How to Attract Birds to Your Yard

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The kids and I enjoy watching the variety of birds that visit our yard and we’re always hoping new species will pop by for a visit.  With fall and winter approaching and birds beginning to fly south, I started researching some easy ways to attract birds to the yard all year long.  Providing for the basic needs of the bird is the best place to begin.

Set up a bird feeder and keep it full.

We have a few different feeders in our yard, including regular seed feeders, suet feeders, homemade feeders, and hummingbird feeders, and they attract tiny yellow finches, large feisty blue jays, and fleeting hummingbirds. 

Experiment with different types of bird seeds and foods.

Different bird food will attract different birds.  Black oil sunflower seeds are a hit with our neighborhood birds but they’ll come back even for the cheap stuff.  In the past, I’ve made hummingbird nectar and I’ve made homemade peanut butter suet.  Try a variety of food and see what your neighborhood birds like best.  Once they find it, they’ll typically be back with great regularity!

Attract birds with different flowers and trees.

Birds needs native plants, full of native bugs, to survive so consider that when you’re adding to your garden.  Large trees, small shrubs, and flowering bushes provide a suburban habitat for birds to eat and nest.

Entice birds {or other critters} with a bird bath.

We bought a bird bath a year ago and I love to sit and watch it, especially in the mornings.  We see a nice variety of birds showing up for a drink or to take care of their personal hygiene, along with a stream of squirrels that also love to get a little drink.

Be sure to change the water in the bird bath regularly to prevent mosquitoes from using it as a breeding ground and to prevent contamination.  Also, be careful about spraying pesticides or fertilizer around the water in the bath.

Provide fresh drinking water.

We recently set out a new watering station for the birds in our yard.  Having a reliable water source is especially important during dry, hot seasons, and cold, frozen winters.  Unlike a bird bath, an enclosed watering station doesn’t get as contaminated, meaning birds can find clean water both for drinking and cleaning themselves.

What are your tips for attracting birds to your yard?