What is a Bird Habitat? This is an area that provides everything that a bird requires for survival, as well as a place to raise its young, and thus will attract numerous species of garden birds to an area, such as your backyard. Through the use of planting the correct flowers, shrubs, trees, and placement of water features, you will learn about the birds requirements for survival and what attracts them to a backyard bird habitat.

It’s easy, fun, relaxing, and very rewarding knowing that you will help to develop and preserve a small part of the environment. Creating an area that will not only provide a place for birds to survive and raise there young, but a place that you can relax and enjoy the beauty of nature as you watch birds go about their daily activities.

A hummingbird garden has different requirements but can either be designed as its own habitat or incorporated into your design of a bird habitat in general. We will also cover the benefits and requirements for attracting Hummingbirds and how they can actually help your garden to grow. Bird houses different types of bird feeders, and bird seed will also be included.

The benefits of a bird habitat are many, not only to the birds, but to you and the environment as well. By planting flowers, shrubs, plants, and trees that are native to your area, it will be an obvious improvement to the preservation of nature and its habitat conservation. Survival is, from a birds standpoint, the number one priority. Food and water are the essentials and providing the right plants that either produce seeds or fruit for the birds or that will attract insects, that the birds will in turn eat, will help to meet this requirement. Providing an area rich in food for birds will also give them an area to breed and raise their young.

The rewards of creating a backyard habitat are many, and watching the birds come and go to your yard where there weren’t any before, will give you a feeling of accomplishment and self satisfaction. Bird watching has become so popular today that medical benefits have also been included in studies that show this hobby to actually reduce stress, tension, and high blood pressure.

Food

Many types of food producing plants are available, but in general, flowers that produce nectar or seeds, fruit trees, seed and nut producing trees, and shrubs will give an excellent variety of food for a bird habitat.

It should be noted that several bird feeders can also be incorporated into a bird habitat design as a supplement to the food producing vegetation. This can be an excellent way of providing specialized bird seed that, in some cases are formulated to a particular species diet, thus attracting certain types of birds that are native to your area.

Water

Beautiful Water Source

Water cannot only attract birds, but can provide a very relaxing and calming atmosphere where you can sit, meditate, and just enjoy nature. Creating the sound of running water can provide beauty and tranquility to any backyard garden. Birds need water all year long and an effort should be made to provide water in even the coldest climates. Heating elements for small pools, ponds, and bird bathes are available for those that live in extremely cold climates.

It’s best to provide the water a bird habitat requires in different depths from about one inch at the shallowest to two or three inches at the deepest for the larger birds. This can easily be done by simply placing rocks or small branches submerged in the water for the birds to stand on which allows them to choose the depth of water suitable for them.

Nesting Sites

Nesting sites are the third element that ideally is included in a bird habitat, and it should definitely be considered in your design. This simply means that choosing the right kind of vegetation (that provides nesting sites) to plant, will make a difference in attracting birds to your area. Some species of birds will choose evergreen trees, while others will build a nest in a protected shrub.

I’ve had a personal experience the last two years where Robins have built nests both in an evergreen pine tree as well as a Rododendron bush next to the house. It was quite a learning experience everyday watching the eqqs hatch, the babies being fed, and the fledglings leaving the nest on there own. They almost seemed like part of our family.

Different species require different habitats, so try to provide a diversity of nesting opportunities. For example, Cardinals will nest in shrubs while Robins will choose either shrubs or tree limbs to build a nest. Orioles will choose the ends of drooping branches while the Titmouse needs birdhouses or holes in dead trees. Many species such as sparrows and quail nest in tall grasses on the ground.

Shelter

Shelter is the fourth element in a bird habitat priority list. Birds not only need shelter from the weather, but also from predators. Through the planting of trees and shrubs, the shelter that is provided is another way of attracting birds. During rain and snow storms, and high winds, birds will seek shelter in a variety of ways.

Dense evergreens, broadleaf shrubs and even birdhouses or feeders can provide temporary shelter. Protection from the sun and heat should also be a consideration. The coolness of broadleaf trees as well as planting a hedge will not only serve as windbreaks, but will also provide shade. Large stands of evergreen trees is an excellent choice for protection from heavy snow storms, rain, and high winds.

Predators, such as hawks can be a definite threat and shelter for protection needs to be a part of your bird habitat design. If you plan on providing feeders for your birds, placement near dense shrubs and evergreens will allow for an escape route from them as well as ground predators.

Designing a bird habitat can be fun, relaxing, and enjoyable. Beauty should also be designed into the plan for the enjoyment by people too, so don’t forget to incorporate your favorite plants and shrubs that you enjoy most. Having too much of a good thing can also be detrimental to a bird habitat. Along with selective planting, selective cutting should be considered too.

