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6 Ways of Making Your Garden Extra Bird-Friendly

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Author Josie Messeter

Cute and colorful bird houses.
Cute and colorful bird houses. Image via Depositphotos

Very few things beats the lovely and peaceful sound of birds chirping. Most of these tips on how to make your garden a bird-friendly place are very easy to pull off, so even if you don’t have a green thumb you could easily have a garden so full of birds that even Snowwhite would be jealous.

#1 Set Up Bird Feeders

Two birds enjoying a snack from a bird feeder
Two birds enjoying a snack from a bird feeder. Image via Unsplash.

Bird feeders are an easy way to attract birds to your garden. Use a variety of feeders and seeds to attract different species. Tube feeders with sunflower seeds can attract finches and chickadees, while platform feeders with a mix of seeds can bring in cardinals and jays.

#2 Spoil Them with Bird Bath

A bird cooling off and having a drink in a bird bath.
A bird cooling off and having a drink in a bird bath. Image via Unsplash.

Birds need water for drinking and bathing. A shallow bird bath placed in a shady spot can attract species like robins and warblers. Keep the water clean and fresh, and consider adding a small fountain for a gentle sound of running water, which birds love.

#3 Plant Native Flowers and Shrubs

An elderberry bush provides good protection for smaller bird
An elderberry bush provides good protection for smaller birds. Image via Pixabay

Planting native flowers and shrubs provides natural food and shelter for birds. Native plants attract insects, which are a vital food source for many birds, including warblers and sparrows. Examples include coneflowers, bee balm, and elderberry bushes.

#4 Build Birdhouses

birdhouse
A birdhouse attached to a tree. Image via Pixabay

Birdhouses provide nesting sites for birds, especially in urban areas where natural cavities may be scarce. Install birdhouses at different heights to attract a variety of species. For example, bluebird boxes can attract bluebirds, while wren houses can appeal to wrens.

#5 Grow Fruit-Bearing Plants

apple tree
An apple tree will benefit both you and the birds in the area. Image via Unsplash

Fruit-bearing plants like holly, dogwood, and serviceberry provide a natural food source for birds. These plants can attract species such as cedar waxwings and thrushes, especially during the fall and winter months when other food sources are scarce.

#6 Create Shelter and Protection

A pathway leading through a garden with lots of shrubs.
A pathway leading through a garden with lots of shrubs. Image via Depositphotos

Birds need safe places to hide from predators and harsh weather. Dense shrubs, evergreens, and brush piles can offer protection. Planting a mix of tall trees and low shrubs can create layers of habitat, making your garden attractive to ground-dwelling birds like sparrows as well as tree dwellers like robins.

How to Make Your Garden as Bird-Friendly as Possible: Conclusion

A beautiful Robin sitting in a pinetree.
A beautiful Robin is sitting in a pine tree. Image via Unsplash

By making your garden a bird-friendly place, you’re not only creating a peaceful place for you to hang out in, you’re also helping your area’s biodiversity! You could say that you’re killing two birds with one stone, except you’re doing quite the opposite. Now that you have these easy tips on hand on how to make your garden a bird-friendly haven, which one are you going to implement first?

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