Wild About Birds
Habitat Tips
Wild birds require four basic elements for their survival - food, water, shelter and places to raise their young. You will attract beautiful wild birds if your backyard meets their needs. Birdfeeders, properly placed and stocked with seed, nuts or suet, will attract a wide variety of wild birds (see below). A year round source of water, like a birdbath or small pond, is also a necessary part of your wild bird habitat. Cavity nesting birds may be attracted to your yard if you provide birdhouses. Birds will use the trees and shrubs in your landscape for shelter and places to build nests.
Establishing different feeding stations is the best possible way to attract the widest variety of wild birds. There are several types of feeders commercially available - tube feeders, hopper style, platforms, window type, ground feeders, peanut feeders, suet holders, thistle feeders, Hummingbird feeders, Oriole feeders. The wild birds you attract will be determined by the variety of feeder styles and food types you provide.
All wildlife, including birds, need a permanent source of water. There are many traditional pedestal type birdbaths available. Make sure the one you choose is shallow enough (1" - 2") and it's a good idea to place a few small rocks in the bottom to help the birds get a foothold. A small pond with a shallow, rocky wading area will also attract birds and other wildlife. Make sure shrubbery or other cover is nearby for protection from predators.
Birds seek cover for protection from predators (the neighbor's cat?) and for a place to rest. Dense shrubs and evergreens will provide shelter all year. Brush piles and dead or dying trees (snags) is also used for cover by birds and other wildlife. Roosting boxes can be purchased or constructed in the absence of snags.
There are many cavity-nesting birds - chickadees, titmouse, bluebirds, and wrens - that would use a nesting box. Birdhouses, either purchased or made in your own workshop, should be built to "spec" for the birds you wish to attract. The dimensions vary and the hole size is different for each species. For the details you can refer to any of the several books available about building birdhouses. Shrubs, trees, and snags of varying sizes and density in your landscape will also provide places for wild birds to raise their young.
You will attract a wide variety of birds if
you turn your backyard into wild bird habitat by providing these
four basic elements required for their survival.
Frequency Preferred level Preferred
at feeders at feeding station seed
Bluejay CY F B
Cardinal CY F,G B
Carolina Chickadee CY F B,T
Carolina Wren RY F S,N
Chipping Sparrow RS G M
Common Grackle CY G,F M,B,N
Cowbird CY G,F M
Downy Woodpecker CY F B,S,N
Eastern Bluebird RY F S
Evening Grosbeak RWM F B
Field Sparrow RS G M
Flicker CY F S
Fox Sparrow RW G M
Goldfinch CY F T,B
Hairy Woodpecker CY F B,S,N
House Finch CY F B,T
House Sparrow CY G,F M
Indigo Bunting RS F T
Junco CW G M
Mockingbird RY F S
Mourning Dove CY G,F M,T
Oriole RS F W
Pileated Woodpecker RY F S
Pine Siskin RW F T
Red-bellied Woodpecker CY F B,S,N
Red-breasted Nuthatch RW F B
Red-headed Woodpecker RY F S,B
Red-winged Blackbird CS G,F M
Rose-breasted Grosbeak RSM F B
Ruby-throated Hummingbird CS F W
Rufous-sided Towhee RY G M
Song Sparrow RY G M
Starling CY F B,S,N
Titmouse CY F B,N
Tree Sparrow RW G M
White-breasted Nuthatch CY F B,S,N
White-crowned Sparrow RW G M
White-throated Sparrow RW G M
Home | Milford Shop | Online Shop | Habitat Tips | Links | FAQs | Newsletter | Contact | Policies