Birds In The Backyard

Besides providing feeders, there are lots of other things you can do to make your yard attractive to birds.

Some simple landscaping can provide shelter from summer sun and winter winds with shrubs and small trees like arborvitae or white cedar; and planting berry and fruit-producing yews and crabapple (seen at the right) can provide a alternate source of winter food for birds when you're away and can't regularly fill your feeders.

In the fall, don't "deadhead" all your perennials. Leave some with the dried heads on them, since birds love to feast on the seeds. If you have an open field or pasture nearby, let a portion of it grow wild to provide grasses and low shrubs for food and sheltered perching sites.

Finally, make sure you provide a source of water. Especially in areas with freezing winters, non-migrating birds may find it difficult locating a reliable water source. If freezes are common in your area, you can use a submersible heater, like the one seen here, to keep the water liquid.