Selected theme: Creating a Habitat for Native Birds. Transform your yard, balcony, or shared courtyard into a living sanctuary with native plants, fresh water, safe shelter, and year-round care. Join us, learn practical steps, and share your sightings.
Why Native Birds Need Your Backyard
Urban sanctuaries, one plot at a time
In cities, lawns and pavement can feel like deserts to birds. A single native oak or berry hedge becomes a lifesaving oasis, offering insects, cover, and a safe resting stop during migration.
The ripple effect of a single garden
When you plant natives, local insects rebound, and with them come chickadees, wrens, and thrushes. Neighbors notice the song, copy your choices, and soon an entire street supports nesting and fledging.
A morning chorus worth waking for
Last spring, I swapped turf for goldenrod and bluestem. Within weeks, a pair of Northern Cardinals began singing at dawn, and a curious warbler inspected the new shrubs like a guest exploring a freshly opened cafe.
Water, Shelter, and Safety
Shallow basins with textured stones help small birds perch safely. Add a dripper, mister, or solar fountain to create movement. Refresh daily in summer and scrub weekly to prevent algae and disease.
Water, Shelter, and Safety
Evergreen thickets, brush piles, and dense hedges offer storm protection and quick hideaways. Mixed textures let birds choose comfort. Place shelter near food and water, but with open sightlines to spot approaching threats.
Nesting and Breeding Support
Nest boxes that truly fit
Different species require specific entrance diameters, floor sizes, and heights. Research your local natives, mount boxes facing away from prevailing winds, and install predator guards to safeguard eggs from raccoons and snakes.
Leave the leaves and a snag
Leaf litter shelters beetles and moth pupae, the protein-packed baby food nestlings need. A standing dead limb, safely situated, offers cavities and perches that woodpeckers and bluebirds may eagerly adopt.
Watch, record, and learn
Keep respectful distance, but log observations in a notebook or community science app like NestWatch. Patterns you track—first songs, nest building, fledging—guide better decisions and help researchers map bird success.
Plant-first nutrition
Caterpillars raised on native foliage fuel growth in most nestlings. Grow oaks, willows, and native sunflowers, and let seed heads stand into winter so finches and sparrows can forage naturally, safely, and energetically.
Smart feeders, healthier birds
If you use feeders, space them out, clean with a diluted bleach solution weekly, and switch seed types seasonally. Remove wet seed immediately to prevent illness, and pause feeding during disease outbreaks.
Connecting Habitats Across the Neighborhood
Invite neighbors to sketch yards on a simple map, highlighting trees, water, and gaps. Together, decide where another shrub, a birdbath, or a trellis could close distance and guide birds safely across streets.
Connecting Habitats Across the Neighborhood
Plan a friendly Saturday tour showcasing bloom times, berries, and bird activity. Share plant lists, offer cuttings, and ask participants to subscribe for monthly habitat challenges that keep momentum lively and inclusive.
