5 Ways to Attract Birds to Your Yard

Bird watching is a widespread hobby enjoyed by many. But you don’t need to travel into the woods to catch a glimpse of these adorable creatures! Your backyard can be a sanctuary for birds if you create an enjoyable environment for them.  It can be charming to see birds enjoy seeds from the bird feeder, flying around and adding life to your garden. If you enjoy the presence of birds and want to invite them into your garden, here are some ways you can accomplish that.

Hang a Variety of Bird Feeders

If you want to create an inviting landscape design for a multitude of bird species, you need to include multiple bird feeders. You don’t want more aggressive or larger breeds bullying the smaller birds into leaving your garden. By including more than one feeder, they have the opportunity to spread out throughout your yard.

Just as important as having enough room for each bird is having seeds that will satisfy them. As many species of birds there are out there, there are just as many dietary preferences. Below are a few different types of food you can include at your bird feeders to attract different critters:

• Sunflower seeds satisfy dozens of bird species.
• Safflower is enjoyed by birds but not squirrels, making it a fantastic option!
• Nyjer, otherwise known as thistle, is popular with Goldfinches.
• Unshelled, unsalted peanuts can attract cardinals, jays, chickadees, ravens, and more!

Install a Bird Bath

Birdbaths are not only pretty design elements for your garden; they also serve an important purpose! Birds need fresh water sources throughout the year, as well as a safe place to rinse off. By incorporating a birdbath into your landscape design, you’re doing a good deed and incentivizing them to visit. It’s especially adorable to watch birds hop around in a birdbath, rinsing off their feathers.

Incorporate Colors

Birds are attracted to colors, so including bright elements in your garden design will be inviting to them. You can incorporate color in your landscape design in a variety of ways, including:

• Colorful, dynamic bird feeders
• A variety of colorful flowers throughout your garden
• Brightly colored lawn and garden decorations
• Windchimes that bring not only color but enjoyable music to your backyard

Switch Up the Shrubs

It’s important for birds to feel safe and have plenty of natural shelter. They’ll gravitate towards shrubs and plant life in which they can hide. An ideal garden design will include tall grass, shrubs, small trees, flowering bushes, and taller trees from which they can watch the action. A dynamic variety of plant life will make the birds feel safer, and thus more likely to visit.

Provide Bird Houses

Another way to make birds feel safe in your landscape design is to provide birdhouses. If they know they have a dependable place to build their nest, birds are definitely going to be visiting your yard more often. The National Wildlife Foundation recommends the following factors when choosing a birdhouse:

• Thick walls constructed of untreated wood for insulation.
• Holes for ventilation and drainage.
• An extended and sloped roof to keep out the rain.
• A baffle to keep out raccoons, snakes, house cats, and other predators that steal eggs and chicks.

With the right birdhouse, you may get the pleasure of hosting a family of baby birds in your backyard!

There are many more ways to entice adorable birds to visit your expertly designed garden. If this is something you want to accomplish, let us know and we can help make it happen! If you’re in the San Diego area and would like landscape design inspiration or expert feedback, we have years of experience in making your garden design dreams come true! Reach out to Juniper and we’ll make it happen.