How to create a bird garden of your own
- - - How to create a bird garden of your own
Amanda WeidnerJune 27, 2025 at 6:01 AM
As an increasing number of us become aware of the pressures, obstacles, and dangers facing our bird populations both locally and nationally, we are beginning to identify ways that we as individuals can work to better support them. According to the U.S. Committee of the North American Bird Conservation Initiative (NABCI) in their 2025 State of the Birds report, a jaw-dropping 229 species in the United States, roughly one-third, are currently classified as high or moderate conservation concerns.
Birds have to contend with rapidly disappearing habitat, introduced predators, diseases, pesticides and herbicides, climate change effects, collisions with vehicles and windows, and illegal hunting and poaching. With so much working against their ability to thrive, we regular citizens are hearkening to the call to do more and provide what we can to make a positive difference.
A great way to incorporate many of the elements that support birds is to create a bird garden. Doing so doesn't mean you have to hire a professional, tear out a lot of what you already have, or invest a ton of money. Let's explore the different pieces that can transform a yard into a bird garden and see what may work for you.
There's no better place to start than with food. You can purchase seed feeders that come in all shapes and sizes with some designed to keep out squirrels or offer other needed solutions. There are feeders out there for regular seed as well as more specialty types such as netted socks for tiny seeds like Nyjer, that particular species like goldfinches prefer. The widespread favorite seed is black oil sunflower seeds as these are high in nutrition and well-liked by a large variety of birds. Some of the mixes you'll find for sale contain seeds that birds don't like and will pick out to discard, leaving them to germinate in your yard instead. Because of this, monitor what is getting eaten and what the birds who visit seem to prefer to make the most of your time, money, and efforts. Keeping your feeders clean is crucially important and they'll benefit from a regular scrub down and diluted bleach sanitization every few weeks.
A bluejay stops at a bird feeder in the Village of Wappingers Falls on March 19, 2025. Not all bluejays will migrate during winter, but many will stay in their home range through the cold months.
Providing seed is an excellent first step but if you want to add a gamechanger, put out one or two suet cages with suet blocks. You can hang them on trees or posts with bungee cords. These are especially appreciated from fall through mid-spring as insect populations are unavailable and birds need the proteins and fats that suet provides. They can draw in woodpeckers, flickers, jays, nuthatches, grackles, grosbeaks, juncos, and more. My family and I delight in watching the birds visit the suet blocks and excitedly update each other when someone new shows up.
A note about consistency: stay the course! If you've only just begun offering seed and/or suet, be patient. The word has to spread but the birds will come.
Including other exciting feeders like those made for hummingbirds or orioles will get more species to your yard. Orioles don't visit for very long but if you're lucky enough to draw in these bright and engaging birds, it's totally worth putting out a bit of jam and orange slices for them in the spring. Hummers will often hang out through the summer and will visit your feeder to supplement what they're getting from your flowers and the mosquitos, gnats, etc. that they're eating.
A chickadee eats a a bird feeder in the Village of Wappingers Falls on March 19, 2025.Plants to include in your bird garden:
Speaking of plants, including native plants and particular species will guarantee a good variety of healthy and highly nutritious feeding options for your birds. Native plants are especially valuable because they will attract many of the insects our local birds have evolved to eat and feed to their young. An added benefit is that most of our native plants are more water-efficient and don't require substantial irrigation.
Flowers: -
Coneflower
Coreopsis
Blanket Flower (n)
Beebalm (n)
Sunflowers (n)
Gayfeather (n)
Black and Brown-eyed Susans
Grasses: For species like mourning dove, dark-eyed juncos, and sparrows. -
Big bluestem (n)
Blue grama grass (n)
Indian rice grass (n)
Little bluestem (n)
Sideoats grama (n)
Switchgrass (n)
Shrubs: -
Chokecherry (n)
Serviceberry (n)
Elderberry (n)
Three-lobe Sumac (n) or Staghorn Sumac
Winterfat (n)
Trees: -
Piñon Pine (n)
Ponderosa Pines (n)
Hawthorns
Crabapples
Rocky Mountain Juniper (n)
*(n): indicates native options available
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What to know about water
Okay, next is water. You can provide anything from a shallow dish of water to a pond in your yard to offer up hydration and a chance to bathe. Other water options include bubbling boulders, fountains, and birdbaths. Including a little solar-powered fountain in your birdbath will draw in even more birds. Just be sure to keep things clean and sanitize baths and bowls regularly.
Shelter can be provided by planting shrubs that allow for good cover, plenty of trees to host nests and roosting sites, and even creating a dead brush pile (5'+ wide x 4'+tall) from your pruned branches throughout the year. Birds love these piles that offer safety from predators and weather. Allowing a dead tree to remain on your property (as long as it's not hazardous) can offer up more nesting sites for species like woodpeckers. Choose reputable birdhouse manufacturers that build to species' preferred specifications when installing structures for birds. Remember too, that they don't want their houses located too close to busy food sources where the traffic is high.
Amanda Weidner
Other important tips to create a bird-friendly garden include:
Avoiding the use of pesticides and herbicides which can sicken and kill birds as well as unintended insects and plants.
Prune your trees in winter to prevent disturbing nest sites.
Use specially made decals on your home's windows to reduce bird collisions.
Keep your cats indoors. According to experts, approximately 2.4 billion birds are killed in the U.S. each year by cats, not to mention all of the reptiles, amphibians, insects, and small mammals!
Finally, after you've worked so hard to create this great habitat, be sure to enjoy it! Get some binoculars, set up a bench for viewing, place feeders so you can see them from indoors, and do whatever it takes to allow yourself to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Both you and the birds will be grateful for it!
Amanda Weidner is the horticulture specialist at the Pueblo County CSU-Extension Office. She can be reached at 719-583-6581 and [email protected].
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Tips to create a thriving bird garden of your own
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