Creating a bird-friendly yard is not only a rewarding way to connect with nature but also a fantastic way to support local wildlife. By providing a habitat where birds can find food, water, and shelter, you’ll attract a wide variety of species. You are also setting the stage to ensure that your cellular bird feeder cam will see a lot of action, allowing you to observe avian behavior up close. Creating this bird-friendly yard is about more than just plants: Here's how to create a sanctuary that will keep birds happy year-round and your smart bird feeder cam busy.
1. Choose the Right Plants for Your Smart Bird Feeder
One of the most essential aspects of a bird-friendly yard is choosing native plants. Native trees, shrubs, and flowers not only provide food but also offer safe nesting spots and protection from predators. Birds are drawn to gardens that reflect the natural habitat of the area because these are the trees, shrubs, and flowers that they have grown up with and are familiar with.
- Fruit-bearing plants like serviceberry, elderberry, and mulberry attract fruit-eating birds like robins and waxwings.
- Nectar-rich flowers such as columbines, honeysuckles, and trumpet creepers will attract hummingbirds.
- Seed-bearing plants such as sunflowers, coneflowers, and goldenrods provide food for finches, sparrows, and chickadees.
- Dense evergreens like pines and junipers offer year-round shelter from bad weather and predators–these trees create a safe space for birds to roost or nest.
Incorporating a variety of plants that bloom and fruit at different times of the year ensures that there will always be food available for different bird species–think of your yard as a 24/7/365 buffet. Also, keep in mind that, for birds, messy isn't bad—leaving flowers that you would normally deadhead leaves seeds available for birds to eat, and leaving leaf litter or wood piles also creates habitat for overwintering insects and forage for ground-feeding birds.
2. Provide a Water Source
Water is essential for a bird-friendly environment. Birds not only need to drink but also love to bathe. A birdbath is an easy addition that brings great results. Place it in a shaded spot to keep the water cool and clean.
To make your water feature even more appealing:
- Add a small solar-powered fountain to keep the water moving. Birds are attracted to the sights and sounds of flowing water, and a fountain also helps prevent stagnation.
- If you live in an area with harsh winters, consider installing a heated birdbath. This ensures that birds will still have access to water even when temperatures drop.
By strategically placing your birdbath near trees or shrubs, birds can easily fly to safety if they sense danger. Birds are more likely to visit if they feel secure.
3. Offer a Variety of Food
Different birds prefer different types of food, so offering a variety can draw in a diverse group of species. Not all bird food is the same: By researching what birds are in your area and what sorts of foods they like, you can not only tailor your feeder’s food to what local birds are likely to eat but you can use it to draw in particular species.
To maintain the health of the birds, keep feeders clean and well-stocked. Using a bird feeder camera or cellular bird feeder cam allows you to monitor activity and food levels so you know when to refill.
4. Create Layers for Shelter and Nesting
Birds prefer environments with vertical layers that mimic natural forests. By creating a yard that offers multiple levels of vegetation, you’ll provide the perfect environment for birds to feel safe and nest.
- Ground cover like low-lying plants and grasses provides shelter for ground-feeding birds like towhees and sparrows.
- Mid-height shrubs such as blueberries and viburnums are perfect for birds like cardinals and thrushes.
- Tall trees like oaks and maples attract larger birds such as hawks, woodpeckers, and owls.
Dead trees or large branches can also become valuable habitats. Many birds, like woodpeckers, wrens, and nuthatches, nest in cavities in decaying trees, so leaving some dead wood in your yard can significantly boost its bird-friendly factor.
5. Keep the Yard Safe
Creating a bird-friendly yard also means making it a safe environment. Unfortunately, residential areas can be peppered with things that can endanger birds.
- Limit pesticide use. Pesticides can poison the insects that many birds rely on for food. Instead, attract insect-eating birds like warblers and flycatchers by planting insect-friendly plants.
- Prevent window collisions. Birds often mistake reflections in windows for open sky or trees, leading to deadly collisions. Applying decals or films to windows can help prevent these accidents. Another option is placing feeders either very close (within 3 feet) or far away (beyond 10 feet) from windows to reduce the chances of harmful impacts.
- Keep cats indoors. Domestic cats are one of the largest threats to birds, killing billions each year (in the U.S. alone, some estimates place the death toll of birds due to cats at 4 billion a year). Encourage responsible pet ownership by keeping cats indoors or building a catio.
6. Install Nesting Boxes and Roosting Sites
Nesting boxes are a great way to attract cavity-nesting birds like bluebirds, chickadees, and owls. However, different bird species have different nesting needs, so make sure the size of the box and its entrance hole fit the species you want to attract. Install the boxes well before the breeding season begins in the spring.
When placing a nesting box, ensure it’s in a safe, sheltered location away from predators. You can also add features to prevent animals like squirrels or raccoons from reaching the nests.
For non-cavity nesters, offer roosting sites in shrubs and trees to make them feel at home.
7. Observe and Enjoy
One of the best parts of creating a bird-friendly yard is watching the wildlife you attract. By setting up a bird feeder camera, you can enjoy real-time footage of your feathered visitors and get a closer look at their behavior. A cellular bird feeder cam allows you to stream the action directly to your phone, so you can watch from anywhere, even when you’re not home.
Creating a bird-friendly yard takes planning and effort, but the reward is a vibrant space full of life. Not only will you be providing a much-needed habitat for local birds, but you’ll also have the joy of witnessing their daily comings and goings. Plus, with technology like bird feeder cameras, you can capture every moment.