Birds aren't just an important part of our ecosystem, they also make the world around us more interesting!  Create or improve bird habitat in your own yard by following a few simple steps:

Provide nesting sites​

• Choose native plants
• Structural diversity (plants growing at different heights and assemblages)
• Mimic natural landscape configurations (plant native species in a mosaic design- where species are overlapped and grown in clumps)
• Leave dead trees or dead limbs
• Leave brush piles and grass clippings

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Reduce predation

• Eliminate outdoor sources of food for predators (i.e. pet food dishes, uncovered trash cans)
• Cover compost piles
• Use bird feeders that exclude jays and squirrels
• Keep cats indoors (especially in spring and summer)

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Mow smart

• Set aside "no-mow" areas 
• Do not mow native tree saplings and shrubs

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Establish your property as a bird sanctuary

• Minimize human disturbance during the breeding season (March through August)

                            -Common disturbances include: vegetation clearing, construction, spraying, and pet activity

• Create networks of suitable habitat 

​Thanks to Point Blue Conservation Science (Port Reyes Bird Observatory) for providing the above information.