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Inviting Birds to your Backyard

Author: Allison Kosto, MSU Broadwater County Extension Agent MSU Broadwater County Extension Agent

Allison Kosto

MSU Broadwater County Extension Agent

Earlier this summer, I wrote an article about nuisance birds highlighting my recent struggle with sparrows (which has since been resolved). However, I started feeling a little guilty about labeling birds as “bad” or a “nuisance” because they add many positive benefits to the environment. It may not always be necessary to chase the birds away. In fact, you may want to design a backyard that invites or encourages birds to visit.

There are many benefits to having birds in your yard. A major one is pest control. Birds eat large amounts of insects, including mosquitoes, aphids, grubs, and caterpillars. Birds of prey such as hawks and owls can also help with rodent control. Some birds, for example hummingbirds, help with pollination. Birds are an important part of a healthy ecosystem. Birdwatching is a well-known hobby that can help improve mental health, reduce stress and bring enjoyment.

A well-designed backyard can create a welcoming habitat for migratory and resident songbirds. There are a few basic principles that create a space where birds come to rest or nest. Reducing turfgrass and replacing with natural or landscaped areas will create better spaces for birds. Turfgrass has little to no value to birds or other wildlife. However, trees, shrubs, tall grasses and wildflowers provide shelter and areas for foraging.

As you choose vegetation for the landscape, strategically select plants that benefit birds. For example, shrubs and small trees with horizontal branches like crabapples or flowering dogwood make great nesting places. Evergreen trees are important because they provide extra protection during the winter months.

Also, strategically choose plants that are food sources to attract birds. They love fruit, nuts and seeds. Oaks can attract woodpeckers, nuthatches and chickadees, while serviceberries will bring in robins and waxwings. You can always add a bird feeder but creating a natural environment that provides food for birds is unmatched. Even resisting the urge to remove a dead tree provides a place for birds to nest and feed.

Adding a water source is important to attract birds. Nearly all birds are attracted to water for drinking and bathing. Running water is much better than stagnant water. There are many innovative ways to keep water moving for a birdbath. If the water is still, make sure to clean and change it frequently to keep birds coming back. You could even take it to the next level with a backyard pond or waterfall, which can also attract other wildlife such as frogs and dragonflies.

Another strategy to attract birds is to install nesting boxes. These specifically attract species that seek cavities for nesting, such as chickadees, bluebirds, wrens and swallows. If you have water nearby, then a wood duck box may be an option as well.

Feeders have long been a way to invite birds to an area. Placement is important, though to maximize bird safety. They should be placed far enough away from vegetation so that predators such as cats can’t lurk, but close enough that they have a place to perch. Feeders should be placed away from windows. Clean feeders at least every two weeks to avoid transmission of disease as well as remove any moldy food that might be contaminated with toxins. There are many different feeder designs, and each will likely attract several types of birds.

Types of food will also influence bird types. Millet will attract mourning doves, sparrows and the spotted towhee. Sunflower or safflower seeds bring in chickadees, nuthatches, finches and crossbills. Thistle seed is enjoyed by finches, siskins and crossbills as well. Peanuts attract woodpeckers, chickadees and nuthatches. Use jelly to bring in a cedar waxwing. Sugar water is used to attract hummingbirds. Woodpeckers, creepers and warblers enjoy suet or peanut butter.

Feeders are not without problems, though. They can sometimes attract house sparrows, which are non-native birds that congregate in large numbers and drive away native birds. You can often reduce or eliminate them by avoiding cracked corn, which is one of their favorite foods, or putting cracked corn in a separate feeder far away from the main feeders. Rodents, including squirrels, can also be an issue.

Even though I swear at the birds a lot, we truly do love having birds in our yard. By our front door is two large spruces that feel “alive” with birds and is a telltale sign of spring when the birds move back in to nest. We were also blessed with a small flock of beautiful American Goldfinches who stayed for a few weeks this spring and were a pretty sight to see. I hope you can find beauty in the birds as well! Call MSU Extension in Broadwater County with any gardening questions at 406-266-9242 or allison.kosto@montana.edu.