Sunlight must be a major consideration for plants to grow and if your planting area is too dense with trees or overgrown vegetation, thinning and selective cutting will be required. After all, if your plants will not grow for lack of sunlight, then they will not produce food for the birds to eat. If you live in the United States and you want to optimize the amount of sunlight a bird habitat receives, a general rule of design is to have taller trees on the north side of the property and reduce the sun blocking ones on the southern side.

With the planting height as a consideration, the best guidelines to follow is front to back will be short to tall. In other words, the vegetation should be planted in layers with short ground covers in front, followed by flowers second, shrubs and small trees behind the flowers, and tall trees planted last, giving not only a variety of vegetation, but a very esthetically pleasing design.

A bird habitat should be created with open flight paths to and from your yard. This will allow better viewing of the birds and you’ll enjoy watching their feeding, nesting, and other bird habitat activities. When planting your variety of flowers, shrubs and trees, try to design a natural environment. If you look at a nature-grown area, there will not be just a single row of trees or everything grown in a straight line.

Try to imitate nature in that planting and growing a bird habitat will look as though they weren’t planted there by humans, but grew and reproduced naturally. Planting flowers, shrubs, and evergreen trees in larger numbers and groupings will help to accomplish this.

Also, don’t just plant one plant in one area, as it will look out of place. Many times throughout the year, local nurseries will have sales on the types of trees and shrubs that a bird habitat requires. This is the time that it’s most economical to buy enough of the same plant to create a grouping or stand of the same trees, shrubs and flowers. The larger numbers of vegetation will not only attract more birds, they will produce more food to keep the birds in your bird habitat.

To keep a bird habitat more esthetically pleasing year round, you can choose evergreen trees, trees that have unusual or pleasing to look at branch structures, and trees, shrubs and plants that can offer colorful bark and texture throughout the winter. Try checking your local nursery for suggestions that are native to your area.

Be sure to know what climate zone you live in and what native plants are adapted to your specific zone. This information could be very critical if you plan on using mail order nurseries.

I’ve included a climate hardiness zone map you can use as a reference to plan a bird habitat plant selection:

Flowers will Attract Birds and Add Beauty

Flowers that attract birds provide two main reasons for birds to come to a bird habitat. The seeds and insects that they produce and attract gives the birds two different food sources, and the material from the stalks and heads of the flowers will be used for building nests. By leaving the stalks and heads of plants uncut throughout the fall and winter months, seeds and nesting material will be available as a food source during the winter months and nesting material in the springtime.

A bird habitat will contain seed producing flowers and could include the ever popular sunflower and coneflower varieties; Blackeyed Susans, Purple Coneflowers, and Goldenrod fall into this category.

Milkweed is an excellent source for nesting material. Sedums and Goldenrod do attract a lot of insects and in turn will attract insect eating birds. There are many flowers that are available in different zones that will attract birds. Please check with your local nursery for a complete list of your zone specific varieties.

I’ve listed some of my favorites:

Milkweed
Marigolds
Sunflowers
Zinnias
Blackeyed Susans
Goldenrod
Sedums
Ironweed

Shrubs Provide Many Things

Shrubs are very effective in attracting birds and range in height from 3 to 15 feet. They are an outstanding attractant because they provide three out of the four elements that birds seek; food, nesting sites, and shelter. Shrubs can be found in abundance growing wild and if your bird habitat is lacking, they can easily be added to your design. Many shrubs are berry producing as well as providing seeds, nectar, and even attract insects. If you plan your habitat correctly, shrubs of different varieties will produce their food source at different times of the year and will attract birds all year long.

One of the most critical times of the year is winter, so try to include shrubs that produce berries or seeds late into the fall that will provide food during the winter months. This is the time that you should consider supplementing your bird garden with extra feeders so there is enough food available during those critical months of inclement weather and in many parts of the country, sub zero temperatures. Two shrubs that would provide food during winter are Barberries and Hollies, but be sure to check with your local nursery for your region specific varieties.

Summertime shrubs would include Honeysuckle, Manzanita, Blueberries, Blackberries, and Elderberries. Dogwood and Viburnum varieties would be excellent choices as fall food producing shrubs.

The requirements of good nesting shrubs include good branch structure, but not be so dense that it’s difficult for the birds to enter and leave the nest from the interior of the shrub. Good nesting shrubs would include Lilac, Elderberries, Sage, and Alders.

