These 12 Products Will Bring All the Birds to Your Yard

You know that meme about birdwatching—how the older you get, the more interesting birds become? (“You spend your whole life being 100% indifferent to birds, and then one day you’re like, ‘Damn, is that a yellow-rumped warbler.’”) Well, it’s true, at least in our experience. (Anyone else have an oddly specific “birdseed budget”?) With each passing day, those little winged creatures seem to become more fascinating and awe-inspiring. SELF’s own editor in chief recently took up birding as her new self-care hobby—and you can’t argue with the boss.

There’s something truly cathartic about hiking into the woods (or heading to the local park), binoculars and bird guide app in hand, waiting to be wowed. And with a little planning and some careful maintenance, you can bring that same feeling home by transforming your backyard or balcony into a thriving bird sanctuary. A simple water feature and bird feeder are really all you need to start attracting feathered friends.

And birds don’t just provide hours of entertainment—they can also have a huge impact on the environment, Marlene Pantin, partnership manager for the Plants for Birds program at the National Audubon Society, tells SELF. “Birds add beauty and excitement to gardens, and they are necessary for the pollination and cross-pollination that ensures plants produce seeds and fruits.”

So…ready to play host to a ruby-throated hummingbird or a black-capped chickadee? Here are 10 must-haves to get birds flocking to your backyard:

The first item on your “build a bird sanctuary” shopping list should be some sort of water feature, Becca Rodomsky-Bish, project leader at Cornell Lab of Ornithology, tells SELF. She recommends water baths over feeders “because all birds need water and not all birds come to feeders.” “Depending on the region you’re in, water can be tricky to find, especially in urban or very hot areas,” she says.

Not all water features are created equal, though, so here are a few guidelines to keep in mind. First, Rodomsky-Bish says, the basin should be shallow—just two or three inches deep—to prevent birds from falling in and getting stuck. Second, ensure that the basin’s bottom is non-slip (think concrete, like this traditional column birdbath, or a similar texture). If your birdbath is made from a slick material, line the bottom with rocks or sticks so the birds will have plenty of grip.

Placement is also key, Rodomsky-Bish says. Keep your birdbath away from fences or shrubbery, where a neighborhood cat or other predators can lie in wait and pounce. “You want to put them more out in the open, so that the bird can see all around itself and minimize the chance of an easy predation spot,” she explains. A final imperative for keeping your bathing beauties safe and healthy: frequent cleanings, which can prevent the spread of diseases, like conjunctivitis. Scouring the basin at least once a week with a mild soap will not only protect against pathogens but will discourage mosquitoes from laying their eggs inside. (And be sure to wear gloves while cleaning and wash your hands afterward to protect yourself from H5N1.)

If you have a smaller space or simply don’t like the look of a standing birdbath, consider a hanging option, like this one from Amazon. Its shallow basin and grippy imitation stone material make it another bird-friendly option.

With your water feature in place, it’s time to consider feeder options. The type of feeder you choose will influence which types of birds you see most often in your backyard, Rodomsky-Bish says, so be strategic. If you’re a fan of woodpeckers and nuthatches, Rodomsky-Bish recommends hanging a suet feeder, like this one, which attracts both species.

So named for the rendered blocks of fat—stuffed with bird-friendly goodies, like seeds and nuts—that are housed inside, suet feeders resemble cages and usually have at least one compartment to hold food. With its cute petal awning, this model also offers some protection against rain. (Because no one likes soggy suet!)

If your winged wish list includes blue jays, grosbeaks, or sparrows, Rodomsky-Bish suggests investing in a platform feeder that has a flat surface and raised sides to prevent seeds from spilling over. This one comes equipped with a mesh tray in the bottom that allows water to drain, so your birdseed stays nice and fresh. One potential con to this style of bird feeder (which several Amazon reviewers note): Its open design allows for squirrel interlopers to butt in. But if you don’t mind feeding some new furry friends or if you live somewhere they can’t get to—like in a high-rise apartment in a big city—a platform feeder could be a good choice for you.

Speaking of squirrels…. For an additional layer of protection, Rodomsky-Bish recommends a metal tube feeder, many of which come with extra built-in safeguards. For instance, when a squirrel jumps onto the Squirrel Buster Classic, its body weight triggers a shroud that drops down over the bird-size openings, making the seeds inside inaccessible. Rodomsky-Bish also likes tube feeders for the variety of species they attract, including finches, chickadees, and titmice.

If you’re hoping to see red (as in a cutie-pie cardinal), Rodomsky-Bish says you can’t go wrong with a hopper feeder, which resembles a miniature house, complete with a compartment for bird seed. Some models, like this one from Amazon, also have one or more suet cages, meaning you’ll draw even more species to your yard. In addition to cardinals, jays, blackbirds, and titmice gravitate toward a hopper-style feeder.

