Although you may see fewer birds at your backyard feeders this month, it’s not a moment to be “cheep” – sorry, that’s a bad joke. Wild food may be plentiful right now, but September is also a time of migration and changing weather, both of which can cause birds to expend more energy.

That’s why consistency remains important. Keeping feeders clean, well-stocked, and ready for visitors is one of the most important bird feeding basics, even when natural food is available. You never know when a migrating bird may need an easy meal or when a sudden change in weather could make foraging more difficult.

So what should you be doing now? Here are the six critical items for your “birds-in-September” to-do list.

1. Switch to High-Energy Foods

The basic rule here is simple: in September, offer foods that provide real, solid nutrition. Avoid “filler foods” such as bread, cereal, or sweet scraps. Instead, focus on high-fat, high-protein options that give birds the energy they need for migration and the changing weather ahead.

Making your own DIY suet ornaments is one of the simplest bird feeder ideas. Combine suet with seeds, peanuts, or dried fruit, then shape the mixture into balls or molds and hang them from a tree or feeder station. Alternatively, put out suet cakes, like these Pennington Feeding Frenzy No-Melt Suet Dough packs from Walmart.

Good options for September include black-oil sunflower seeds, suet, and peanuts. A bag of dried mealworms, like these Kaytee ones from Amazon, provide valuable protein and can be particularly useful for birds that are migrating or preparing for colder weather.

2. Ensure a Cool Water Source

When I was a kid, we had a Marty Robbins record (yes, I know I’m dating myself here) called Gunfighter Ballads, and my favorite song was “Cool Water.” It was about a thirsty cowboy and his mule, trekking through the desert and seeing mirages of water.

I think of that song whenever I change the birdbath in my backyard. The birds may have found plenty of berries and seeds, but the nearest alternative in my area is the Pacific Ocean – and salt water won’t do. That brings us to the second item on the list: setting out fresh water for wild birds in September and changing it regularly to keep it clean.

Clean water is essential for birds to drink and bathe in, particularly during molting season and migration, when they need to keep their feathers in good condition. If algae is a recurring problem, a Mellbree copper birdbath disk can help keep the water cleaner between changes, although it’s no substitute for regular cleaning.

A small solar-powered birdbath fountain, like this best-selling Mademax 1W solar bird bath fountain pump from Amazon can add gentle movement to the water, helping birds spot the bath and discouraging mosquitoes from laying eggs. It won’t replace regular water changes and cleaning, but it can help keep the water moving between visits.

3. Provide Warm Lodging

As the days grow shorter, the nights grow longer and cooler. Some birds seek dense plants for shelter or roosting boxes to protect them from cold, wind, and predators.

Your first step should be to clean out the shelter you’ve already set up for your feathered friends. Clear the summer nesting material out of these bird boxes. You don’t want parasitic bugs to make themselves too much at home. When they are clean, add a thin layer of wood shavings for insulation. You can also set up new roosting boxes with perches to make the birds at home.

If you want to see which birds are using the shelter without disturbing them, a Birdfy birdhouse with a built-in camera, lets you watch their visits from your phone and follow their activity remotely.

Help optimize the natural world at the same time by leaving leaf litter in place. Ground-foraging birds will take cover there. Create piles of brush from fallen branches and dried grass. Set these up in quiet areas to offer wind protection and a safe harbor from predators. Low hanging evergreen branches also offer dense protection.

4. Leave Native Seed Heads Behind

Sure, we all like a neat garden, but birds aren’t always pleased when you deadhead. Make the most of nature’s offerings by leaving late-blooming native seed heads intact, providing natural foraging opportunities. These can be vital food sources for wild birds passing through, as well as those that live in your neighborhood year-round.

Great plants with seed heads include coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, sunflowers, Joe-Pye weed, and ornamental grasses.

5. Clean Feeders Early and Often

A dirty bird feeder can endanger the birds you’re trying to help by allowing mold, bacteria, and spoiled seed to accumulate. Don’t simply dump out the old seed and refill it. Take the whole feeder apart, remove any spoiled seed and debris, then clean bird feeders with a bird-safe product, such as this Microbe-Lift Soy-Based Bird Feeder & Bird Bath Cleaner Spray from Amazon, to loosen dirt and bird droppings. Rinse every part thoroughly and let it dry completely before refilling.

If you’ve seen sick birds at the feeder, follow this with a separate disinfection step using a suitable diluted solution, taking care never to mix cleaning products.

6. Keep Safety in Mind When Putting Up Feeders

The idea of helping birds is to keep them happy, healthy, and safe. To accomplish that, you’ll need to position feeders and water dishes with care in September.

Position wild bird feeders in direct sun in fall. It’s better for them on crisp fall days. In addition, consider predators when choosing their placement. Keep feeders at least 10 feet (3 m) away from dense shrubs or trees, where predators may be lurking, and hang them around 6 feet (2 m) off the ground. Finally, avoid locations near high branches, rooftops, or fences that predators can use as launch points.

Then there are windows. Everybody knows how dangerous clear glass can be to birds. Keep feeders close to the window – within 3 feet (1 m) – or far away, more than 30 feet (10 m), to help avoid collisions.

If you have to place a feeder near a window, consider adding external bird-collision markers to the glass, like these Mesinurs decals from Amazon. These help birds recognize the window as a solid surface rather than open sky or reflected habitat.

September Bird Care Essentials

The bird feeder goes up on Saturday morning, filled with fresh seed, and by Sunday night, nothing has touched it. It’s a frustrating but common experience, and one that calls for a little patience. A new feeder can sit untouched for days or even weeks while the rest of the yard stays busy.

There’s not necessarily anything wrong with your feeder. Wild birds often take time to investigate an unfamiliar object, especially when it represents a change in territory the local flock already knows by heart. They may watch it for a while before they trust it, but there are dependable bird feeder ideas that can give them a reason to take a closer look.

Most bird feeding basics still apply. Placement carries most of the weight. After that, it comes down to offering food birds recognize immediately and leaving things alone long enough for them to work it out. They may even be visiting when you’re not looking, since birds are often most active early in the day. A bird feeder camera, like the Birdfy Smart Feeder for Beginners, can reveal that hidden traffic. For the rest, try these simple fixes to help your new feeder get noticed and give birds a reason to return.

1. Start Where the Birds Already Go

Wherever birds already perch or pick through shrub litter is somewhere they visit anyway, so a feeder put there gets folded into a route already being flown. A middle-of-the-lawn placement can sit ignored for weeks.

Cover is the other half. Trees or thick shrubs within about 10 feet (3 m) give smaller birds somewhere to queue up and somewhere to vanish when a hawk cuts through. But push the feeder much closer, and that same cover turns into a liability. Branches become launch pads for the eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), while low growth hides cats.

When nothing natural sits at the right distance, an adjustable shepherd’s hook, like this Feed Garden design from Amazon, lets you hang the feeder exactly where you want it and adjust its height, giving smaller birds a clearer view and making it harder for cats to reach.

2. Consider Window Distance

Glass should be considered before the first bird even shows up. Windows mirror the sky and greenery, and a bird that mistakes the reflection for open air hits at full speed. Most people hang a feeder specifically to watch from indoors, and windows near feeders produce the highest collision rates of any glass around a house.

Closer is safer. If a feeder is within 3 feet (0.9 m) of a window, a bird has little room to build up speed before reaching the glass, so any contact is more likely to be a bump than a high-impact strike. The other commonly recommended option is to place the feeder more than 30 feet away, although that advice is less certain than it sounds, as the research only measured collisions up to that distance.

At any range, marking the glass helps. These anti-collision bird window stickers from Amazon are an attractive way to make the surface easier for birds to see.