Shelter is so very critical to birds, and shrubs are an excellent source for protection from predators, rain, snow, and high winds. It’s a good idea to place several shelter-type shrubs near your feeders and to design them into your bird habitat. You’ll find that many birds will stop in these sheltered areas on their way to and from your feeders to see if its safe to proceed or just for a quick rest stop. Some excellent choices for shelter providing shrubs include Manzanita, Rhododendron, and Juniper.

Trees are an Excellent Choice

Trees are an excellent all around choice for food, shelter, and nesting within a bird habitat. Different varieties of trees can offer a varied selection of food to satisfy a birds diet. Diversity is the key to attracting different species of birds, as not all birds just eat seeds. Some will eat nuts or fruit, while others prefer berries. Excellent fruit bearing trees include Cherry, Crabapple, and Hackberries, while Maple, Spruce, and Birch trees are good seed producers. Oak trees will provide acorns for such species of birds as Blue Jays, Woodpeckers, wild Turkey, and Quail.

Shelter providing trees include Junipers, Pines, and Spruce varieties. The evergreens will act as excellent windbreaks and give year long protection from rain, snow, winds, and predators.

Besides providing food and shelter, trees are excellent for nesting spots for many species in a bird habitat. Such tree varieties as Cottonwoods, Ash, Sycamore, Oak, and Aspens, will attract cavity dwelling birds. In many cases, Woodpeckers will first create their holes in trees, and then once abandoned, are reoccupied by other birds for their nests. Some of these cavity dwelling bird species would include Finches, Bluebirds, Tree Swallows, and Nut Hatches, and Owls. 

Bird feeders are one of the easiest ways to attract birds to a bird habitat. They can provide the birds with a variety of different foods in addition to your vegetation that you design into a birds garden. They allow you to provide a variety of different mixtures all year long, and especially during winter months when the natural food supply from flowers, shrubs, and trees are at a minimum.

Once you put up your feeders, it’s best not to take them down for winter, and be sure to keep them filled. The birds will rely on your feeders and will expect them to be there when they need to eat. Birds will not however come to rely totally on your feeders, but will use them as a supplement to the natural vegetation you have made available.

A bird habitat can be designed to include a variety of birdfeeders, and is an advantage that allows you to provide different types of mixtures for the birds diet. I like to provide at least three different types of foods. Depending on the types of birds you would like to attract, there are usually feeds that are available for certain species, and in turn, there will be a type of feeder designed for that food.

Thistle is an outstanding food for both nourishment and a natural food for birds. I use a commercial grade of thistle that is supplemented with vitamins A and D3, and also provides protein, fat, and fiber. This alone will attract Finches, Chickadees, and Cardinals. A second food I like to offer is a wild bird seed mixture. It contains milo, wheat, millets, and sunflower seeds. It also has vitamin and mineral supplements as well as providing protein, fat, calcium, and fiber. This will attract not only your Finches, and Cardinals, but Song Sparrows, Blue Jays, Pine Siskin, Tufted Titmouse, Indigo Bunting, Chickadees, and Dark -Eyed Juncos.

Another food I use in my open feeders is Safflower seeds. This provides a third choice that many species like and I’ve found that the squirrels don’t bother this food as much. Suet is a fat that comes in a variety of different flavors and sizes of blocks. It has its own specific wire mesh feeder that is designed just for hanging.

In choosing your feeders, many different types and qualities are available on the market today. I cannot stress enough that you should choose the highest quality feeder that you can afford. You’ll want to be sure to choose a feeder that itself will survive the inclement weather. You don’t want to be replacing the feeder every year because it didn’t stand up to the sun, rain, snow, cold and hot temperatures. They should be well designed and constructed of only the best materials for easy cleaning and refilling. Not only should they provide a temporary shelter and food source, they should be attractive to a bird habitat, your landscape, and easy to clean and maintain.

Feeders are best placed near your shrubs, plants, and trees, but still in plain site so you can enjoy watching the birds as they fly from their shelter, nesting areas, or other feeding spots. They can be positioned either by hanging, supported on posts, or attached to structures.

Bird houses

Bird houses should be a definite consideration when designing a bird habitat. Many species of birds found in North America use a cavity type nesting area, most of which are not capable of actually constructing their dwellings and so rely on finding cavities that already exist. Just a few of the cavity dwelling species include Purple Martins, Woodpeckers, Chickadees, Tree Swallows, Bluebirds, Nuthatches, Wrens, Flickers, and Screech-Owls. 

Many species will use the single hole / single compartment type dwelling while those like the Purple Martin species will use a condominium type dwelling with many compartments in one structure. Bird houses will add a new dimension to a bird habitat, and not only will attract more birds, but will give a safe place for them to nest and raise their young, and by doing so gives yet another reason for birds to stay in your designated area.

