7 Must-Know Secrets for Attracting Wild Birds to Your Backyard
It can take a little work and research to make your backyard welcoming to native birds, but thankfully, you don’t have to be an ornithologist to make it work. Your friends at Hardware Hank are here to help you turn your backyard into a wild bird sanctuary.
Here are our 7 must-know secrets for attracting wild birds to your backyard.
Why are Wild Birds Good for My Backyard?
If you’re new to birding and haven’t read up on attracting wild birds, you might be wondering why people would want to bring more birds to their backyard. You might be surprised to learn that birds — especially hummingbirds like the common ruby-throated hummingbird — are key pollinators for native wildflowers, an important resource for bees and butterflies.
Wild birds are also nature’s pest control. Wild birds don’t just eat earthworms, they also eat ants, gnats, and flying pests like mosquitoes and wasps. Seed-eating birds — sparrows, finches, weavers, and other small songbirds — will even eat the seeds from the weeds in your lawn or garden, making them a welcome addition to your routine backyard maintenance.
7. Choosing the Right Bird Food for Wild Birds
Birds can be picky eaters, so choosing the right wild bird food can be a little trickier than you might expect. With so many different types of bird food, choosing one for your backyard can feel overwhelming, but if you know the type of birds you’re trying to attract to your backyard, it becomes much easier to pick food wild birds will love.
The first thing to consider when choosing bird food for your backyard is what types of birds you want to attract. Different species of songbirds have distinctly shaped bills that make them better suited for eating a particular diet. For example, some birds, like robins, have short bills that are advantageous for eating insects, fruits and berries, but they can’t crush seed shells. Birds with longer, more pointed bills, like cardinals, are seed-eating birds, and they have no problem cracking open shells and eating the seed inside.
For other types of birds, you may have to do some quick research before making a purchase. Hummingbirds, for example, are looking for nectar from flowers, so if you want to attract hummingbirds, you’ll need nectar concentrate and a special hummingbird feeder designed to keep ants and bees away.
If you’re not trying to attract just one type of wild bird, we suggest bird food that includes fruits, berries and seeds so that you have the best chance of bringing a wide variety of birds to your backyard.
6. Use Different Types of Feeders
Just like different types of birds like different types of food, the same is true for feeders. That’s why it’s important to consider what type of wild birds you want to attract before purchasing a feeder or food.
Tray feeders, also known as platform feeders, are simple and versatile. If you’re interested in birdwatching, tray feeders offer the best view of birds while they eat. You can also use practically any type of food in a tray feeder, making it easy to attract most birds. Unfortunately, tray feeders have a few drawbacks. Because they’re open, the bird food isn’t protected from any other animals you might have in your backyard. Some tray feeders can also hold water after rain or snow, so you have to clean them regularly to avoid the growth of bacteria, mold and mildew.
Hopper feeders are similar to tray feeders, but they have a covered storage area that holds enough food to last birds for several days, making them a convenient choice for us. These storage areas are typically square or rectangular and are often decorative. Like the tray feeders, though, hopper feeders can get messy if not cleaned regularly, so it’s important to keep hopper feeders clean, particularly after rain or snow.
Tube feeders are a popular bird feeder because even though they don’t take up much space, they can feed several birds at once. Many tube feeders are clear plastic, so it’s easy to monitor seed levels from a distance. The design of tube feeders tends to do a better job of keeping moisture out than tray and hopper feeders, but water can pool at the base of the tube, so a tube feeder still needs to be cleaned regularly.
Suet is high in energy and is loved by woodpeckers, chickadees, blue jays and many other wild bird species, and the most popular type of suet feeder is a suet cage. Unlike the other feeders listed here, suet feeders take suet cakes or balls instead of loose bird food. Wild birds perch on the metal bars and peck at the nutritional suet inside. Since the suet feeder doesn’t collect water, cleaning it is much easier than cleaning hopper or tube feeders.
These are just a few of the most popular kinds of bird feeders. For best results, try using a few different types of bird feeders throughout your backyard or garden. You might find it much easier to attract a particular type of bird in your area than others, and having a variety of feeders and food available can help you attract more birds fast.
5. Protect Your Bird Feeder from Squirrels
When you put out your bird food, keep a close eye on your feeder. If you notice there’s a lot of food missing suddenly, it might not be because you’re attracting birds. It’s common for feeders to attract some unwanted guests. Squirrels are notorious for stealing bird food, and they can even damage your feeder to get the food out.
Where you place your bird feeder is one of the most important things you can do to protect your bird feeder from squirrels. If your bird feeder is in a tree (or even within a few feet of a tree or a limb), it’s in reach of squirrels.
Consider putting your feeder on a pole to make it harder for squirrels to jump to it. Squirrel baffles, like this wrap-around squirrel baffle, attach to your pole and protect your feeder from squirrels climbing up the pole or jumping up to the feeder.