3. Use Familiar Seed

Black oil sunflower, like this 5-pound bag from Wagner's on Amazon, is the safest opening bet on the shelf. The shells are thin enough for small beaks to crack, and cardinals, chickadees, finches, and sparrows all take it. Bargain mixes heavy on red milo do the opposite, since most eastern songbirds kick the filler onto the ground, where it sours.

Suet widens the invitation to woodpeckers and nuthatches, birds that may ignore a seed tube entirely. However, while winter bird feeding staples, suet cakes can be problematic in the summer heat. Rendered cakes hold their shape until temperatures stay consistently above 90°F (32°C), and heat drives them rancid well before they melt. Fat smeared on feathers can wreck waterproofing. No-melt suet dough copes better, like this C&S Hot Pepper Delight, which is flavored with hot pepper to deter squirrels, though the birds won't mind. Hang it in the afternoon shade, half a cake at a time.

4. Give Them Something to See From Above

Birds locate food by sight, not smell, and a loaded tube feeder offers almost nothing to look at from 30 feet up. Loose seed changes that. Scatter a handful across the lid and any other flat surface the feeder has, where it catches the light and shifts in the wind.

Ground scatter does similar work, bringing in species that rarely bother with perches, including sparrows and juncos working the grass underneath. Rodents find spilled food fast, so keep the amount small enough that nothing sits out overnight, and set a shallow tray underneath to hold the rest off the wet soil. Once regular traffic starts, taper the scattering off. By then, the feeder advertises itself.

5. Be Patient

Where feeders are already common in a neighborhood, a new one may be found within a few days. In places where nothing has been offered before, several weeks is ordinary, and longer than that happens.

Chickadees usually break the ice, along with titmice and other curious sorts. Everything else in the yard watches that first bird and draws its own conclusions. Activity tends to jump rather than build. Resist the urge to keep relocating the feeder. Every move resets the clock, and one shifted three times never gets a fair test anywhere.

6. Keep Seed Fresh

Wet seed goes bad quickly in humid heat, and mold in a feeder is not a cosmetic problem. Aspergillus fumigatus in damp seed causes aspergillosis, a respiratory infection that can kill wild birds, while A. flavus in moldy grain produces aflatoxins that target the liver. Fill the feeder with only what gets eaten in a few days, and dump anything clumped or musty.

Storage decides most of it. Seed left in its original bag in a shed sweats and molds from the inside out. This Behrens galvanized steel can with a locking lid from Walmart shuts out rodents and damp in a way the original bag never manages. Scrub the feeder every week or two in warm weather, taking it apart rather than cleaning it in place, and dry it fully before refilling.

7. Make it Squirrel-Proof – Without Spooking the Birds

Squirrels can find a feeder faster than birds do, and those first weeks decide whether it becomes a daily stop. Discouraging them early beats evicting them later. Physical distance does the real work: allow roughly 10 feet (3 m) of clearance from any branch or railing they can launch off. Anything shorter, and a gray squirrel clears it without trying.

To squirrel-proof bird feeders, use a wraparound pole baffle, like this Kitvona squirrel baffle from Amazon, mounted with its top 4–5 feet (1.2–1.5 m) off the ground. Lower than that, and they simply jump it. Birds treat that commotion as a predator event and stay clear well after it ends.

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Two weeks with an untouched feeder feels like failure and hardly ever is. Keep the seed dry and leave the spot alone. The first chickadee tends to turn up on an ordinary afternoon when nobody happens to be looking out the window.

The words “hummingbird” and “sweet spot” seem made for each other. As bird lovers with yards that can cater to our winged friends, we are custodians for nurturing that sweet spot in vital ways. It’s not just about giving our visiting hummers nectar in abundance, although this is central to the deal. On a profound level, the real sweet spot of hummingbird feeding is an idyllic combination of sanctuary and safety, as well as sustenance. It’s about priming a location where a tiny traveler flying thousands of miles can catch its breath. It’s also a commitment to forge trust as well as treats.

This time of year, depending on where you live, the backyard may already be feeling extra buzzy. Fall migration is in full swing, and millions of tiny feathered acrobats are zipping through on the massive mission south. If you want to attract hummingbirds and help with hummingbird feeding this fall, it’s not just about decorating yards with plants that look good or taste nice: it’s about becoming guardians of fueling stations to best support these intrepid beaky beauties on their migration superhighway. If you can create this sweet spot for hummers, your yard can become a bustling pitstop for one of nature’s most miraculous journeys.

The wonderful news? You don’t need loads of kit or a massive yard to become the most popular diner on the block. With just a handful of key gestures and mindful feeding behaviors, even a small patio or suburban border can easily be transformed to give you a glimpse of this epic adventure. The right hummer hot spot is about serving up the yummiest nectar in the safest ways. These 5 insider secrets give you the winning formula to create the ultimate sweet spot this fall.

What are the Sweet Spot Secrets?

What actually creates a thriving hummingbird sweet spot? Yes, your hummer haven needs the right sugar source in order to fuel those epic journeys, which can often be thousands of miles long, as far as the Gulf of Mexico. To prime them for non-stop flight, they’ll need to be consuming up to double their weight in nectar every single day. But to help with that frantic migration push, you also need to position that sugar source in the absolute best spot in the yard. So the right layout is also critical.

Migrating hummers are on a tight schedule, so your sugary treats need to be conveniently placed, easy to access, and primed for safety. Supporting migrating hummingbirds in the right way combines easy visual cues and smart height ratios, balances bright colors with the right levels of sunlight and natural cover, and observes the natural habits and territory dynamics of these vibrating jewel beauties.

They may be capable of extraordinary travels, but the thing is, hummers are territorial creatures. A dominant male can quickly hog a feeder and dive at any weary traveler. But you can outsmart this feeder drama by making sure your hummingbird hangout has factored in ample spacing, strategic sightlines, and thoughtful flight corridors. Offering clear approaches lets incoming birds scout for danger, while nearby leaf cover gives timid hummers a place to retreat when a bully sweeps in.

It’s important to factor in the right nectar-rich hummingbird plants, or a classic manmade feeder, such as the Perky-Pet Pinch-Waist Glass Hummingbird Feeder from Amazon, which offers comfy perching and a built-in ant moat. But these extra secrets help you to max out your hummer retreat for visiting aerial acrobats. And these principles apply across the board, from glittering eastern ruby-throated hummingbirds to feisty western broad tails, Anna’s hummers, and Rufous. So, read on to fine-tune your backyard's feeding sweet spots for all visiting hummers…

Pick Your Feeder

Before introducing the easy 5-point sweet spot plan, make sure you’ve got the right feeder (or feeders) ready for your hummers. The right feeder balances visual appeal, easy cleaning, and smart extras like ant moats. Whether you fancy a heavy-duty workhorse built for numbers, or a hand-blown glass piece that doubles as garden art, these top-rated designs offer built-in perches, leak-resistant ports, and decorative accents that draw traveling hummingbirds straight to your yard.

1. The Nectar Sweet Spot

The first and most literal of all the sweet spots involves getting the nectar just right. Choosing the right nectar powder is part of it, but it’s also about preparing it correctly in order to give hummers the ultimate sugar high. Never use red food dyes, honey, molasses, or unrefined sugars. Red dyes introduce unnecessary chemicals, honey fosters nasty fungal infections, and raw or brown sugars contain high iron levels that cause lethal liver toxicity in tiny birds. Go for a dedicated hummingbird nectar feed such as BirdBros Hummingbird Nectar from Amazon. What I like about this feed is that it is completely preservative free and dilutes well in warm water.

The winning recipe is 4 parts water to 1 part refined white sugar (sucrose): this literal sweet spot perfectly replicates the nectar hummingbirds sip in the wild to fuel their mammoth flights. Warm the water to dissolve the sugar completely. Stir in until dissolved, and always let it cool completely before filling feeder reservoirs.