Bird houses should be well constructed of wood for the dwelling portion of the house and should provide access for easy cleaning and monitoring of any nesting activities. They should provide protection from inclement weather and predators, and should include a roof structure that will deflect rain and snow very well.

Many of today’s higher quality bird houses include such materials as copper and shingles for the roof structures. They can be either suspended, mounted on posts, or mounted with brackets on walls, fences, or structures.

The location of bird houses within a bird habitat should be in low traffic areas and preferably in a natural setting in or at the edge of woods, shrubs, lawns, fields, or gardens.

Today’s bird houses are available in a wide range of styles, prices, and quality. Many are designed for certain species of birds such as the condominium style house for the popular Purple Martin bird. Like our suggestion of purchasing feeders, it’s best to choose the highest quality birdhouse that is within your budget. In most cases, the higher quality houses will also offer better construction, better materials, and will be esthetically pleasing to both you and the birds they attract.

Create a Hummingbird Garden                          

 Hummingbirds fall into a category of all their own in relationship to other birds. It is well known that they are attracted to two elements, color and nectar. Flowers are the solution to these two requirements.

Hummingbirds provide not only another beautiful form of nature to be observed, they are extremely important in the pollenization of the flowers in a bird habitat. With their long bill, hummingbirds are known to be attracted to variations of red flowers, and especially those that provide nectar and a flower designed in such a way that the birds can hover and drink the nectar from a horizontal position.

As the hummingbird moves around a birds garden from one flower to the next in search of nectar, pollen collects around its head and bill, and is transferred to the different plants and flowers the hummingbird visits, thus pollenizing as it goes. Once pollenization occurs, many of the flowers seeds are produced and in turn attract other birds.

There should be a water supply or source such as bird baths, pools, or ponds, and the area that you want to attract Hummingbirds should include not only open sunlit areas for your plants to grow, but should have cool shaded areas for the birds to rest in.

A variety of different flowers, shrubs, and vines attract hummingbirds, so a decision should be made to incorporate these into a specific Hummingbird garden by themselves, or to add them into the design of a bird habitat in general.

Included below are just a few of the more common plants, shrubs, wild flowers, and vines that will attract hummingbirds, and of course it’s best to check with your local nursery for your climate specific plants.

Plants: Begonias, Bleeding Hearts, Canna, Carpet Bugle, Columbines, Cora-bells, Dahlia, Delphiniums, Foxgloves, Fuchsias, Impatiens, lantana, Lilies, Lupines, Petunias, Phlox, Verbenas, Zinnias.

Shrubs: Azaleas, Butterfly Bush, Currant, Flowering Quince, Gooseberry, Hibiscus, Honeysuckles, Jasmines.

Vines: Honeysuckle, Morning Glory, Trumpet Vine, Trumpet Honeysuckle.

Wild Flowers: Bleeding Hearts, Columbines, Desert Lantana, Lilies, Red Phlox, Bee Balm, Red Iris, Red Morning Glory, Trumpet Honeysuckle, Wild Columbine.

Hummingbird feeders are an excellent and easy supplement to your nectar producing plants that attract Hummingbirds to a bird habitat. The feeders are readily available and can be hung anywhere in a matter of minutes.

I like hanging ours so that it is suspended in front of one of our windows. This way we can watch as the Hummingbirds visit and drink if only for a few brief moments. The feeders are specific to Hummingbirds and require a mixture of sugar and water (4 parts water to 1 part sugar). The solution needs to be mixed, boiled, and allowed to cool; or a commercial powdered mixture can also be purchased in which you just add water and poor it into the feeders. This mixture will usually already contain red coloring that acts as a visual attractant.

Some feeders come already red and so the mixture of the food doesn’t necessarily have to be colored. The feeders will require regular cleaning every 4-5 days and should be refilled with fresh food.

In summary, a bird habitat is many things. Not only to provide a place for the birds survival, it will give you an enormous amount of satisfaction knowing that you’ve created something with your own hands that not only has helped the preservation of nature and the environment, but has hopefully added a small touch of beauty to your landscape.

You’ve created a bird habitat that you and your friends can enjoy for the rest of your lives; a place to reduce stress, relax, have fun and enjoy life.

With a field guide for identifying the different species, perhaps a pair of binoculars, and a place to sit and watch all of the birding activities going on in your new bird habitat, you will have created those times and memories to last a lifetime.

Why not have fun  by creating a bird habitat in your backyard today?

I hope you’ve enjoyed this information on how to build a bird habitat as much as I have bringing it to you.

                    Enjoy!