4. Plant Native Plants That Wild Birds Love/h2>
When they’re not eating fruits, berries and seeds from bird feeders, wild birds are looking for food, namely insects, from a natural source: native plants. Native flowers, trees and shrubs are home to the caterpillars and other bugs that birds hunt instinctively, so when you plant a few native plants in your backyard or garden, you’re creating a more natural habitat that’s attractive to wild birds.
Wild birds also love native plants because they offer natural shelter and they have the materials birds need to build and weave their nests. Birds look for materials like twigs, dead leaves, clippings and other pieces from native plants for their nests, so making these building materials readily available will make your backyard much more attractive.
3. Give Birds a Place to Nest
If your backyard doesn’t have trees or shrubs where birds can build nests, adding a bird house gives birds a place to nest that offers shelter from the elements. Before you purchase a bird house, though, think about what species of wild birds you’re trying to attract.
Not all birds like bird houses. The enclosed space isn’t the right environment for some species of birds to build nests and raise their young. Chickadees, wrens, bluebirds and other cavity-nesting birds use bird houses to nest. But many common backyard songbirds, like cardinals and goldfinches, prefer to build their nests at the fork of a branch of a tall tree.
Like bird feeders, bird houses can collect water, so it’s important to pick a bird house with a sloped roof to keep water out. It’s also important for bird houses to have pre-drilled holes that allow for proper drainage and ventilation. Bird houses with removable bottoms make it easy to clean at the end of the breeding season.
Remember, if you put your bird house on a pole, add a baffle to protect the nest inside from predators.
2. Add a Water Source for Bird Baths
Wild birds are always looking for fresh water for drinking and bathing. Adding a small garden pond or bird bath is a great way to attract birds to your backyard. A simple pedestal bird bath is enough for small songbirds. For attracting birds to the backyard year-round, heated bird baths keep water ice-free and welcoming all winter long.
The key to attracting birds to your backyard bird bath is keeping it clean. You should change the water at least every few days. If you notice the bird bath getting dirty, it needs to be cleaned thoroughly to keep birds safe from disease. When cleaning your bird bath, avoid harsh household chemicals. A simple mild vinegar solution is strong enough to clean the bird bath without harming the birds flying in for a dip.
1. Consistency
When you’re trying to attract wild birds to your backyard, it’s hard to underestimate the importance of being consistent. Wild birds are looking for safe places to eat and nest, and if the bird feeder has been empty for several days or hasn’t been cleaned lately, that’s a signal for the birds to find another backyard with a constant supply of fresh food.
Attracting wild birds can take some effort, but with these tips, your backyard will be full of featured visitors in no time. Your local Hardware Hank has the bird food, feeders, baths and other products you need to attract birds to your backyard or garden.
It can take a little work and research to make your backyard welcoming to native birds, but thankfully, you don’t have to be an ornithologist to make it work. Your friends at Hardware Hank are here to help you turn your backyard into a wild bird sanctuary.
Here are our 7 must-know secrets for attracting wild birds to your backyard.
Related Products
Why are Wild Birds Good for My Backyard?
If you’re new to birding and haven’t read up on attracting wild birds, you might be wondering why people would want to bring more birds to their backyard. You might be surprised to learn that birds — especially hummingbirds like the common ruby-throated hummingbird — are key pollinators for native wildflowers, an important resource for bees and butterflies.
Wild birds are also nature’s pest control. Wild birds don’t just eat earthworms, they also eat ants, gnats, and flying pests like mosquitoes and wasps. Seed-eating birds — sparrows, finches, weavers, and other small songbirds — will even eat the seeds from the weeds in your lawn or garden, making them a welcome addition to your routine backyard maintenance.
7. Choosing the Right Bird Food for Wild Birds
Birds can be picky eaters, so choosing the right wild bird food can be a little trickier than you might expect. With so many different types of bird food, choosing one for your backyard can feel overwhelming, but if you know the type of birds you’re trying to attract to your backyard, it becomes much easier to pick food wild birds will love.
The first thing to consider when choosing bird food for your backyard is what types of birds you want to attract. Different species of songbirds have distinctly shaped bills that make them better suited for eating a particular diet. For example, some birds, like robins, have short bills that are advantageous for eating insects, fruits and berries, but they can’t crush seed shells. Birds with longer, more pointed bills, like cardinals, are seed-eating birds, and they have no problem cracking open shells and eating the seed inside.
For other types of birds, you may have to do some quick research before making a purchase. Hummingbirds, for example, are looking for nectar from flowers, so if you want to attract hummingbirds, you’ll need nectar concentrate and a special hummingbird feeder designed to keep ants and bees away.
If you’re not trying to attract just one type of wild bird, we suggest bird food that includes fruits, berries and seeds so that you have the best chance of bringing a wide variety of birds to your backyard.
6. Use Different Types of Feeders
Just like different types of birds like different types of food, the same is true for feeders. That’s why it’s important to consider what type of wild birds you want to attract before purchasing a feeder or food.
