If you love spending time outdoors surrounded by beautiful and fascinating wildlife, you'll definitely want to try attracting native birds to your garden. By providing them with the right food and shelter, you can create a backyard oasis that both you and the birds will enjoy. Just be sure to take some safety precautions to avoid inadvertently causing harm to these gentle creatures. Keep reading for all the information you need on how to make your garden bird-friendly!

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Provide water year-round

In order to keep your backyard safe and inviting, install bird baths around your garden. By providing water, you'll attract songbirds that feed on mosquitoes in summertime - but it's also worth having one during winter months too! Placing them about 10 feet away from trees or shrubs will make sure predators can't get too close without being seen first. Recirculating water is best to prevent stagnant water - pumps are easy to find. 

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Go native

Native plants are the best way to provide year-round food for attracting your local birds. If you live in an area that has evergreen trees and shrubs, they make for excellent cover throughout all seasons! The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center provides lists by region or state with recommendations on which ones would work well where you live. 

Set up nesting boxes

Nesting boxes should have ventilation holes at the top and drainage holes below. It's best not to use a perch, to prevent house sparrows from sitting on a a perch and pecking at other birds using the nesting box. Always check on the boxes to ensure that invasive animal species that are known to harm or out-compete native species do not take up residence.

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Add bird-feeders

In addition to providing a source of supplemental food during times of scarcity, bird feeders offer viewing opportunities for those who enjoy watching feathered feeders.

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Go organic

Wildlife is protected by following organic gardening practices. Bugs are the primary source of food for many bird species and they provide an important nutrient or fat layer that helps juvenile birds to thrive.

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Remove invasive plants

It's essential to keep an eye out for invasive plants. These pesky species can overwhelm the ecosystem and prevent wildlife from thriving in your yard. Check with USDA-approved agencies like Your Local County Cooperative Extension System Office, which provides advice for creating and maintaining healthier landscapes so birds can thrive in your garden.

Ditch the lawn

Lawns are not beneficial to wildlife. Lawnmowers create noise that can be alarming for animals, disrupting their habitats and chasing away native species. Chemical fertilizers and toxic weedkillers like Glyphosate harm the ecosystems birds depend on.

By following these tips, you can safely and attract native birds to your garden. What has worked for you in terms of attracting birds to your backyard? Share your experience with us in the comments below!