It’s also a good idea to plant nectar-rich tubular perennials nearby. Lush planting plans for hummer treats on their migratory travels will definitely include brightly colored monarda (bee balm) and brilliant red cardinal flowers (Lobelia cardinalis). Alongside your hummer-loving reds and pinks, don’t discount the right tasty blues and purples, though. Intense tubular blooms such as Sacred Roots Nursery Black and Blue Salvia, available from Walmart, make the ideal late season booster for migrating and visiting hummers with their electric-blue sugary bounty.

2. The Sightline Sweet Spot

Sightlines are critical for hummers in flight, allowing for smooth, happy landings, but also well placed vantage points. It’s about balancing visibility with cover. Positioning your feeding station 10-15 feet (3-4.5m) away from natural shelter creates the ultimate spatial sweet spot for visiting hummingbirds. This sweet spot is close enough for an exhausted traveler to dive into protective branches if a sharp-shinned hawk appears overhead. Yet it is also far enough from dense bushes to stop sneaky cats from launching ambush attacks while hummers sup their surgery fuel.

Understanding how hummingbirds see the world can also help with determining the best sight lines. Thanks to their tetrachromatic vision, hummers can perceive ultraviolet light and hypersaturated tones. Deep red and orange shades glow like neon signs to their super-powered eyes. Setting out high-impact floral beacons like cardinal flowers, coral honeysuckle and monarda create a compelling landing strip.

Try growing vibrant, nectar-soaked American Beauties Major Wheeler Coral Honeysuckle from Nature Hills Nursery alongside cherry-red, mildew-resistant Pardon My Cerise Bee Balm, available from Plant Addicts to create an unmissable billboard for your hummer’s favorite fuelstop. They will be able to track these vibrant treasures from 50 feet (15m) away. If you’re working with a smaller yard space like a tight patio and tree canopies are limited, don’t worry. You can train a few climbing vines up a simple trellis using twine to establish safe, open-air perching corridors.

3. The Height Sweet Spot

When it comes to hanging your hummingbird feeder, a height of 5-6 feet (1.5-1.8m) is the ultimate sweet spot secret to keeping your feathered acrobats safe and happy! Certain naturally available food sources are already designed to cater to this hummer-friendly height. Flowering plants like agastache (giant hyssop) can reach 5ft (1.5m) tall. But your dedicated nectar feeders will need that special boost in order to attract the greatest number of thirsty birdies.

The math behind this height rule is surprisingly clever. Average domestic house cats can leap up to 5 times their height, meaning an ambitious outdoor kitty can spring nearly 4 feet (1.2m) straight up into the air. Suspending your feeder port right at 5 feet (1.5m) keeps it safely out of jumping range while placing the reservoir at cozy eye level for effortless daily sugar refills. Even better, keeping feeders at this height stops muddy rainwater and crawling garden bugs from bouncing up into the ports during stormy late-summer afternoons.

Elevating your feeder correctly also helps outsmart turbulent autumn breezes. A flimsy setup hung on a floppy tree branch will swing around in the wind like a carnival ride, spilling sticky nectar all over the lawn and inviting unwanted yellow jackets to the party. Anchoring your feeding station using a shepherd’s hook reduces this issue. Feed Garden’s 76-inch Shepherd Hooks from Amazon are the perfect height. Once secured into the ground, these sturdy frames ably support multiple feeders at the correct sweet spot height.

Did you know hummingbirds drop vertically straight downward when startled? Their wings beat in a figure-8 motion at a dizzying 80 times per second, so having clear space under their feeding perches lets them execute lightning-fast getaways.

4. The Shade Sweet Spot

Protecting your sugar water from relentless direct sun is critical for preserving hummer health during late-summer heatwaves. So finding a cool, shady sweet spot is essential for hitting that sweet spot. Even September sunshine can cook sugar water, so it can ferment in a flash. Warm nectar quickly breeds nasty black mold and dangerous fungal spores like Candida albicans, which can create painful tongue swelling, making it impossible for hungry hummers to eat.

Hanging your feeder in dappled, leafy shade keeps your feeder treats crisp and fresh for up to 48 hours. As a bonus, this saves you from having to dump and scrub your feeder every afternoon. As well as hanging your feeder under a light shade, add a few shade-tolerant plants like hummer-friendly fuchsia to supplement your hummer sugar stash. If natural tree shade is sparse in your yard, you can install protectors, umbrellas or domes over your feeders. The Kingsyard Weather Dome from Amazon makes a useful shade protector, it can help to protect from rain, and can even help to keep squirrels away.

5. The Window Safety Sweet Spot

Last but not least, basic window safety needs to be factored into every hummer feeding sweet spot. To keep them safe near windows, follow the "3-foot or 30-foot" window rule for the ultimate gesture of birdie goodwill. According to avian conservation science, feeders should be installed either less than 3 feet (1m) from a windowpane or more than 30 feet (9m) away. If a startled hummer takes off from a feeder hung within 3 feet (1m) of your window, it can’t build up enough flying speed to hurt itself if it taps the glass. The dangerous zone is that middle 3-to-30-foot stretch, where birds can rev up to top speed before realizing the glass isn't open air.

Why do glass windows trick our feathered friends in the first place, you might well ask? Hummingbirds have super-fast reaction times, but their high-tech eyes see reflections of leaves and clouds in window glass as a clear, open sky escape route. Whether you live in a suburban home or an apartment with a cozy balcony, you can easily build an ultra-safe viewing setup. Apartment and deck owners can use sturdy clamps and shepherd’s hook feeder poles placed within the safety sweet spot.

To help break up dangerous reflections, try UV-reflecting markers or decals. For bargain decals with excellent adhesive clout, buy Mesinurs Anti-Collision Bird Stickers from Amazon. These will ensure your feathered visitors refuel safely outside your window.

Shop Hummer Care Extras

Elevate your backyard sweet spot from a simple pitstop into a 5-star sanctuary with these specialized care accessories. From pest barriers to crystal-clear optics for spotter watching, these extras keep your station clean, safe, and endlessly enjoyable.

By tailoring your yard’s setup to meet these five sweet spot fundamentals, you provide your hummers with a safe, comfy and high-efficiency haven during their most demanding journeys of the year. With just a few quick placement tweaks and fresh nectar on tap, your yard will become a popular pitstop on the migration highway. Sit back, keep your optics handy, and enjoy watching your tiny, jewel-toned visitors thrive…

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Can your bird feeder really tell you if a storm is coming? Well, I've always had a soft spot for old wives' tales about the weather. Some, it turns out, have a surprising amount of truth behind them; the bumper crops of acorns and other tree seeds that come before a hard winter, for example, are a real phenomenon – what scientists call a mast year.

Others are a little harder to take seriously. We're told that cows lie down when rain is coming, for example, but I've seen them standing, sitting, eating and facing in what appear to be every possible direction – and I can't say their behavior has ever given me much confidence about tomorrow's forecast.

When it comes to birds, though, I'm biased. My granddad taught me their names and their calls, and somewhere along the way I became the sort of person who knows her birth month bird and the superstition about what the first bird I see each morning means for the day ahead. So, sure, I've always wanted to believe that birds can sense when bad weather is coming... but can they actually?

Can Your Bird Feeder Tell You if a Storm Is Coming?

For those of us who keep bird feeders in our gardens, it would certainly be an added boon (on top of the sheer joy of watching our feathered friends flit to and fro) if the birds gathering around the feeder could give us a clue that a winter storm is on its way.

To find out for sure, then, I decided to do some digging. And, as it turns out, there's some fascinating science behind the old story.

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So, can your bird feeder really tell you if a storm is coming? Well, scientists have found evidence that birds can detect changes in atmospheric pressure – which is especially intriguing, as falling pressure often occurs ahead of a storm.

