How to Attract Birds to Your Backyard

Learn how to attract and keep birds in your Marin backyard by creating a safe habitat that provides food and shelter that birds need. Lifelong birder UC Marin Master Gardener Bob Mauceli presents tips on how to create a safe, healthy environment for birds using native plants and ways to safely provide supplemental water and food for birds.

[@LanternIsARainwing]

Time stamps! Intro: 0:00 Starting: 0:15 What birds need: 0:17 What to provide: 0:43 Water: 1:26 How to make a habitat(What plants needed): 3:02 Important tips for bird habitat: 5:56 Food: 6:53 Food tips: 11:35 Tips: 12:45 (If your to lazy to got to 12:45 below is that in text!) -Birds need water, food and cover. -Building a habitat will attract and keep birds around. -Add California native plants to your guarded. -Any birdbaths and feeders must be kept clean, and routinely sanitized. -Don’t use pesticides and rodenticides. -Only buy high-quality bird seeds and food! -Keep your cat(s) inside. (if you have any) Also this video was very helpful!

[@LanternIsARainwing]

Sorry! Typo, meant garden!

[@dianasanchez8549]

Thanks to you now I am begining to learn a little bit more of bird feeding and how to help nature better for these tiny and beautiful animals. THANKS.

[@Curious-Lass]

You are so right!! I have tall pines and oaks in my yard but after planting perennials, annuals, and adding a few small water features in my yard I saw the population of all kinds of birds coming in all year round! Hummingbirds, doves, jays, hawks, wild quail even built a nest and hatched 12 babies!! Amazing what food, water, and shelter will do for bringing wild life into your yard by the droves!!❤

[@lizschmitt79]

Thank you for creating a great intro to "Backyard Birding". This is one video I'll be sharing with others I know who love having birds visit them in their gardens.

[@UCMarinMasterGardeners]

Jade, thanks for your question about the mix of birds you are attracting to your bird feeder. We're sorry to hear that you are not attracting the birds you would like to see to your feeder. Here are two things that might explain what's going on: First, where do you live? The mix of birds you listed may most often occur in two places -- a city or urban environment, especially if you are not near a park or wild area, or on a farm. Second, you may be feeding an inexpensive food mix that contains a lot of 'filler grains' that most backyard birds won't eat or that attract less desirable feeder birds like crows, blackbirds and House Sparrows -- grains like red milo or sorghum , wheat, and cracked corn. Cracked corn attracts pigeons, crows and blackbirds, and about the only birds that will eat milo (and not much of that) are House Sparrows and pigeons. Most of the backyard birds you would like to see relish Black Oil Sunflower, either in the shell or shelled. We would recommend you buy a bag of 100% in the shell Black Oil Sunflower. See if that will bring in more attractive birds. Be patient...it may take a while for that to happen. But If that happens, you can also try a mix labeled "No Waste or Low Waste" and containing mostly (more than 50%) of Black Oil Sunflower, with other grains like white millet, safflower, or shelled peanuts. If you live in the middle of a big city, you may still be challenged, but we lived in Queens, NY (a borough of New York City) and fed these and saw Chickadees, House Finches, Cardinals, Nuthatches and other nice birds. Try Black Oil Sunflower and good luck. - Bob Mauceli

[@gelzamangitzaman]

After watching this i decided to be a gardener :)

[@sherry-pz6yx]

Thank you so much for sharing and caring!!

[@evemiranda3474]

Thank you this was very informative! 👍

[@anielakowzan9113]

Excellent tips and advice! Thank you :-))

[@FrankH-sz1ln]

Great insight, thanks for taking the time

[@BenSlover1]

I wish more backyard birders would approach the backyard birding hobby through creating a habitat like you endorse . But, the vast majority of 40 million households in the US that feed backyard birds don't take that approach and simply provide seed in feeders that are absolutely vectors for the spread of feeder-driven epizootic diseases and pathogens including avian salmonellosis which can easily spread from bird to bird in a flock and larger populations flocks belong to. Platform feeders are among the most unsanitary for garden birds as they make it far too easy for salmonella-laced bacteria to get mixed up with seed that birds may ingest.

[@UCMarinMasterGardeners]

so true - thank you for your perspective and information. Please share the video with others so they might get the message too! It's so much better to provide conducive conditions for wildlife to feed and shelter naturally.

