how attract birds to your garden

During the last few years, I have been trying to turn the paved garden, which has a bit of lawn only, into something which will attract birds. The tall feeder I had simply was not working.

Since I put a tall budleia (in a pot) next to the feeder, occasionally the sparrows who nest in my roof will go to the feeder. The brave or foolhardy woodpigeons do come in, and will take from the feeder if they can perch on the budleia. Sometimes blackbirds come to the lawn looking for worms.

Any tips on how I can get more birds? I believe putting more tall and bushy shrubs will help, but fully-grown ones are expensive.

1. Find a Bird-Friendly Corner of Your Yard

Selecting a corner of your yard to concentrate your efforts on is the first step in getting birds to visit your yard. Place feeders, bird baths, and other accessories where you can observe birds from the comfort of your own home. But you also need to make sure there’s enough vegetation and cover close by so that birds feel secure enough to venture out. Since birds can be territorial, you should distribute bird food and shelter to attract as many birds as possible to your yard.

how attract birds to your garden

6. Provide Plenty of Shelter

Some birds (such as bluebirds, sparrows, and chickadees) prefer the security, warmth, and cover of a bird box or bird house in addition to the greenery that provides shelter. To shield yourself from ground predators, mount your shelter atop a post or tree trunk.

Ensure the opening in the entrance is just as big as the species you intend to use. This keeps bigger birds out of the house, such as hawks, which would negate the purpose of the bird shelters you’ve placed in your yard.

7. Offer Opportunities for Nesting

After you’ve mastered the art of drawing birds to your yard, you’ll need to figure out how to keep them there. Encouraging birds to construct nests in your yard is one of the best ways to guarantee a steady stream of birds throughout the year.

how attract birds to your garden

You can give birds nesting materials in addition to creating a friendly environment with plenty of food and shelter options, plants that are friendly to birds, and dependable water sources.

Just add small, organic material pieces to an old feeder or empty suet cage, then hang it for birds to find. For creating nests, dried weeds and leaves, grass clippings, and even pet hair work well. Additionally, because they are all organic materials, they will naturally break down and prevent litter from piling up in your yard.

FAQ

What attracts birds the most?

Birds love fruits, nuts, and seeds, so grow them in your garden. For fruits, plant beautyberry, pyracantha, Eastern red cedar, viburnum, hawthorn, sumac, palm, crabapple, serviceberry, dogwood, bayberry, persimmon, black gum, holly, and wax myrtle.

How do I attract birds to my yard without a feeder?

Adding a simple bird bath, a fountain or a small pool with a bubbler to your garden is a sure-fire attractant. There are even water features that can be hung like a feeder. Birds are attracted to the sound of moving water; add a few flat bathing stones for birds.

What food attracts birds?

Sunflower seeds by Rasheedhrasheed/WIkimedia. The seed that attracts the widest variety of birds, and so the mainstay for most backyard bird feeders, is sunflower. Other varieties of seed can help attract different types of birds to round out your backyard visitors.

Why won’t birds come to my feeder?

Poorly designed feeders, or those in disrepair, can keep birds away. Make sure your feeders are in good working order and that the food is easy for the birds to retrieve from them.