In fact, a 2013 study white-crowned sparrows increased their food intake when researchers reproduced the kind of pressure drop associated with an approaching snowstorm. There was no storm outside for the birds to see; the change in atmospheric pressure alone was enough to affect their behavior.

Their decision to eat more makes sense; after all, for a small songbird, winter weather is no joke, as snow and ice can cover up seeds and insects. Strong winds, too, can make flying and foraging more difficult. And when temperatures plunge, birds have to burn more energy simply to keep themselves warm.

If the atmosphere gives a bird an early warning that conditions are about to get worse, then, there is an obvious advantage to eating while food is still relatively easy to find; it's basically the feathery equivalent of filling the cupboards before a blizzard.

No wonder, then, that my feeder always seems much busier than usual before a spell of nasty winter weather. And, if you already feed birds, it's worth paying attention to the pattern your own feathered friends follow so you can figure out a) if your regulars are suddenly spending more time at the feeder, b) whether birds are visiting more frequently, and c) if several species are becoming unusually active at once.

There is, though, a few caveats to keep in mind: birds also feed more when it's cold, as they respond to changes in natural food availability. Short winter days, too, can also change how much time they have to forage. And let's not forget that predators and competition can alter feeder activity too.

All that being said, it's nice that the science gives us a reason to take the old folklore seriously – even if only partly. The fact that birds really can respond to atmospheric pressure changes, and that researchers have found evidence that some species increase their food intake before conditions deteriorate. means that your bird feeder could at least help you figure out if a storm is coming.

There's something wonderful about watching a chickadee dart into your garden, grab a sunflower seed and disappear – and knowing that, in its own small way, it may be paying attention to changes in the atmosphere that you can't feel at all.

Still, that doesn't mean your cardinal can replace the National Weather Service. If your feeder is suddenly hopping with activity, by all means take notice. Then check the barometer, look at the sky and (yes, sorry!) check the forecast.

Hey, if you wouldn't trust your human friend to predict the weather accurately without an app, I'd suggest you don't pile your fate into the little claws of your feathered friends, either! It is, though, a good excuse to feed them a little more as we edge into autumn and winter, though...

If you have spent the last few weeks seemingly confronted by wasps at every turn, you're not imagining things: late summer is prime wasp season. Which is, sure, great news for birds that eat wasps, but not so great for the rest of us.

By this point in the year, social wasp colonies have grown dramatically from their tiny spring beginnings. Yellowjackets, in particular, can become a real nuisance around outdoor food and drinks, although any wasps defending a disturbed nest can become increasingly defensive. So naturally, gardeners are looking for ways to kill wasps (or, y'know, send them elsewhere).

One suggestion I keep seeing on Reddit is particularly inventive: make a fake wasp nest out of a brown paper bag and hang it where you don't want wasps to build. The thinking is logical enough: that wasps are territorial and won't establish a new colony close to another one. And sure, there are plenty of anecdotal reports from gardeners who swear by the trick, including Reddit users who say they've had success with crumpled paper bags.

Personally, though, I find the evidence a little scanty. And if I'm going to stage war against the wasps in my yard, I'd rather forge an alliance with a few feathered friends than whip out the arts and crafts table.

Meet the Birds That Eat Wasps

Oh yes, stay the brown paper bag for a moment, because several beautiful backyard birds are perfectly happy to make wasps part of their diet. And while I wouldn't expect a bird feeder to magically clear your yard of stinging insects, encouraging natural predators is a lovely way to make your garden more wildlife-friendly while potentially lowering wasp numbers at the same time.

With that in mind, then, here are three birds that eat wasps like we eat Twinkies bars (along with a few tips on how to attract them to your yard)...

1. Summer Tanager

At the tip-top of the list of birds that eat wasps is the summer tanager, but that's putting it lightly, because these striking red birds don't merely eat the occasional wasp when one happens to cross their path. According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, summer tanagers specialize in catching bees and wasps on the wing, and they'll also raid nests for larvae. They catch flying insects in short sallies, then beat their prey against a perch before eating it (take that, wasps!).

There is something wonderfully satisfying about the image of a beautiful red songbird doing the gardening equivalent of pest control, but don't expect to lure one with a standard seed feeder; summer tanagers are more interested in insects, fruit and the habitat that supports them.

With that in mind, rather than trying to create a wasp-free garden, create a bird-friendly garden: grow native plants, keep mature trees where possible and consider fruiting shrubs that provide another food source.

Plant for Summer Tanagers:

Most importantly, avoid reaching for insecticide every time you spot an insect; a garden with plenty of natural insect life is more likely to provide the food that insect-eating birds are looking for.

2. Northern Mockingbird

The northern mockingbird may be better known for its extraordinary singing abilities, but this familiar backyard bird has another talent that gardeners might appreciate: eating insects.

Yes, it may not be on the list of birth month birds, but, during the summer, northern mockingbirds eat mainly insects, and their menu includes beetles, ants, grasshoppers, moths, and (you guessed it) wasps. They typically forage around open ground and shrubby vegetation, making them particularly well suited to suburban gardens.

Now, unlike summer tanagers, mockingbirds aren't wasp specialists. They're opportunistic feeders, which means they're taking advantage of whatever useful food your garden happens to provide.

The trick is to give them the sort of garden where they can forage naturally, then; Cornell recommends keeping some open lawn while also providing fruiting trees and shrubs, as they aren't particularly known for visiting conventional bird feeders.

3. Blue Jay

Now we get to the beaky wonder that really caught my attention when I started looking into the birds that eat wasps., as there are documented observations of blue jays attacking wasp nests to scoff up the larvae.

Check it out:

Pretty impressive, right? That said, blue jays are omnivores, and insects make up only part of their overall diet – Cornell's review of their stomach contents found that insects accounted for about 22% of the diet, with nuts, fruits and grains making up most of the remainder.

Think of their wasp-eating behavior as a useful bonus, rather than a biological pest-control service... but that's still worth laying out the red carpet, honestly! Thankfully, blue jays are regular visitors to bird feeders, particularly tray or hopper feeders, and adore peanuts, sunflower seeds and suet. They also readily use birdbaths, while oak trees provide one of their favorite natural foods: acorns.

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Just don't expect every blue jay you attract to immediately go looking for your wasp nest. You're creating good habitat and a reliable food source – what the bird does with the rest of its day is up to the bird.

Transform Your Garden Into a Bird-Friendly Paradise:

It should go without saying that birds aren't going to replace proper wasp control, particularly if you've discovered a nest close to a door, play area or another part of the yard where people are regularly exposed (seek professional expertise in this instance).

Still, if I'm choosing where to put my gardening energy in the meantime, I'd much rather spend it planting berry-producing shrubs, keeping mature trees, adding a birdbath and putting out a tray of unsalted peanuts.

Because if a few beautiful birds happen to arrive and eat some of the wasps along the way? Well, that's a gardening win I can get behind.

As fall approaches, common backyard birds as well as migratory species are looking for nourishment and cover ahead of impending cold weather. With the transition of late summer into fall, our backyard borders undergo a quiet transformation, but for birds, this transition presents a few challenges, as natural resources start to dwindle.

Migrating songbirds like hummingbirds, warblers, and tanagers require immense calorie intake to build vital fat reserves before embarking on journeys spanning thousands of miles. Simultaneously, year-round resident species (such as cardinals, chickadees, and goldfinches) start looking for reliable seed heads, lipid-rich berries, and dense thermal cover to survive the cooler months ahead.

By establishing bird-friendly plants that provide food and shelter, you can help finches, cardinals, bluebirds, and hummingbirds before winter arrives. As natural supplies get harder to find, you can attract birds to your yard with native flower species and shrubs that provide protein-rich seeds, berries, and nectar, as well as draw insects. And planting shrubs and perennials together will create a safe haven for birds to find shelter and warmth in the coming months.