[@BenSlover1]

@@UCMarinMasterGardeners In an effort to prove more sanitary bird feeders could be produced , I designed and crafted 2 dropping-proof sheet metal bird feeder systems shown on my channel that truly did work to stay free of droppings. It took a lot of trial and error, but my prototypes truly did work to prevent the accumulation of droppings birds can be exposed to. It's a bit of a read, but I thoroughly explain in the descriptions and comments how I was able to basically baffle my way around the problem. Most, if not all feeders on the market are inferior in a sanitary sense in that they have smaller and larger surfaces where droppings can accumulate that are also unfortunately surfaces where birds will perch, exposing them directly to the harmful bacteria the droppings can contain, including salmonella. I thought I was onto something to make the hobby a much more sanitary one for backyard birds and the backyard birder, but my designs went no where with manufacturers. The only validation I received was from the vice-president of a major chain of birding retail stores that tested my prototypes. They thoroughly tested them and determined that indeed they did function to stay more sanitary, but they were concerned it would call into question just how unsanitary the other countless feeders they offered and promoted were that harbored droppings on their surfaces garden birds are exposed to. Backyard birding is a 4 billion dollar a year industry in the US alone. So, there is a lot of staying power there. Unfortunately for garden birds, the hobby is not without it's year-round health threats for them from feeder-driven epizootic diseases and pathogens. These avian diseases that often spread like wildfire in backyard bird populations have been well documented now for decades through extensive scientific study.

[@SmokyMountainBlessed]

thanks for the bird habitat tips

[@Madzielle]

Thank you for this video

[@jsmcguireIII]

Thanks Bob, your advice is excellent. We are diligent in cleaning our feeders every week to reduce possible transmission of avian pathogens. The benefits of switching to native plants cannot be overstated. Fortunately, our current cat is lazy, and they all watch her with amusement.

[@mo_bra3340]

This is a GREAT video!!! Thank you for all the tips! :-) 🐣🐦🐛🦋🌱🌿🌲🌻

[@georginafraser451]

Fantastic ....I loved your video I'm a bird lover and give them seeds all year round. Fresh water and bird houses...all my garden is for them to live. I gave u a like. God blessu. A big hug from Argentina.

[@queentroll1955]

thank you from retiree iowan

[@nabilalbert3661]

You are a great Man with good advise.

[@BirdBath1]

nabil albert, look at bird bath

[@PhardonMedia]

Thanks a lot.

[@earthgirl7267]

Thank you for sharing. New subscriber. 💚🌱🐦

[@AnaHernandez-gm2gj]

OMG! Love your video. The voice, the so detailed information. Just love it!

[@BirdBath1]

Ana Hernandez, look at bird bath

[@barbarajames4933]

Loving every minute of this video! So informative. Thank you Bob Mauceli for sharing your knowledge and your beautiful garden with us. Can’t wait to share this video 😁❤️🌿

[@UCMarinMasterGardeners]

Please do share the video and encourage others to subscribe. thank you!

[@saltlifegull4091]

AWESOME!!!

[@BirdBath1]

Leah Allen, look at bird bath

[@seamus6994]

I'm trying something like this myself. Thanks for the tips! Liked and subbed!!!

[@BirdBath1]

Seamus, look at bird bath

[@prepperthehusky8840]

I love taking care of birds in my garden, I have about 5 feeders and I’m planning to buy more!

[@juliebryant3968]

Do bird feeders attracts rats... that's what worries me

[@prepperthehusky8840]

@@juliebryant3968 Yes, some can. I have had a problem with some mice. But if you hang your feeders in places were the mice/rats can't get to, then you should be fine :).

[@juliebryant3968]

@@prepperthehusky8840 yes I have them high up on a bird station...only had it a couple of weeks..and I'm getting all the birds...but don't want rats..

[@prepperthehusky8840]

@@juliebryant3968 Then you are ok, if its been there for a while and no signs of rata thek your good :)

[@BirdBath1]

Look at bird bath 🦚🐓

[@robertgarrett1875]

Thank you 🙏🏼

[@BirdBath1]

Robert Garrett, look at bird bath

[@mbahcarrier1629]

Javanese culture in Indonesia understands that if we are friends with nature then nature will give us a lot of goodness, success for "UC Marin............" ....Java Central, Indonesia, watch this video

[@jasonmelohall]

Great video! More please :-)

[@BirdBath1]

Jason Melo Hall, look at bird bath

[@ollvebranch]

Living on the coast I attracted three kinds of birds: Pigeons which ate all the birdseed Seagulls which shat all over the garden Starlings which bullied all the smaller birds Suffice to say, I stopped feeding them, landscaped my garden and lo, in came the birds I always wanted!

