Data Entry Contest: How do you make your yard wildlife-friendly?
For the eighth season in a row, Project FeederWatch and our sponsor Wild Birds Unlimited are rewarding registered FeederWatchers with the chance to win prizes. Celestron has joined the fun by offering one pair of binoculars to each data entry contest winner as well. After entering counts into the FeederWatch website, on the submission confirmation page, participants have the opportunity to share a story, memory, or tip by clicking the “Enter to Win” button. Two winners will be selected at random per prompt. Our fifth and final Data Entry Contest prompt this season was:
There are many ways to improve habitat for wildlife. What do you do to make your backyard a haven for your avian friends?
Congratulations to our winners, Susan Szeszol and Paula Osborn!
Susan shared:
Each spring, I add more and more native plants to my yard to make it a haven for the birds, butterflies, and other insects. I also have multiple water fountains running into the early fall so that birds have fresh water to drink and to cool off in.
Native vegetation provides an easy, dependable food supply for birds. Native plants are a great source of fruits and seeds for birds, and they also provide important habitat for insects that birds may rely on to feed themselves and their young. Providing water sources for birds to drink and bathe in can attract more birds to your yard. Birds prefer shallow, ground-level water features. Stones or branches can be arranged in the water to provide birds with a perch to stand on. For more bird-friendly landscaping tips, check out our page on Gardening for Birds.
Paula shared:
To encourage wildlife, I keep a half-dead, century-old apple tree in my yard. Over the years, it’s hosted Black-capped Chickadee nests and a roost for Eastern Screech Owls, as well as provided a foraging area for woodpecker and nuthatch species. I let fallen leaves pile up around shrubs and under trees to provide habitat for insects, which has attracted new species such as Spotted Towhees to my yard.
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Often, nesting success is related to the quality of habitat within a bird’s territory. Planting multiple layers of structure (tall trees, medium shrubs, smaller wildflowers), reducing mowed lawn space, and planting native can all contribute to better habitat quality and encourage greater diversity in your yard. Providing adequate space and habitat is important in a time where habitat loss is the greatest threat to birds. Learn more about how to help nesting birds and even build nest boxes at NestWatch.org.
Thanks to everyone who participated and shared their stories for the 2023-2024 season – we wish we could share all of your submissions! Email feederwatch@cornell.edu with questions, and read the stories from past winners on our blog.
Interested in becoming a FeederWatcher? Join the fun now!
6 comments on “Data Entry Contest: How do you make your yard wildlife-friendly?”
My name is Rebecca Landers I live in northwest Alabama, and as a young child my grandparents were avid bird watchers, feeders, nest providers and observationist of many nest of babies learning to fly. I am very saddened to say now I am 34 yrs old and only have my one Mimi left and she has diemnta but we still feed birds and she remembers the common names and what kinda nest they make how many babies they typically have and their voices even when she don’t remember my name her favorite grandkid and I was wondering if y’all might send her a poster it would make her day so much in the times we are living in still not able to do much but stay home now days and post pandemic she is kinda scared to get out like we use to if you could mail one – thanks for your time
Hi Rebecca, if you are interested in a poster please feel free to reach out to us at feederwatch@cornell.edu.
Living in San Ramon, CA has its advantages. Such as having a number of garden suppliers that carry CA Native Plants. This is how I took a small patch out front and replanted native plants. Or, as the birds visit they have dropped seeds which also introducted some new native plants. We also use natural fertilizer which makes more heather grow on the grass. Watching the multitude of birds is such a joy. I took the pledge and received my certificate indicating my garden is a “native plants” only. Plus, I posted pictures to Facebook and got suggestions on removing some invasive species that crop up. Watching the Anna’s Hummingbird this morning go from flower to flower made my heart glad. Out back we have a variety of old growth trees that the birds feel safe in. It has been a banner year as the various species had multiple clutches by a variety of species. The Oriole family has left and the Fall birds have begun to show up.
I live near Lansing, Michigan and the way I assist birds and other wildlife, is by providing birdfeeder, leaving plants to die back in the winter, so birds and other animals may feed upon the seeds, and since there is a marsh behind the property, I place piles of fallen limbs and branches, so birds and other animals may use them for shelter. The winters can be pretty bad, so I try to do my best to ensure birds and other animals can have shelter and food.
Additionally, I grow flowers for hummingbirds (i.e. salvia), so the little hummers can receive natural nectar. I also have a hummingbird feeder and use sugar water with no food coloring. They love it all.
I live in a secluded ranch house in the high desert of eastern New Mexico which was a big change from the urban Phoenix Valley we left. Desert is the operative word and water stress is the usual many years. When I found a tiny Scaled Quail drowned in the dogs water dish I made sure it would be the last time. I installed a shallow ceramic dish and placed rocks in it to further assist escape. I have seen an explosion of life in the back yard since. I have pictures of many different kinds of birds together with rabbits enjoying the water at the same time as well as tiny quail cooling their legs as they drink in the summer heat. I have added feeders since and been rewarded with many more birds. I have several standing dead trees and low desert bushes which attract birds as well as other natives.
I have the patio table stacked with patio chairs. I placed a tarp over the chairs and table using very strong tape and large paper clips. And did the kind of tarp over the patio swing. It provides shelter when the rain and snow comes. The food doesn’t get wet. The birds love going into the tents. I have the black oil sunflower seeds and the nut and fruit mixture feed. I use only Tractor Supply Royal Wing Suet.