Bird-Friendly Plants to Add Now

Meeting the survival needs of backyard birds and migrating hummingbirds in fall comes down to three elements: protein-dense seeds, lipid-rich fruit, and secure shelter. Long-distance migrating hummingbirds rely on high-sugar nectar sources to double their body weight before making long trips across the Gulf of Mexico. Meanwhile, nomadic flocks of cedar waxwings and bluebirds seek out rich berry displays, while foraging finches, sparrows, and juncos depend on seed cones.

Always check for regional native plant varieties of these species that are suited to your area, and be aware of regional planting windows. If you are growing in USDA hardiness zones 3-5, you’ll need to finish planting these natives by early autumn. This will allow them 4-6 weeks for good root growth so they can establish and settle before soil freezes. However, those growing in zones 6-9 will have a little longer.

Warm late-season soil paired with cooler air temperatures encourages rapid root establishment, ensuring that fruiting shrubs and seed-rich perennials lock in quickly. Just make sure your soil is well draining. If it isn’t, work in some well-rotted compost before planting. Adding in a little bone meal into the planting site, such as Espoma Organic Bone Meal from Amazon, also helps to boost healthy root development in these natives before dormancy kicks in.

After planting, add a 2-inch (5cm) layer of organic mulch to keep soil temperatures regulated for these native fruiting, seeding and shelter options. Visiting birds will thank you – with plenty of repeat visits all the way through fall.

1. Purple Coneflower

Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is a welcome pollinator plant, and also a seed buffet for goldfinches, house finches, black-capped chickadees, and dark-eyed juncos. Goldfinches often don’t wait for the seeds to mature, and visit flowers even when seeds are still green. There are many cultivars of echinacea, but typically only the single petal varieties of the native purple coneflower produce viable seed. You can buy American Beauties’ Native Purple Coneflower Live Plants from Plant Addicts for lush, prolific flowering that lasts right up to first frosts.

Plant in full sun to light shade and well-draining soil. Boost root development by scratching a handful of Dr Earth Pure Gold All Purpose from The Home Depot into the planting hole. Coneflowers grow 2-4 feet tall (0.6-1.2m) in hardiness zones 3-8. Leave spent flower heads standing all through autumn and winter rather than deadheading them during late-summer cleanups.

2. American Beautyberry

American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) is an eye-catching native. The bright magenta fall berries are the real draw, attracting northern mockingbirds, robins, northern cardinals, brown thrashers, towhees and gray catbirds. As foliage drops, the berries remain exposed on bare stems, making them a magnet for migratory flocks searching for nutrition. Whichever birds get their first are likely to scoff the lot! For a quick-developing shrub, Green Promise Farms’ American Beautyberry Live Plants from Amazon grows well in full or partial shade.

Plant beautyberries in full sun or part shade in well-draining soil. These perennials grow 3-8 feet tall (0.9-2.4m) and perform best in zones 6-10. Planting in loose groups of 2-3 shrubs helps to maximize fruit production through cross-pollination. Top-dress shrubs with a carbon-based soil conditioner like Rosy Soil Biochar Booster from Amazon to hold root moisture through dry fall spells.

3. Goldenrod

Goldenrod (Solidago spp.) is known as a superb fall nectar and pollen plant for bees and butterflies, but its bird appeal is often overlooked. Beyond hosting protein-rich caterpillars and insects that migratory warblers hunt, its feathery seed heads yield a feast for goldfinches, dark-eyed juncos, tufted titmice, pine siskins, and sparrows. If the stems are left standing through winter, they also create a safe shelter. American Beauties Goldenrod Fireworks Live Plants from Nature Hills is a generous nectar resource, while clump-forming Wichita Mountains is neat and well behaved.

Goldenrod is not an allergen, so it is safe to plant. It thrives in full sun and average, well-draining soil, but also tolerates poor soil and clay soil. Heights range from 1-5 feet (0.3-1.5m). Growing zones vary with the native plants and cultivars, but this plant is generally hardy in zones 3-9. Feed very lightly during establishment with a gentle tonic like Bloom City’s Organic Liquid Seaweed and Kelp Fertilizer from Walmart to jumpstart growth without triggering weak foliage.

4. American Cranberrybush

American cranberrybush (Viburnum opulus var. americanum) is a self-fertile native viburnum (it does not require a pollinator to produce fruit). This multi-season native presents with showy, lacecap flowers in spring, and the edible berries are glossy and bright red, similar to cranberries in taste and color, though it is not a true cranberry. Just be sure to get the American variety, not the European cranberrybush that is invasive with inedible fruit. Buy Bailey Compact American Cranberrybush from Plant Addicts for smaller yards and modest-sized yards in need of color.

The tart fruits last well into late winter, undergoing freezing and thawing cycles that soften them into a prized food source for cedar waxwings, robins, bluebirds, and cardinals. Grow this native in moist, well draining soil and full to part sun in zones 2-7. It grows 8-12 feet (2.4-3.7m) tall and wide. Work a handful of slow-release Espoma Organic Tree-tone Plant Food Double Pack from Walmart into the surrounding soil at planting time to help strengthen heavy branches. This feed is an excellent investment for other fruit trees and ornamentals, too.

5. Trumpet Honeysuckle

Trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) is a must-have native nectar source for migratory hummingbirds. Its tubular, coral-red flowers bloom from early spring to frost on this semi-evergreen perennial vine. The spring bloom is the heaviest, but it blooms all summer and is generally guarded by a territorial hummer. In late summer, red berries attract robins, finches, cardinals, northern mockingbirds, thrashers, and cedar waxwings. One of the finest examples is the popular, disease-resistant American Beauties ‘Major Wheeler’ Trumpet Honeysuckle from Nature Hills, which can service hummingbirds and other pollinators well into fall.

Grow it in well-drained soil in full sun in hardiness zones 4-9. This plant just requires a sturdy trellis or fence to hold its heavy vines, which can reach 10-20 feet (3-6.1m). To keep tubular nectar blossoms opening through to fall frosts, it’s also worth adding a splash of potassium-rich flower feed every few weeks in the growing season. Its dense, semi-evergreen foliage provides crucial shelter from rains and predators.

6. New England Aster

New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) lights up autumn borders with clouds of deep violet-purple, pink, and rose blossoms. While bees and migrating monarch butterflies flock to its rich late nectar, songbirds eagerly wait for the flowers to mature into fluffy, seed-filled heads. It pairs well with goldenrod to provide late summer nectar as well as seeds. Goldfinches, juncos, chickadees, nuthatches, and cardinals spend crisp fall mornings clinging to sturdy stems to feast on energy-dense seeds. Leaving these natives intact through winter ensures a steady food source. You can buy pink Native New England Asters from Plant Addicts.

Thriving in full sun and moist, well-drained soil in zones 4-8, native asters reach 3-6 feet (0.9-1.8m) tall. Give new transplants a healthy boost by mixing TPS Nutrients Organic Bloom Fertilizer from Amazon into the surrounding soil. This low-nitrogen, blossom-boosting granular feed supports rich petal color and heavy seed production without forcing sappy stems. To keep this plant shorter and bushier, you can pinch the growing tips back in spring.

7. Rocky Mountain Juniper

No autumn bird habitat is complete without dense evergreen structure, and Rocky Mountain juniper tree (Juniperus scopulorum) stands as one of the best choices for cold-weather shelter as well as food. Bluish cones contain nutritious seeds for cedar waxwings, thrashers, warblers, robins, bluebirds, and northern mockingbirds. Added to which, the thick, aromatic foliage is an impenetrable windbreak against gales and offers roosting spaces away from hawks and cats. You can currently buy Skyrocket Rocky Mountain Junipers from Trees.com for a 20% discount. They will quickly develop a columnar shape that is ideal for privacy screenings and vertical accents.