[@AllThingsConsidered333]

Someday I will own my own property out in the country and I will create a wildlife haven. I have always loved nature and I just wish I had more freedom to alter the landscape where I live to be more creature-friendly!

[@tinalouiseking]

"45 fuzz ball babies" 😆🤗❤

[@BirdBath1]

T K, look at bird bath

[@scrane5500]

Birds are amazing--just another reason for me to not eat eggs (as I have a family history of Cancer the choline in eggs is the other). Great video--thank you

[@Ravi_Saini_KKR_]

Natural lover

[@BirdBath1]

Ravi Saini, look at bird bath

[@VipinRaikumar]

You are good sir

[@BirdBath1]

Vipin Rai, look at bird bath

[@jasonespinoza6372]

Hello thank you for this, but I really need help protecting birds in my trees from ground predators, in the past my neighborhood was mostly retired people and not a lot of cats wandered. I used to get so many birds nesting in my tree and they were completely safe, lately however many multi generational households have swarmed our neighborhood and I see an insane amount of cats, I've also noticed a large influx of ground squirrels and I noticed they go into the trees and didn't even know they liked bird eggs and all this has led to my birds no longer nesting in the trees which makes me sad, I like to see the nests, is there a way to protect them in the trees from ground pests? any tips will help!

[@DiSolo1]

it's so easy

[@lolaowo1165]

I love this video so much

[@UCMarinMasterGardeners]

Hello Lola, as Master Gardeners, we are not permitted to recommend specific brands or stores, but we encourage you to do your own research - First, do your research as to what local birds are in your area, and what they eat (and it's not just seed!). Research the highest quality, fresh seed available at your local stores or online (pet stores, grocery, agriculture supply or feed stores, nurseries, even bird clubs or organizations). Start out by buying birdseed in smaller quantities (larger, bulk bags will be used up less quickly and may go stale before being used). Check that they have not been treated with pesticides or other chemicals. Fresh seed should not have empty hulls, dust, clumps, webbing or moths, mildew or mold. Please share the video with friends, and subscribe to our channel!

[@lolaowo1165]

@@UCMarinMasterGardeners okay thank you so much!

[@pinnacletrade2711]

I want to create a safe and wonderful place to feed birds. I get my bird seeds at Walmart/ the Pet store. .where would u suggest I get the bird seeds instead?

[@Frankferra33]

Thank you for an informative video. I've started a backyard sanctuary for birds and have a few feeders and birdbaths, but i get my seed at Costco. Can you please recommend a good source of bird food that does not contain filler? I just subscribed and look forward to future videos!

[@UCMarinMasterGardeners]

Hello Frank, as UC marin master gardeners we aren’t actually allowed to suggest any commercial enterprises or identify them by name, but do try local feed stores, better pet supply and nurseries, or online sources. Bob offers this advice : “A good food for most seed-eating birds is plain black oil sunflower seeds…either in the shell or shelled…nothing in the bag but the black oil sunflower seeds, no adds, no fillers; available just about anywhere-local specialty wild bird supply or seed stores; hardware stores; garden centers; etc. And for goldfinches and other finches, plain nyger seed-again, at the same outlets as black oil sunflower seeds. Read the label on the bag…if it’s got milo, wheat, canary seed, oats…anything but sunflower seed, peanuts, and white proso millet, look elsewhere.” good luck!

[@frankferraro1332]

@@UCMarinMasterGardeners thank you!

[@jeaninecelayeta3370]

Thank you very much for your informative video. I live in a pacific north west on the coast. All of our garden centers are Home Depot tractor supply and they do not cater our local. areas. The help they hire. Do not know anything about birds or plants that are local to our area. Sad to say.

[@UCMarinMasterGardeners]

Try your local Master Gardener organization for gardening information (try Gardening in Washington State website gardening.wsu.edu/home/) and contact your local Audubon society chapter for more information on your local birds. Good luck!

