Planting flowers, trees, and other shrubbery is not the only way to beautify your backyard. Why not try attracting birds? Bird watching can be a delightful and entertaining hobby, and you can even observe the birds from the comfort of your own lawn or window. Birds love feeders as well as certain types of plants, so simply making these available in your yard will draw in the crowd. Plus, not only do birds bring life and beauty into your yard, they also help rid or reduce insect and weed seed populations.

The easiest way to attract birds is to place bird baths and bird feeders in your yard. Birds seem to enjoy having water nearby for drinking and bathing. Most birds prefer shallow bird baths with gently sloping sides, usually not more than two to three inches deep.

When choosing a feeder, look for one that is well-protected against the elements, above the ground, clean, and squirrel-proof (unless you are interested in attracting squirrels, which also provide for an entertaining time). Next, be sure to fill the feeder with an assortment of many different types of seeds. Songbirds seem to enjoy seeds that belong to the sunflower family, particularly the black oil and striped sunflower seeds. The chart below lists different types of seeds and the varieties of birds that they attract.

Birds are also attracted to certain varieties of plants for either food or nesting. Just as different types of seed attract different species of birds, different plants also draw different birds. For instance, crabapple trees, good for both food and for nesting, tend to attract blue jays, brown thrashers, cardinals, catbirds, mockingbirds, and robins. Cedar waxwings, however, are only drawn to crabapple trees for food and not for nesting. Other plants and shrubs that attract birds include beautyberry, dogwood, elderberry, hawthorn, holly, oak, plum, pyracantha, red cedar, sassafras, sour gum, sumac, viburnum, and wild olive.