Backyards

Making Them Bird-Friendly!


If you aren’t aware, having birdhouses and birdfeeders is a controversial topic in the bird world. While you may be helping a bird find a safe, warm home or get a quick bite to eat, some experts worry that birds will become dependent on these resources. They’re concerned that when the resource is taken away, birds could struggle to survive and perhaps even die since they aren’t self-reliant anymore. Others are concerned that cats and other predators can use birdfeeders, birdbaths, and birdhouses to make easy kills.

On the other hand, birds don't have as many resources as they used to. Others believe that providing food and shelter can help birds as habitats become more fragmented or disappear all together. There's also ways to combat birdhouses and feeders providing predators with an easy meals.


Regardless, this page does not aim to convince you one way or another. It is a personal decision you make for yourself. If you do decide to have birdhouses, birdfeeders, and/or birdbaths in your yard, here are some pages to help you.

Don't forget to visit our Planting Native page (click here) to make your backyard even more bird-friendly!

If you have never looked up birdhouse guidelines before, get ready to throw your conceptions about birdhouses out the window. To be the most beneficial and safe for birds, birdhouses should be undecorated, plain wood with specific measurements. The ornamental birdhouses you see at the store are just that; ornamental. Learn what the best birdhouses really look like!

There are several different bird feeders and foods you can offer in your backyard. Perhaps you hope to attract certain species or convenience is your priority. Regardless, this page has detailed information on several birdfeeders. There's also links to different bird foods and a homemade birdfeeder that is a great craft for kids!

The misconceptions about birdbaths are similar to the misconceptions on birdhouses—there are many decorated options that, while they may look great in your yard, are not entirely beneficial to birds. To be the most beneficial, birdbaths have to follow certain specifications, such as location and depth. The good news is, if you can't find a proper birdbath at the store, it's easy to make your own!

Photo courtesy of Steven Depolo.