[@AllThingsConsidered333]

I recently purchased that same hummingbird feeder but all the liquid leaked out. Any way to prevent this from happening or did I just get a defective product?

[@beatpirate8]

I’m sure the more we develop the more the birds will struggle. I have been thinking about a fountain

[@franzwaltenspuhl8892]

Thanks for this. Question: why don’t we not want house finches in our yards? I get the reason for not wanting the non native starlings.

[@lindastiles611]

Hello, Bob was referring to house sparrows, which are not native, similar to starlings.

[@UCMarinMasterGardeners]

Indeed, the reference was to house sparrows, and not house finches. Thanks for watching!

[@njgrplr2007]

How do I get the darn blackbirds to stop pooping in and around our pool?

[@jadepayne1326]

Hello do u have any tips. At my feeder I only get sparrows, blackbirds, pigeons, starlings and never anything new?

[@BirdBath1]

Jade Payne, look at bird bath

[@dankeener3307]

Maybe try bottom-feeding suet feeder, hummingbird feeder and safflower seed attracts cardinals, chickadees and Titmouse (depending where you live). Consider not feeding birds in summer. I wait until November here in south central/eastern PA to begin feeding and end in April/May when seed runs out. Hummingbirds do get a feeder at our dining room window next to a bottom feeding suet feeder which sparrows and starlings can’t reach. Oh yes, we keep a bird bath in front yard and backyard. Plant native trees, shrubs and plants if you can. Give birds great habitat and they’ll come. Best wishes.

[@anon420anon]

damn, why wouldnt you want house sparrows or starlings? thats mainly what i see when I put out feed in the morning. Should I not feed them?

[@freshlemonade7939]

They're invasive species

[@trujalkadu6160]

@@freshlemonade7939 house sparrows are less aggresive tho. I think they stay neutral unless it's feeding or nesting site

[@BirdBath1]

Look at bird bath 💚🍉

[@Hueffed]

How do you feed birds and not grow the weeds from the uneaten seeds.

[@freshlemonade7939]

The seeds are dry dude

[@kaamil9620]

I’m just tryna eat

[@BirdBath1]

Look at bird bath 🐝🦓

[@georgegray7174]

What type of bird enjoys string quartets?

[@BirdBath1]

George Gray, look at bird bath

[@johanna6050]

Lol.

[@donnaharris8097]

All i get are huge fat pigeons who make an awful mess eveeywhere ans when i try to discourage them herre as they then nest and the mess and they arent very good mothers , they take all the other birds with them ...

[@dion7358]

Why dont I want sparrows?

[@aissacperales9329]

Thanks looking to attract more birds for shooting

[@ivorymantis1026]

If I cannot convince my neighbors of the benefit of inviting Nature to living with them, I will show by example by inviting Nature to my property. I will build bat boxes, be refuges, bird feeders, and plants that all would enjoy. I only hope that they can peel their faces away from the small rectangles just long enough to see.

[@BirdBath1]

Ivory Mantis, look at bird bath

[@macysondheim]

I’m not providing an entire habitat for these creatures. I’m already providing them w/ free food & water & there’s a tree in the yard as well. That’s more than enough. The reason I keep them around is for rodent control, & half the time they can’t even keep squirrels away from my property.

[@samanthasmith6488]

When you help the birds, you help humanity. Thinking about something bigger and more important than yourself will help you feel better inside.

[@alvaroq2024]

@@samanthasmith6488 Absolutely!

[@ArcanePath360]

Why don't I want Sparrows? They are the only real visitor to my garden, lol

[@BirdBath1]

ArcanePath360, look at bird bath

[@ArcanePath360]

@@BirdBath1 I have put a metal shallow tray out (from the oven) and even put bird food next to it. Nothing.

[@BirdBath1]

@@ArcanePath360 i am bird bath look at the birds i have

[@guybartlett9587]

House cats are a huge problem

[@markbragg7405]

Too many house cats and too many wasteful wind turbines are what’s killing the birds.

[@deepkaru4877]

My only concern is garden 🐀 RAT

[@freshlemonade7939]

Don't be concerned owls will eat them

[@BirdBath1]

Look at bird bath 🐥🌊

[@sighrelief4997]

I’m just tryna shoot some birds with my pellet gun💀