Thriving in full sun and well-drained, lean soil in zones 3-7, this juniper reaches 10-15 feet (3-5m) tall. A 2-inch (5cm) layer of natural wood mulch, such as Vigoro Premium Brown Wood Shredded Mulch, available from The Home Depot, helps to protect these evergreens from drying winter winds. Spread around young root crowns to keep moisture levels steady and insulate roots against ground freezes.

Need more ideas for getting the most from your plants, indoors and out, and looking for the best seasonal expert advice delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for the free Gardening Know How Newsletter!

It’s hard to believe, but it’s almost fall. And that means that it’s almost time for the annual fall bird migration. If you’ve been catering to the birds in your backyard all summer, now is the ideal time to give them some extra TLC.

Many of our feathered friends travel thousands of miles during fall bird migration, which can leave them exhausted and in need of food, water, and rest along the way. There are easy ways you can turn your yard into a migrating bird’s favorite pit stop – give them high-energy birdseed, grow beneficial plants, and provide them with plenty of water and places to take a break.

If you want to do your part this fall to help migrating birds or care for the birds that stick around throughout winter, Target has everything you need to equip your landscape and turn it into a wildlife haven before summer ends.

Best Deals on Bird Accessories

Below are the best deals on bird accessories for the end of summer and fall to help winged wildlife thrive all winter and into next year.

Found munching their way through leaves, hiding beneath branches or curled up on their favorite host plants, caterpillars are some of the hardest-working visitors you'll find in the garden – and some are even more special, thanks to their status as our birth month caterpillars.

Yes, whether they're covered in soft fuzz, decorated with bright colors or cleverly disguised to look like twigs, bird droppings or even tiny snakes, North America's caterpillars are every bit as fascinating as the butterflies and moths they'll eventually become. They're also an important part of a healthy backyard ecosystem, providing food for birds and helping to support the next generation of pollinators.

We've already embraced the idea of birth month birds, birth month animals, and birth month trees, so why not celebrate the little critters that are far too often overlooked.

All 12 Birth Month Caterpillars

Oh yes, butterflies may steal the spotlight, but every butterfly and moth begins life as a not-so-humble caterpillar. Before dazzling wings emerge, these fascinating creatures spend their days eating, growing and preparing for one of nature's most remarkable transformations.

Shop the Best Host Plants for Caterpillars:

Far from being just a stage in the life cycle, caterpillars are symbols of patience, resilience and potential. They remind us that growth often happens quietly, long before the world sees the finished result. And so, with that in mind, I've brought you a list of birth month caterpillars along with their beautiful meanings.

You're welcome!

January – Woolly Bear Caterpillar

If you're born in January, your birth month caterpillar is the famous woolly bear. This fuzzy little survivor is one of nature's toughest insects, capable of withstanding freezing winter temperatures before continuing its journey in spring.

Like the woolly bear, January-born people are often quietly determined. You don't rush into things, preferring steady progress and knowing that persistence usually wins in the end. Not so shabby, right?

February – Luna Moth Caterpillar

Bright green and surprisingly plump considering they don't eat anything at all, the luna moth caterpillar spends weeks feeding before spinning a cocoon and eventually emerging as one of North America's most spectacular moths.

If February is your birth month, you're a reminder that growth isn't always obvious. Your strengths develop gradually, and your calm nature often inspires those around you. And, yes, you usually leave people more than a little mesmerized (no bad thing, as I'm sure you'll agree).

March – Eastern Tent Caterpillar

One of the first caterpillars to appear each spring, the eastern tent caterpillar is rarely found alone. It lives with its siblings inside silky tents woven in the branches of trees, venturing out together to feed.

March-born people often bring others together. Just like your birth month caterpillar, you're naturally collaborative and enjoy creating connections, making you the kind of person who helps new ideas (and friendships!) grow.

April – Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillar

The spicebush swallowtail caterpillar is a master of disguise. As it grows, it develops large false eye spots that make it resemble a tiny snake, helping scare away hungry birds.

So, what does this tell us about those who call this little theatrical beauty their birth month caterpillar? Well, if you're born in April, you're imaginative and resourceful. You adapt to change with ease. And, perhaps more importantly, often find creative solutions where others see obstacles.

May – Cecropia Moth Caterpillar

With its colorful knobs of blue, yellow and orange, the cecropia caterpillar is impossible to overlook, which makes sense, considering adult cecropia moths can have a wingspan approaching 7 inches.

As it eventually transforms into North America's largest native moth, then, it's a fitting symbol for people who grow into their confidence over time. So, if May is your birth month, you're naturally generous and optimistic.

You also embrace opportunities for growth and encourage others to do the same. And you're the kind of person who displays the kind of personal growth that people everywhere will envy, too!

June – Rosy Maple Moth Caterpillar

Before becoming the delightfully pink-and-yellow rosy maple moth, this caterpillar (another of the giant silk moth family, alongside the luna and cecropia moths) spends its days feeding quietly on maple leaves.

June-born people have a gift for finding beauty in everyday life. Your cheerful outlook helps brighten even ordinary moments, and you have a lovely knack of reminding others that wonderful things often begin in unexpected places.

July – Hickory Horned Devil

Despite its dramatic name and fearsome appearance, the hickory horned devil is completely harmless. Its impressive horns are purely for defence, helping it convince predators to look elsewhere.

Like this remarkable caterpillar, July-born people are often much gentler than first impressions suggest. You're brave when challenges arise but lead with kindness and compassion. it's unsurprising, then, that people seek you out in the toughest of times.

August – Imperial Moth Caterpillar

Imperial moth caterpillars come in several colors, from green to deep brown, proving that there's more than one way to thrive. As they grow, they adapt to their surroundings before eventually becoming beautiful golden-yellow moths.

If you're born in August, you're confident in your own abilities. And that innate flexibility? Why, it means you don't just embrace change; you know how to make the most of every opportunity, too.

September – Io Moth Caterpillar

With striking eye-like spots on their hindwings that can startle birds and other predators, this vibrant green birth month caterpillar is certainly eye-catching. It's also, though, one of the few that's best admired without touching; yes, its branching spines help protect it from predators.

September-born people understand the importance of balancing kindness with self-respect. You're caring and generous, but you also know when to protect your own wellbeing. And those healthy boundaries you set? A rare gift, quite frankly. Treasure them.

October – Giant Leopard Moth Caterpillar

When disturbed, this birth month caterpillar curls into a ball. And this, along with the fact it's covered in black bristles, means the giant leopard moth caterpillar gives little hint of the striking spotted moth it will one day become.

Sometimes, the most remarkable transformations are the least obvious. If October is your birth month (and hey there, me too!), you're thoughtful, resilient and full of hidden depths. People often discover new sides to your personality over time. And you will undoubtedly earn yourself the title of 'enigma' over time.

Hey, a little mystery is never a bad thing.

Shop Butterfly & Caterpillar Essentials:

November – Polyphemus Moth Caterpillar

The polyphemus moth gets its name from the large eye-like markings on its wings, which resemble the single eye of the giant Cyclops from Greek mythology. Neat, right?

Perhaps also the closest in vibe to Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar, this large, bright green and always hungry birth month caterpillar spends its final weeks building up enough energy to spin a sturdy cocoon that will carry it safely through winter.

As such, November-born people are planners by nature. You understand that success often comes from careful preparation and patience rather than rushing ahead. There's wisdom in preparation, folks.

December – American Dagger Moth Caterpillar

With its long, pale hairs and striking black tufts, the American Dagger Moth caterpillar certainly stands out. But beneath its unusual appearance is a surprisingly adaptable caterpillar, feeding on a wide range of trees and shrubs before eventually transforming into a subtle yellow moth.

