Creating a bird-friendly yard: A Fall Checklist

Fox Sparrow Photo: Keith Olstad

While most of the birds we enjoyed all spring and summer have moved south, fall is still a good season to make your yard a more welcoming space for birds. This simple checklist will help fortify your yard’s available food, shelter, and nesting habitat, and will be sure to attract new bird species in the spring.

1) Leave the leaves: Undisturbed leaf litter can not only provide free compost, it provides habitat for an array of worms and insects that are an important food source for birds.

2) Build a brush pile: A pile of dead branches can provide protection from the elements and protection from predators. An Audubon Chapter Minneapolis board member recently spotted a Fox Sparrow-the first sighting in her yard-enjoying the new brush pile she built earlier this year.

Golden-crowned Kinglet Photo: Keith Olstad

3) Leave dead plants alone: Dead stalks and stems provide seeds and cover for birds and harbor invertebrate eggs and dormant insects that provide bird food. If you must deadhead and tidy your garden, stick to the annuals, leaving the perennials as they are.

4) Invest in a catio: These outdoor enclosures allow cats to enjoy time outside while keeping wildlife safe. Scientists estimate that cats kill one to four billion birds annually, so investing in a catio for your indoor/outdoor cat can make a big difference.

5) Plant a tree: Late fall is an optimal time to plant trees and shrubs. Check out a native plant society for ideas and advice on suitable plant varieties, or find a local native plant nursery.

Marian Weidner is an Audubon Chapter of Minneapolis board member.