Attracting Birds: Creating a Bird Habitat

To attract birds you should have trees, a bird bath, a garden, protective cover, food, bird houses, bird feeders, nesting areas, and open space. The most important part of a backyard habitat is plants because they give birds food, nesting areas, and places to hide. At a local nursery, you can get plants that attract birds. You can also use native plants to attract birds. Birds like areas where different types of vegetation grows. Scarce plants also attract birds because they may provide something they need and have trouble finding. Fresh water is important and birds will travel lots of miles for it.

Here are some common birds and the plants and foods they like:

Bird	Plants	Food
Finches	evergreens	apples (raw)
Crossbills		corn bread
Waxwings	berries	apples (raw)
Mockingbirds		bananas
Blue Jays	acorns	apples (baked)
Woodpeckers	nuts	pecan meats (broken or ground)

Please click below to find out more about creating a bird habitat:

Food and Water	Plants
How to Build Birdhouses	How to Build Birdfeeders

Source: Rae, Norman, and Baldwin, Edward A. Building Birdhouses & Feeders. San Ramon, CA: Ortho Books, 1990.

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