Attract More Birds To Your Apartment Balcony With These Tips

Think you can't birdwatch from your apartment? One of the downsides of apartment living is not having trees or large landscaping areas to attract birds, but you have several options. In fact, apartment areas often have limited resources for birds, so adding food, water, and shelter is helpful. With a few bird-friendly touches, your apartment balcony becomes an avian oasis.

Growing colorful native plants and flowers could attract more birds since they're familiar with them. Plants with strong scents, such as herbs, draw attention from birds. The seeds in plants like sunflowers and rose hips offer an extra incentive for feathered visitors. Planting options include hanging baskets, window boxes, vining plants on trellises, and railing planter ideas to maximize space. To add shelter, tuck artificial nests into your balcony design or hang roosting pockets from a balcony overhang.

When they fly in for a closer look, birds will be tempted to stop if you provide food and water for them. Choose a lightweight feeder to protect your balcony. Cleaning your birdfeeder regularly helps keep your visitors safe. Mold can grow in a birdfeeder, and it could be a source of disease for birds if you don't keep it up. For water, look for bird baths without a stand that sit directly on your balcony or a table. You can also find bird baths with clamps that attach to metal or wood railings. 

Review the guidelines and restrictions for your apartment complex before you add plants or attach bird structures to the balcony. Even if your bird features are allowed, be conscientious about your neighbors. A bird feeder on the railing could spill bird seed onto the balcony below. You can prevent this issue by positioning bird feeders where they won't spill below or using a seed catcher tray. Using hull-less bird seed eliminates messy hulls that could affect your neighbors, and it reduces waste.

Check for features that scare birds away. Large objects like grills or lots of clutter might discourage feathered friends from stopping. And while colorful plants often attract birds, colorful objects that move, including spinners, may scare birds away from your balcony. While you're at it, pack up your windchimes — the sound could deter birds from stopping. However, natural sounds, like trickling water in an outdoor fountain, could attract more birds to your balcony. You can also add a water wiggler to your bird bath to get water movement.

If your apartment or condo has a large glass door or window, protect your bird visitors by applying special film or stickers to the glass. These products help birds spot the glass so they don't crash into it as they fly in for a snack and some shelter.