If you're born in December, you're curious, independent and comfortable doing things your own way. You may not always seek the spotlight, but there's a quiet confidence in the way you approach life – and a willingness to look beyond the obvious.

Just remember: the hairs on your birth month caterpillar can cause skin irritation, so it's best admired without touching, so don't get too close!

Something for Butterfly Lovers:

Whether your birth month caterpillar is colorful, camouflaged or wonderfully fuzzy, each one tells a story of growth. Because, long before butterflies flutter through gardens or moths take to the night sky, they all begin as caterpillars, all doing their best to prepare for what comes next.

It's certainly the energy we could all use a little more of in our lives, right?

Regular readers will know that my passion for bird bathing has reached such a level that I have given my birdie zone its own special name: Featherspoons (named after a certain UK-based food and drink franchise). I’ve been using this name since spring, as it really encapsulates that cheep-and-cheerful vibe (yes, pun intended). But while I’ve been mostly thrilled with the results of my expanding birding empire, it’s felt like something’s been missing… like I’ve been a few feathers short of the full spoon, as it were.

Don’t get me wrong: my thoughtfully tailored bird zone has responded diligently to the demands of my local feathered buddies. Featherspoons is quite the sight for attracting birds, replete with platform bird feeder, secondary hanging feeder, a recently vacated bird house, a classic pedestal bath, trusty waiting branch, and even a little homemade sign letting the local wildlife know they’ve arrived. So what could possibly be missing, you might well ask?

You could say I’m a “bird bath half empty” kind of gal, because I’m always wondering about the birds I don’t see. For every sparrow splashing merrily, I’ll think about the robin I haven’t seen in weeks. I hate to think there’s something I’ve forgotten that’s keeping those other birdies away. And then it rained for the first time in weeks, and Mr Robin hopped into view, happily sploshing in a puddle. That’s when it hit me: I had cleaned a plant pot tray weeks earlier and forgot to put it back outside. Sometimes, the little things make all the difference for our bird friends. Here’s why…

Why Add a Puddle Bath?

Have you ever wondered why your pedestal bath gets plenty of visits from sassy blue jays, while robins act like it doesn't exist? It turns out height is an issue, even for friends with wings. Some songbirds are total turf lovers. Species like robins, juncos, mourning doves, and northern cardinals do a lot of their hanging out at ground level. In the wild, they seek out rainwater pools. To them, a pedestal bath feels like trying to take a dip on top of a skyscraper: scary, and way too exposed.

Then there’s the depth issue. Standard bowls are often way too deep, leaving timid towhees and thrashers feeling literally out of their depth. A ground-level puddle bath fixes all of this, by mimicking the conditions of puddles these birds are naturally hardwired to seek out. Something shallow, like the gorgeous bird-friendly Bakayoyo Shallow Ground Bird Bath Saucer from Amazon works well, and it provides texture for tiny toes.

The beauty of a ground-based splash zone lies in its gently sloped gradient. Starting at a half-inch (1.25cm) depth and gently dipping to an inch (2.5cm) in the middle, it lets tiny sparrows and waddling doves wade in at their own pace and comfort level. Add nearby branches for safety and shelter, in the form of a native staging branch like the stunning Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry Tree from Fast Growing Trees, and you bring a highly naturalistic environment into play. Even northern flickers and purple finches will join the ground-level pool party once word gets out.

Which Puddle Bath is Best?

Creating a welcoming ground-level splash zone doesn't require a lavish budget or complex installation. In fact, some of the best ground baths are sitting right in your garage, shed, or kitchen. An unglazed terracotta plant saucer is a gift. The rough clay gives wet little toes fantastic grip, and costs next to nothing. If you don’t have any, Vigoro Clay Plant Saucers from The Home Depot are the perfect depth and also frost resistant. Alternatively, flip a small upside-down garbage can lid into the grass, filled with a few handfuls of clean pea gravel. But there’s more…

Whether you go full DIY or treat your yard to something fancier, keep these golden rules in mind: shallow depth, non-slip texture, and low sides. Slippery bowls are a no-go – unless you throw in a few grippy stones to save the day. I like adding a few flat textured pebbles and rocks, like Simetufy River Rocks from Amazon, which you can color up in your favorite birdie shades. Furthermore, the basin should have a low edge that lets birds survey their surroundings. There are plenty of gorgeous, low-profile options that deliver maximum splash-factor with zero hassle.

Puddle Baths for Low-Level Splashers

High pedestals are great for boisterous bathers like jays and thrushes, but shy types need something closer to the turf. These shallow, ground-level options mimic natural rainwater puddles, giving timid bathers the gentle entry, textured footing, and low-stress environment they instinctively crave.

Where to Put Your Puddle Bath

This might sound obvious but location is critical, and I don’t just mean nice grass. Ground bathers face unique challenges. A soggy robin can’t pull off a high-speed retreat when danger appears. It’s all about balancing protective cover with open sightlines. Position your basin 10-12 feet (3-3.6m) away from dense shrubbery or thick hedges. This gives cautious bathers clear sightlines to spot cats, but keeps branches close enough to flutter to if startled. For a low-key extra, a nearby trellis like the Red Barrel Studio Garden Trellis from Wayfair adds comfort for finches and sparrows.

Sunlight strategy is another biggie. Because puddle baths are shallow, a full day of sun can turn your dish into a hot or dried-up mud flat. Try to find a cozy pocket that gets bright morning sunshine (perfect for early birds) and dappled canopy shade for scorchio afternoon hours. Nestling the bath alongside sturdy native flowers and mid-height perennials like Native Purple Coneflowers from Plant Addicts gives timid visitors lovely, natural staging to check out the scene before hopping down for a dip.

Also, keep your puddle station well away from your main bird feeders. Falling seed hulls, messy shells and crumbs, and bird droppings will turn clean bathwater into murky soup faster than you can say featherspoons. Give your ground dish its own peaceful corner, away from high-traffic footpaths and lawnmowers, to create the ultimate splash zone for ground-level wildlife.

Puddle Station Extras

Creating a thriving puddle station is all about building a welcoming community around your ground basin. While the dish itself provides the water source, thoughtful accessories create a multi-sensory magnet for the ultimate poolside lounge. The best way to do this is with moving water. Songbirds rely on sound to locate water sources. The right sparkle and trickle is vital to promoting your splash zone.

The gentle dancing sprays of the Mademax Solar Powered Floating Fountain Pump from Amazon make it clear to ground bathers that the water is fresh. Or for a more subtle sparkle, the Solar Water Wiggler from Walmart creates quiet, continuous ripples that reassure nervous bathers. As mentioned before, I also like to add a few nicely shaped rocks to the base of the bath. This gives a variety of levels as well as texture and natural footholds, adding extra security for hasty or stumbling bathers.

Moving water features also prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs in your ground basin. By pairing your ground dish with water agitators and a few grippy stones, your ground-level puddle station will quickly become the hottest ticket in town.

High Rise Havens for Bold Bathers

Once your ground-dwelling birds are happily splashing down low, give your chickadees, finches, and jays a glamorous front-row seat! These raised, hanging, and pedestal options double as eye-catching garden focal points while providing a safe, elevated sanctuary for watchful songbirds.

Caring for Your Puddle Bath

Keeping your new puddle bath sparkling fresh is easy, and a little routine love goes a long way. Because ground dishes are shallow, they warm up quickly under the sun, so giving yours a swift daily splash-and-dash top-off keeps water cool and clean. Once a week, grab a stiff cleaning brush, like the Modanu Ergonomic Heavy-Duty Bird Bath Brush from Walmart, and give the basin a solid scrub with nine parts water and one part plain white vinegar. Skip the harsh household soaps or bleach: nobody wants soapy chemical residue ruining their afternoon feathers.