FYI: No matter which feeder you decide to buy, it’s important to clean it regularly—once every few weeks should be enough, according to Rodomsky-Bish. Just like birdbaths, bird feeders can harbor harmful pathogens. “Rinse it off, get the bird poop off, and make sure all the seeds are out. Fill a tub of water like you would to clean dishes, use a couple squirts of mild soap, and scrub,” she says. While some people use bleach to clean their bird feeders, Rodomsky-Bish doesn’t recommend it because it can be too harsh, and the wrong concentration could leave residue behind that would be harmful to birds.

Once you’ve selected a bird feeder (or two…or three…), you’ll need to fill it. While there’s nothing wrong with a general birdseed blend, Rodomsky-Bish has found that many birds pick around to find one prize in particular—the black oil sunflower seed—and leave the rest behind. To avoid wasting bird feed and money, you can buy a bag of just these seeds, which most varieties of birds in your yard should appreciate, she says. However, she adds that smaller species, like some kinds of finches, may prefer nyjer seeds instead. Consider doing a quick Google search first to make sure you’re buying the right food for the birds that are common in your area.

Rodomsky-Bish cautions that hummingbird feeders are the most high-maintenance. Hummingbirds don’t eat seeds—instead, they thrive off of a sugar solution. “Especially in the summer months, you want to clean and change the solution every three to five days,” she says, because the liquid can ferment in the heat and make birds sick.

To prevent your hummingbird food from going bad too quickly, Rodomsky-Bish recommends a smaller-capacity feeder, like this one from Amazon. Bonus: Thanks to the low profile and “high-view perch” of the feeder, you’ll have an unobstructed 360-degree view of the feeding frenzy. Another tip from Rodomsky-Bish: Avoid the red liquid that often comes prepackaged with hummingbird feeders (the dye isn’t good for them). Instead, opt for a clear solution or make your own by mixing one part sugar and four parts water.

If you want to attract hummingbirds without having to clean a bunch of feeders all the time, Rodomsky-Bish says there are plenty of plants that will do the trick. If you’re planting directly into the ground, she recommends native species so you support the ecology (think insects and the web of animals who eat them) of the area. In the northeast, where Rodomsky-Bish lives, coral honeysuckles are a good native option. On the West Coast, bee balms and columbine provide the flower power you’ll want.

If you opt for a potted plant, you have a little more wiggle room, since you aren’t making a lasting change to the landscape. In that case, Rodomsky-Bish recommends fuchsia, which is native to some areas in the US, but not all. “I have a couple of fuchsia that I hang right outside my windows—they pull hummingbirds in just like a feeder,” she says. (If you’re interested in learning more about using native plants to cultivate a bird-friendly environment, the Audubon website is a great resource.)

Once birds start flocking to your backyard, you’ll want to know who’s who. (After all, that bird spreadsheet you created isn’t going to fill itself out!) For identification purposes, you can’t go wrong with a classic guidebook, like this one from National Geographic, which includes descriptions of 150 species you’re likely to spot right outside your window.

Binoculars don’t just come in handy for bird-watching from afar—even with a birdbath or feeder a few feet from your window, sometimes it’s nice to zoom in for all those fine details, like subtle shifts in coloring. This cute (yet rugged!) is a fave of SELF’s bird-loving editor in chief.

In curating a backyard bird sanctuary, you’ve also appointed yourself a bird steward, responsible for creating a safe environment for your new feathered friends. This means avoiding what ornithologists call “ecological traps.” “That happens when a person is trying to do something good by putting a resource out for wildlife, but that resource ultimately creates a hazard that injures or kills that animal,” Rodomsky-Bish explains.

To that end, bird feeders should be placed either very close to windows (like two to three feet away) or very far away from windows (50 feet or more). Closer ensures that a startled bird can’t gain enough flying momentum to be killed by a window collision, while more distance ensures that a bird will see the full scope of your house and be more likely to avoid it. Rodomsky-Bish also recommends putting up some window decals up to two inches apart to make the glass more visible for birds. Pantin also recommends turning off unnecessary lights at night to further avoid collisions.

A few additional safety notes: “Keep your cats indoors,” Pantin says. “And don’t reach for insecticides when you see bugs in your garden, as these chemicals can do significant harm to birds, bees, butterflies, and other insects.” And when it comes to your surroundings, Pantin says doing less can actually do more (a.k.a. you have permission to be a little lazy with your yardwork). “Unraked leaves and flowers past their prime that are left standing can provide spaces for birds to forage, feed, and safely nest,” she says.

And with that, happy bird-watching!