Landscaping for Nesting Birds

Nesting success is often related to the quality of habitat within a bird’s territory. Habitat quality is the ability of the environment to provide the appropriate resources, such as food and shelter, to enable individual and population survival. Generally speaking, the higher the habitat quality is in your backyard, farm, or local park, the better these places will be able to support nesting birds. NestWatchers can help increase the number of birds nesting and young fledging by making bird-friendly improvements to the landscape!

Some bird-friendly improvements include:

• Reducing the amount of space covered by mowed lawn in favor of native shrubs and trees
• Installing a native lawn to replace traditional turf
• Planting multiple layers of structure throughout your property (e.g., tall trees, medium shrubs, and short grasses/ wildflowers)
• Incorporating appropriate plants to attract nesting birds in your area
• Using fewer helper chemicals, such as pesticides and fertilizers
• Providing a constant source of fresh clean water for birds

There are many more ways to cultivate habitat by gardening or landscaping for birds on your property! To learn more about land stewardship for birds, visit this free collection of articles by Habitat Network! Habitat Network created many resources to help you make better decisions about how to manage landscapes sustainably.