Winter yards can feel pretty quiet. But birds change that.
These five tips, developed with our 1% for the Planet partners at Audubon Rockies, will help you turn your backyard into a birdyard this winter.
Create safe spots to rest
Brush piles, logs, or a tucked-away corner of unmowed grass give birds protection from wind and predators.
While everybody enjoys a tidy yard, keep in mind that forest floors and wooded areas birds love aren't neat. Leaving some natural debris during the colder months will make your backyard a bird sanctuary.
Sunday Tip:
During winter, local birds and migrating flocks seek out backyards that offer natural shelter. An old Christmas tree or loose stack of branches can provide a safe harbor for your new feathered friends.
Woodpeckers eat wood-boring beetles, ants, and other insects. So all that drumming is just free pest control for your trees.
Offer high-energy food
Food is always a quick way to make friends, and birds are no different. Feeders are especially helpful during winter when natural food sources become scarce.
A high-fat energy boost is key. Black-oil sunflower seed, nyjer seed, and suet give birds the extra calories they need to stay warm.
Cole's® Sunflower Meats Seed
- 5-lb bag of seed
- Whole sunflower meats
- No shell, no mess
- Pest-free guarantee
Sunday Tip:
To attract the greatest diversity of species, try a tube feeder. For smaller birds like finches, try a mesh tube feeder designed for niger seed (commonly called nyger or thistle seed).
Place feeders strategically
Where you put your feeders matters as much as what's in them. Position feeders within 10–15 feet of shrubs or evergreens so birds have a quick escape from predators. Keep feeders at least 3 feet away from windows to help prevent window collisions.
Sunday Tip:
Predator birds like Cooper's Hawks have learned to hunt near feeders. Nearby cover (like a brush pile or dense shrub) gives smaller birds a safe place to dart to if danger shows up.
Keep water available
Depending on your climate, winter water can be hard to come by.
Water (especially moving water) is one of the best ways to attract more birds. To keep your yard bird-friendly all year, provide a water source that doesn't freeze.
Fountains and heated bird baths are great options, but you can also use a year-round bird dish or bath by regularly adding fresh water and placing a floating object in the water (like a tennis ball) to help prevent ice from forming.
Placing your bird bath in a sunny location can also help keep the water usable and your new yard-mates splish-splashing all year long.
Sunday Tip:
Conserve water and attract birds by placing rain barrels near feeders. They provide a source of fresh water during winter as snow melts and new water collects on top.
Add winter-friendly native plants
Birds can't survive on bird seed alone. Evergreens, berry-bearing shrubs, and dense grasses offer cover and nutrition when food is scarce. Plant in clusters to make foraging easier for birds.
As soon as temperatures are right, plant wildlife-friendly native plants, and evergreens that offer shelter and food to foraging birds.
A couple other ways to help:
- Grow better grass with fewer pesticides. Opt for Sunday's Shade Select grass seed blend, and let it grow longer in some areas where you're okay with extra length. Insects will like the longer grasses, and birds will appreciate the extra food.
- Only use targeted pest control. Think of birds as pest control resources. Reduce applications on plants where birds forage, shelter, and hang out in your yard.
Cardinals don't migrate, so if you're in their range, you'll see them all winter.
Benefits of birds in your backyard
Birds improve our backyards and lawn ecosystems. They pollinate, build healthy soil, and handle pest control. They're doing a lot out there.
Most of all, birds are some of our first connections to the natural world, no matter where we live. They teach us (and our kids) how nature works and why it's worth protecting.
Our mission at Sunday is to help everyone reimagine their backyard as an extension of their home (not just some grass that surrounds it). It's a place to enjoy with your family and friends, play with your pets, get your hands dirty, and create deeper connections to nature.
Building a bird-friendly yard is just one great way to grow something better for your home this winter.
Cited sources
Attracting Birds. National Wildlife Federation.
Bird Your Backyard. AgriLife Today, Texas A&M University Extension.
Gardening for Birds. Penn State University Extension.
Improving Habitats for Wildlife in Your Backyard and Neighborhood. University of Missouri Extension.
