4
A birdbath near feeding areas
will attract even birds that
don’t eat seeds, and moving
water (a drip, waterfall, or
fountain) is especially
appealing.
Be sure that any bath is no
more than 3" deep and includes
a safe place to perch.
Add a Brush Pile
Rock piles, fallen logs, brush
piles, and dead trees (snags) –
these are not features that
first come to mind when
planning a landscape.
In nature, however, these are
valuable resources for wildlife.
Too often people tidy up their
yards and remove them. Kept in
areas away from the house
behind attractive vegetation, or
covered with a vine such as
Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus
quinquefolia), they will attract
many small wildlife species.
Nature Trails
Paths will let you explore your
wildlife habitat more enjoyably,
and make it easy to incorporate
a bluebird trail. The number of
bluebirds had declined
dramatically before people
stepped in with nesting boxes
to replace tree cavities that
were lost to increasing
development.
Because bluebirds are often
displaced by more aggressive
birds, the trail lets you monitor
the boxes and take action
against any predators.
Bluebirds are territorial, so the
houses should be placed at
least 100 yards apart.
Build a Nest
There are other birds that will
gratefully nest in man-made
houses (nesting boxes), but
different species have different
nesting requirements. Choose
or build nesting boxes
designed for specific kinds of
birds, and mount them
appropriately.
Those that birds prefer are
simple in design and muted in
color. Always place houses,
feeders, or birdbaths within 5'
to 15' of a tree or shrub to
allow escape from predators.