Tray feeders, also known as platform feeders, are simple and versatile. If you’re interested in birdwatching, tray feeders offer the best view of birds while they eat. You can also use practically any type of food in a tray feeder, making it easy to attract most birds. Unfortunately, tray feeders have a few drawbacks. Because they’re open, the bird food isn’t protected from any other animals you might have in your backyard. Some tray feeders can also hold water after rain or snow, so you have to clean them regularly to avoid the growth of bacteria, mold and mildew.
Hopper feeders are similar to tray feeders, but they have a covered storage area that holds enough food to last birds for several days, making them a convenient choice for us. These storage areas are typically square or rectangular and are often decorative. Like the tray feeders, though, hopper feeders can get messy if not cleaned regularly, so it’s important to keep hopper feeders clean, particularly after rain or snow.
Tube feeders are a popular bird feeder because even though they don’t take up much space, they can feed several birds at once. Many tube feeders are clear plastic, so it’s easy to monitor seed levels from a distance. The design of tube feeders tends to do a better job of keeping moisture out than tray and hopper feeders, but water can pool at the base of the tube, so a tube feeder still needs to be cleaned regularly.
Suet is high in energy and is loved by woodpeckers, chickadees, blue jays and many other wild bird species, and the most popular type of suet feeder is a suet cage. Unlike the other feeders listed here, suet feeders take suet cakes or balls instead of loose bird food. Wild birds perch on the metal bars and peck at the nutritional suet inside. Since the suet feeder doesn’t collect water, cleaning it is much easier than cleaning hopper or tube feeders.
These are just a few of the most popular kinds of bird feeders. For best results, try using a few different types of bird feeders throughout your backyard or garden. You might find it much easier to attract a particular type of bird in your area than others, and having a variety of feeders and food available can help you attract more birds fast.
5. Protect Your Bird Feeder from Squirrels
When you put out your bird food, keep a close eye on your feeder. If you notice there’s a lot of food missing suddenly, it might not be because you’re attracting birds. It’s common for feeders to attract some unwanted guests. Squirrels are notorious for stealing bird food, and they can even damage your feeder to get the food out.
Where you place your bird feeder is one of the most important things you can do to protect your bird feeder from squirrels. If your bird feeder is in a tree (or even within a few feet of a tree or a limb), it’s in reach of squirrels.
Consider putting your feeder on a pole to make it harder for squirrels to jump to it. Squirrel baffles, like this wrap-around squirrel baffle, attach to your pole and protect your feeder from squirrels climbing up the pole or jumping up to the feeder.
4. Plant Native Plants That Wild Birds Love/h2>
When they’re not eating fruits, berries and seeds from bird feeders, wild birds are looking for food, namely insects, from a natural source: native plants. Native flowers, trees and shrubs are home to the caterpillars and other bugs that birds hunt instinctively, so when you plant a few native plants in your backyard or garden, you’re creating a more natural habitat that’s attractive to wild birds.
Wild birds also love native plants because they offer natural shelter and they have the materials birds need to build and weave their nests. Birds look for materials like twigs, dead leaves, clippings and other pieces from native plants for their nests, so making these building materials readily available will make your backyard much more attractive.
3. Give Birds a Place to Nest
If your backyard doesn’t have trees or shrubs where birds can build nests, adding a bird house gives birds a place to nest that offers shelter from the elements. Before you purchase a bird house, though, think about what species of wild birds you’re trying to attract.
Not all birds like bird houses. The enclosed space isn’t the right environment for some species of birds to build nests and raise their young. Chickadees, wrens, bluebirds and other cavity-nesting birds use bird houses to nest. But many common backyard songbirds, like cardinals and goldfinches, prefer to build their nests at the fork of a branch of a tall tree.
Like bird feeders, bird houses can collect water, so it’s important to pick a bird house with a sloped roof to keep water out. It’s also important for bird houses to have pre-drilled holes that allow for proper drainage and ventilation. Bird houses with removable bottoms make it easy to clean at the end of the breeding season.
Remember, if you put your bird house on a pole, add a baffle to protect the nest inside from predators.
2. Add a Water Source for Bird Baths
Wild birds are always looking for fresh water for drinking and bathing. Adding a small garden pond or bird bath is a great way to attract birds to your backyard. A simple pedestal bird bath is enough for small songbirds. For attracting birds to the backyard year-round, heated bird baths keep water ice-free and welcoming all winter long.
The key to attracting birds to your backyard bird bath is keeping it clean. You should change the water at least every few days. If you notice the bird bath getting dirty, it needs to be cleaned thoroughly to keep birds safe from disease. When cleaning your bird bath, avoid harsh household chemicals. A simple mild vinegar solution is strong enough to clean the bird bath without harming the birds flying in for a dip.
1. Consistency
When you’re trying to attract wild birds to your backyard, it’s hard to underestimate the importance of being consistent. Wild birds are looking for safe places to eat and nest, and if the bird feeder has been empty for several days or hasn’t been cleaned lately, that’s a signal for the birds to find another backyard with a constant supply of fresh food.
Attracting wild birds can take some effort, but with these tips, your backyard will be full of featured visitors in no time. Your local Hardware Hank has the bird food, feeders, baths and other products you need to attract birds to your backyard or garden.
