Bird Feeder Alternatives To Naturally Attract Birds To Your Yard

If you currently have a bird feeder in your backyard, it might be time to consider getting rid of it. Outside of the fact that bird feeders tend to require a great deal of maintenance in order to keep them clean, they can also cause a number of unwanted issues to the bird population in your area. Since bird feeders are a place where a multitude of different birds congregate, it also makes them a hotspot for the spread of diseases. However, disposing of your bird feeder doesn't mean you have to part ways with your feathered friends forever. If you still want to attract birds to your garden or the outdoor area of your property in general, there are two relatively safe and natural ways to do so by growing plants and allowing insect life to thrive.

Growing a wide variety of plants is an amazing way to step up your gardening game while also providing a natural buffet to your native bird population. And while insects may be annoying to us humans, they provide a key food source to our avian friends. In fact, you might start to think of birds as a natural insect repellent.

The United States has a multitude of different climates, each of which provide a uniquely suitable environment for various types of plants and wildlife. This being the case, it's important to understand where exactly your place of residence fits in our nationwide ecosystem to know what type of foliage and trees you'll want to plant in your yard in order to adequately feed your native bird population. Fortunately there are some relatively easy ways you can go about doing this thanks to the internet.

Generally speaking, birds enjoy a varied diet of nuts, fruits, seeds, and even the nectar from certain flowers. That gives you a lot of options when it comes to selecting the best types of plant life for specific bird breeds native to your area. For example, zinnias are known to attract goldfinches, sunflowers can attract bluejays, cardinals, and chickadees, and cherry trees will attract a variety of spring birds. You can plant grape vines to attract various birds during the late summer and early fall, and there are plenty of other options out there as well. However, since the bird population and their particularities and preferences when it comes to the food they eat differs from state to state, it's important to consult with your local U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service before planting anything. Outside of this, the National Audubon Society has a great database you can access to figure out the right type of plants to grow in your yard based on your zip code to feed the native birds in your area. 

It's perfectly normal to seek out methods that will help keep insects out of our yards every year so we can enjoy the great outdoors in peace without getting bitten by annoying pests like mosquitoes. At the same time, spraying pesticides and chemical bug repellents all over our gardens and backyards in order to do so can have negative consequences on the natural environment and the native wildlife populations in your area. That said, one great way to repel bugs naturally is to simply let them assume their role in nature's food pyramid and get eaten by the same birds you're hoping to entice to your yard.

That's right, insects are a great source of protein for birds. Now even though not every single species of bird eats insects, around 95% will at least feed them to their babies. The best and easiest way for you to cultivate insect life that will attract birds to your yard is simply to avoid using chemical pesticides or insecticides, as these can be very harmful to not only wildlife but the ecosystem in general. However, at the same time, we understand that just letting bugs roam freely around your yard can lead to a whole host of problems. This being the case, you may want to know how to repel bugs naturally in order to find a non-chemical solution for any pest problems you may encounter in this process.