feeders in a place where birds can land on branches or platform feeders and have a clear view to watch for predators. Here are some feeding tips:
- Select high-quality birdseed – Look for a mix high in black oil sunflower seeds, which birds like chickadees, finches, and cardinals enjoy.
- Offer suet feeders – Suet provides fat and protein birds need in winter and for nesting in spring.
- Try nyjer seed feeders – Goldfinches and pine siskins will come for this special tiny black seed.
- Supplement with fruit – Dried fruit, mealworms, peanuts or suet will attract woodpeckers, bluebirds, robins and jays.
- Clean feeders regularly – About every two weeks, clean feeders with a 10% bleach solution to prevent disease.
Here is a table showing what types of feed different birds prefer:
Bird Type | Recommended Feeders and Food |
---|---|
Finches | Tube or hopper feeders filled with nyjer seed or birdseed mix |
Cardinals, grosbeaks, chickadees | Platform or hopper feeders with birdseed mixes |
Woodpeckers, nuthatches | Suet feeders, fruit |
Orioles | Nectar feeders, halved oranges, grape jelly |
Hummingbirds | Nectar feeders with sugar water solution |
Provide Water Sources
Birds need a reliable source of fresh water for drinking and bathing. The sight and sound of running water can attract them. Here are some options:
- Bird bath – Choose a shallow basin style bath and keep the water about 2 inches deep, changing it daily.
- Mister or dripper – Attach a mister to a tree or shepherd’s hook and adjust flow to create dripping or misting water that draws birds.
- Fountain or pond – Installing a small recirculating fountain or pond with a waterfall can provide moving water.
- Garden plants – Include some water loving plants like aquatic gardens, rain gardens, or container water gardens to get birds attention.
Position bird baths or other water sources in both shady and sunny spots so birds have options all day. They will be more active with water sources at 8-12 feet away from trees or shrubs where they can survey and escape predators.
Offer Bird Houses or Shelters
Giving birds suitable nesting sites encourages them to settle and raise their young in your yard. You can buy ready-made bird houses, or build your own to suit specific species. Here are some tips for nest boxes:
- Clean houses out each fall or winter to ensure good hygiene.
- Use materials like untreated wood, metal or plastic – avoid paint or treated wood.
- Choose an appropriate box size for the desired species.
- Ensure the entry hole is the right diameter (usually 1-1 1⁄2 inches) to exclude bigger species.
- Follow placement guidelines for height, direction and location.
- Monitor boxes to ensure non-native species like house sparrows aren’t using them.
Some birds that readily use nest boxes include chickadees, nuthatches, bluebirds, wrens, woodpeckers, swallows, kestrels and owls. Placing multiple nesting options together will create a little bird neighborhood.
Landscape for Birds
To encourage birds to visit and live in your yard, incorporate some key bird-friendly plants in your landscaping. Native plants are ideal as they evolved alongside local bird species.
Here are some useful varieties to try:
- Fruiting trees and bushes – Cedar, mulberry, serviceberry, wild grape, dogwood, crabapple, holly, blueberry, raspberry.
- Nut and seed-bearing trees – Maple, oak, pine, spruce, sunflower, trumpet vine.
- Nectar plants – Trumpet vine, cardinal flower, columbine, bee balm, fuchsia, lupine, salvia.
- Native berry bushes – Elderberry, juniper, sumac, viburnum, winterberry.
- Grasses and sedges – Bluestem, fescue, rye, switchgrass, carex sedge, panic grass.
Here is a table showing some of the top native plants in the Eastern US that attract birds:
Plant | Type | Birds Attracted |
---|---|---|
Serviceberry | Tree | Robin, waxwing, cardinal, tanager, chickadee |
Wild grape | Vine | Woodpecker, mockingbird, brown thrasher, finch |
Bee balm | Perennial | Hummingbird, oriole, finch |
Aster | Perennial | Sparrow, chickadee, warbler, goldfinch |
Elderberry | Shrub | Warbler, vireo, flycatcher, thrush, oriole |
Add Layers and Variety
Creating a backyard habitat with diverse vertical layers and variety will provide everything birds need. Aim for these elements:
- Canopy layer – Tall mature trees for roosting and nesting.
- Understory – Smaller trees and large shrubs.
- Shrub layer – Bushy shrubs for nesting sites and cover.
- Herbaceous layer – Ground cover, vines, grasses and wildflowers for food and materials.
- Woody debris – Leave fallen branches, sticks, and leaf litter for foraging.
- Water – Include a bird bath, fountain, or pond water source.
- Food – Provide supplemental feeders to complement landscape plants.
- Shelter – Have brush piles, rock walls, evergreens and nest boxes.
Choose a Strategic Location
When establishing your backyard sanctuary, look for these ideal conditions:
- Partial sun exposure with shady spots
- Protected from strong winds
- Water source nearby
- Varied vegetation layers from ground cover to tall trees
- Adjacent to other natural or protected areas
Avoid locating too close to windows, pets, or noisy equipment. Face bird feeders and nest boxes away from prevailing winds and wetness but get some sun.
Use Eco-Friendly Garden Care
Use natural, non-toxic garden care methods to keep your sanctuary safe and healthy for birds:
- Avoid pesticides and insecticides which harm birds and their food supply
- Minimize chemical fertilizers which runoff and pollute water
- Hold off pruning trees and clearing brush during nesting season
- Leave dead trees standing and piles of leaves or brush for bird homes
- Allow native plants to self-seed to provide natural food sources
- Use natural mosses or vines to line nest boxes instead of hay which may harbor mites
Predator Protection
To defend birds from cats, larger birds, snakes, rodents, raccoons and other predators, incorporate these deterrents:
- Placing bird feeders at least 8-10 feet from vegetation and enclosing the base pole with a squirrel baffle
- Installing nest boxes with predator guards or mounting on metal poles away from trees
- Using noise deterrents like wind chimes, aluminum pie pans or mylar tape near feeders
- Applying repellent scents like garlic, chili pepper, menthol or eucalyptus oils around nests
- Keeping domestic cats indoors – this is the single best action to protect birds
Create a Safe Window Environment
Up to a billion birds die in collisions with windows each year in the US and Canada, so take these measures to reduce window hazards:
- Place bird feeders, houses, and baths at least 3 feet and preferably 10 feet or more from windows
- Apply exterior window films or patterns like dots, decals, tape, or art markers spaced 4 inches apart
- Install angled shades, shutters, exterior screens, sun catchers, or planters to block and break up reflections
- Use UV-reflective films to help birds see the glass better
Observe and Identify Birds
To get the most enjoyment out of your bird-friendly yard, learn to identify and observe the species that visit. Consider these tips:
- Invest in a pair of binoculars and a field guide to familiarize yourself with local species
- Notice key traits like size, shape, color, song, behavior and flight pattern
- Sit quietly in a blind or hidden spot when watching for skittish birds
- Keep track of dates and breeding behavior to note nesting seasons
- Provide an observation or photography blind for concealment
- Contribute observations to citizen science projects like the Cornell Lab eBird database
Conclusion
As you can see, attracting feathered friends into your outdoor space takes some forethought and effort, but is easy to accomplish. Start with basic feeders and bird baths, then continue adding bird-friendly elements as time and budget allow. Enjoy the relaxing sights and sounds as your backyard fills with life and activity.
Connecting with nature right outside your door is rewarding. By transforming your yard into a sanctuary, you’ll help fragile songbird populations and experience the wonder of biodiversity and conservation. Your bird sanctuary will become a cherished part of everyday life.