MASON CONSERVATION DISTRICT
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  • Native Plant Sale
  • In Your Yard
    • Reducing Stormwater Runoff
    • Conservation Landscaping
    • Creating Backyard Habitat
    • Growing Fruits & Veggies
    • Removing Invasive Weeds
  • On Your Land
    • Biochar
    • Soil Testing & Health
    • Agriculture & Livestock >
      • Farm Assistance Program
      • Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP)
      • CREP - Riparian Buffers
      • Manure Exchange Program
      • I have a bulkhead
      • Equipment Rental >
        • Poultry Processing Equipment
      • Featured Farms >
        • Humble Stump Farm
    • Noxious Weed Control
    • Forest Stewardship
  • Waterfront
    • Shore Friendly Mason (marine shoreline) >
      • Shore Friendly Mini-Grants Program
      • I am concerned about erosion
      • Bulkhead Alternatives
      • Top 5 Shoreline Recommendations
      • Marine Shoreline Plants
      • Additional Shore Friendly Resources >
        • Waterfront Living Guidance
        • Puget Sound Shorelines in the News
        • Puget Sound Shoreline Electronic Resources
        • Shoreline Services
      • Shore Friendly Mason Blog
      • FAQ
    • Lakefront Property
    • Rivers, Creeks & Streams >
      • Riparian Buffers (CREP)
  • Fish & Wildlife
    • Fish Passage Barrier Removal
    • Salmon Recovery >
      • WRIA 14 Strategy Proposal RFP
      • Salmon Recovery Committee (WRIA 14)
      • Fish Passage Barrier Removal
    • Shellfish
    • Backyard Habitat >
      • Pollinator Insects
      • For The Birds
    • Skokomish Estuary
  • Resources
    • Organizational Resources >
      • Board of Supervisor Monthly Update
      • Newsletters
      • Board Minutes & Plans
      • Public Records Policy
    • Program Resources >
      • Native Plant Resources >
        • Native plant lists
        • Benefits of native plants
        • Planting guides
        • Native Plant Maintenance
        • Local sources of native plants
        • Pull That, Plant This!
      • Videos
      • Maps
    • Pollinator Insects
    • Workshop materials
    • For Educators >
      • Request an Environmental Educator

Creating backyard bird habitat

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:
adult grey bird feeding one of three baby birds in a nest
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


bird drinking from red bowl in yard. there is a brown cat watching the bird
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

small grey and white bird on a plant with tiny white flowers
Mow smart
  • Set aside "no-mow" areas 
  • Do not mow native tree saplings and shrubs


brown bird next to plant pot
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.
Mason Conservation District
450 W Business Park RD
Shelton, WA 98584

Phone: (360) 427-9436
Fax: (360) 427-4396

www.masoncd.org
  • About
    • Our Staff & Board
    • Supporting Our Community >
      • Low Impact Development (LID)
      • School Gardens
      • Youth Education
    • Get Involved >
      • Employment Opportunities
      • Internship Opportunities
      • Volunteer Opportunities
      • Request a Presentation
    • Events >
      • Pier Peer
    • Contact Us
    • Media >
      • Recent Media
      • Archives
  • Native Plant Sale
  • In Your Yard
    • Reducing Stormwater Runoff
    • Conservation Landscaping
    • Creating Backyard Habitat
    • Growing Fruits & Veggies
    • Removing Invasive Weeds
  • On Your Land
    • Biochar
    • Soil Testing & Health
    • Agriculture & Livestock >
      • Farm Assistance Program
      • Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP)
      • CREP - Riparian Buffers
      • Manure Exchange Program
      • I have a bulkhead
      • Equipment Rental >
        • Poultry Processing Equipment
      • Featured Farms >
        • Humble Stump Farm
    • Noxious Weed Control
    • Forest Stewardship
  • Waterfront
    • Shore Friendly Mason (marine shoreline) >
      • Shore Friendly Mini-Grants Program
      • I am concerned about erosion
      • Bulkhead Alternatives
      • Top 5 Shoreline Recommendations
      • Marine Shoreline Plants
      • Additional Shore Friendly Resources >
        • Waterfront Living Guidance
        • Puget Sound Shorelines in the News
        • Puget Sound Shoreline Electronic Resources
        • Shoreline Services
      • Shore Friendly Mason Blog
      • FAQ
    • Lakefront Property
    • Rivers, Creeks & Streams >
      • Riparian Buffers (CREP)
  • Fish & Wildlife
    • Fish Passage Barrier Removal
    • Salmon Recovery >
      • WRIA 14 Strategy Proposal RFP
      • Salmon Recovery Committee (WRIA 14)
      • Fish Passage Barrier Removal
    • Shellfish
    • Backyard Habitat >
      • Pollinator Insects
      • For The Birds
    • Skokomish Estuary
  • Resources
    • Organizational Resources >
      • Board of Supervisor Monthly Update
      • Newsletters
      • Board Minutes & Plans
      • Public Records Policy
    • Program Resources >
      • Native Plant Resources >
        • Native plant lists
        • Benefits of native plants
        • Planting guides
        • Native Plant Maintenance
        • Local sources of native plants
        • Pull That, Plant This!
      • Videos
      • Maps
    • Pollinator Insects
    • Workshop materials
    • For Educators >
      • Request an Environmental Educator