Create a natural "bug and bath" combo, by planting black-eyed Susans near your dish to attract native beetles and caterpillars. Add clumps of coral bells (heuchera) to act as tiny insect hotels for midges and spiders. When robins and song sparrows finish their bath, they can hop straight into the leaves for a delicious, protein-packed snack. And as an extra safeguard to reduce algae build-up (if you have space), place a copper purifier like the Mellbree Copper Bird Bath Disc from Amazon in the basin. Do all this, and your puddle station will stay the cleanest, happiest hangout on the block.

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If you’ve been reliably feeding hummingbirds in your garden all summer, then it’s time to make things personal and see if your hummers will eat out of your hand. And there's nothing else quite as heartwarming as hand-feeding hummingbirds. You’ll hear the buzz of their wings beating over 50 times a second, and feel the air disturbance, too. The best bit though? Having such a tiny creature place its trust in you.

Research shows that hummers remember their favorite feeders so, if your garden is full of regular visitors, you’re in with a good shot of achieving this summer dream. Hummingbirds are unlikely to hand-feed in spots they don’t consider regular sources of food, so you’ve already done most of the hard work. If you’ve also been feeding hummingbirds with nectar-rich flowers and helping them keep feathers clean with a floating solar fountain in a tub of water, they’ll be spending plenty of time in your yard and feeling pretty comfortable. They’ll also likely be accustomed to your presence.

Because hummingbirds can fly backwards – and they’re the only bird that can intentionally do so – they’re able to get themselves out of trouble, fast, which is why hummers are among the easiest birds to hand-feed. But there are a few critical secrets to get hummingbirds to feed from your hand.

1. Start With a Bigger Hand Feeder

You’ll make faster progress if you start with a bigger handheld feeder with two or three feeding ports such as this iBorn Mini Bird Feeder From Amazon. These are easier for birds to spot and hummers will gain confidence more quickly if two or three can feed together at the same time.

Once you’ve gained the hummingbirds’ trust, that's the time to move on to using smaller individual feeders such as these hand feeders from Walmart. You can either hold these flat in the palm of your hand, use the ring attachment, or wrap your finger and thumb around them to offer hummers a perch. Younger children often get on better with individual feeders with wrist straps such as this Hummingbird Wrist Feeder Set from Walmart. You can even buy hummingbird feeder hats – but begin with a big, basic handheld feeder.

2. Get Birds Used to You and the New Feeder

Set up your handheld feeder close to, and preferably next to, the hanging feeder hummers visit most regularly. Handheld feeders with suction-cup holders such as these iBorn Window Hummingbird Feeders from Amazon make it easy to attach a feeder securely to a non-porous surface, which saves spills. Depending on the design of your main feeder, you may even be able to attach the handheld design directly to it.

Keep both feeders filled with nectar such as this dye-free hummingbird food from Walmart, or a homemade syrup of sugar and water. To keep food fresh, change every other day once temperatures top 27°C, and every day over 32°C.

At the same time, make sure you’re present in the garden often when hummingbirds are feeding. Experiment with moving closer to the birds, always stepping away if they startle. Rather than focusing on the birds, try walking past the feeder without looking at them, so they don’t feel threatened by your presence. Sit down near the main feeder, too, reading a book or listening to music with wireless earbuds so you don't focus on the birds.

3. Stay Still as a Tree

Once birds have started using the small feeder as well as the hanging one, and they’re not startled by your presence, you can move on to the next step. Remove the main feeder to reduce options for the birds, hold the handheld feeder away from your face, and be patient.

Trying to stay entirely motionless will make you tense your muscles and you’ll inadvertently scare the birds away with your body language. Instead, think about staying as still as a tree. So, root yourself to the ground – which is much easier if you’re sitting in a chair with your arm or elbow anchored on a firm surface – and think about being still like a tree, making small, gentle movements but keeping your trunk in one spot.

4. Wear Red

Even if it’s just a hat or some nail polish, wearing red will attract hummingbirds. Thanks to the filters in their eyes, hummers can see warm colors far more easily, and have learnt that bright red typically rewards with nectar, whether that’s from flowers or a feeder.

5. Feed Early and Late

Hummingbirds feed most actively early in the morning and late in the afternoon, so targeting your feeding time to coincide will speed up the process. Consistency helps, too. Hummingbirds have great memories so if they expect to see you by the feeder every morning, they’ll get used to you far more quickly.

6. Don’t Look Directly at the Feeder

This is the biggest mistake people make when they're wondering how to hand feed hummingbirds, and the hardest step of all to achieve! All prey animals are acutely aware of being watched and will interpret a direct gaze as a potential threat and stay away. So, while you’re gaining the birds’ trust, try looking to the side of your hand, and you’ll enjoy far more success. If you can, resist the urge to look at the birds until they get more comfortable, and then try sliding your eyes sideways to look at them rather than moving your head to view them directly.

What Not to Do

• Don’t be tempted to touch or stroke the hummers. Even a tiny amount of the natural oils and sweat your fingers deposit on a bird’s feathers will destroy their capacity for insulation and waterproofing.
• Don’t move quickly. If birds are still feeding when you need to finish up, move slowly and smoothly to set the feeder down in its usual spot.
• Don’t forget to hang the main feeder back up again when you’re all finished.
• Don’t startle if a bird lands on your hand. While you’re unlikely to ever tame hummingbirds, they will quickly get used to you and start using your fingers as perches. Their tiny claws tickle rather than scratch and, as these birds only weigh a few grams, you’ll barely feel it.

Wearable Hummingbird Feeders

These feeders take handheld hummingbird feeders to a whole new level of garden fun!

It’s easy to imagine birds migrating - flying in flocks high in the sky, wings beating. But butterflies? Their wings are small, beautiful, and fragile as flower petals. Yet migrate they do…thousands of miles. For example, monarchs in North America travel up to 3,000 miles south each fall to overwinter in central Mexico.

If you want to welcome these wonderful, weary wanderers this fall, it is high time to start installing plants for migrating butterflies. To welcome butterflies into your late-summer and autumn garden, you can plant live potted perennials or late-season starters right now for heavy nectar production before frost.

If you want to provide a feast for butterflies on their way south in the fall, your best bet is to plant nectar-rich, fall-blooming flowers. If you haven’t thought of this until summer, you still have the time. Here are some of the top choices to consider.

1. Butterfly Bush

Is there a butterfly bush (Buddleia spp.) in a neighbor’s garden or a nearby park? It’s the shrub that’s famous for long, honey-scented flower cones that attract bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies.

Visit one in late summer and you’ll see the origins of its common name. Billions of butterflies – or so it seems – flock to the shrub to enjoy the nectar from early August into fall. Planting a butterfly bush is a direct invite to these lovely migrators.

Yours is not likely to be the first butterfly bush that the migrating monarchs get to know. In the North, the shrubs flower a little earlier and monarch butterflies feed on their nectar from early July until they head south.

Plant your butterfly bush in well-draining soil in a full sun location. It needs at least 8 hours a day of sun to stay blooming strong. These bushes are hardy in USDA zones 5-9. Some cultivars will grow knee-high, while others will tower over you.

Explore gorgeous butterfly bushes online from the Home Depot.

2. Mexican Sunflower

Okay, Mexican sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia) is an annual, but it’s a tall, vibrant, colorful annual that produces brilliant fiery-orange, daisy-like blooms. They are magnets for pollinators like bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies.

This imposing plant can grow to 6 feet (2 m) tall and its vast crop of velvety, daisy-like flowers blooms from midsummer until frost. The plants require little know-how to grow, but they will make your backyard into a fueling station for migrating monarch butterflies.

Plant these fast-growing flowers anywhere. They’ll grow across USDA hardiness zones from 2a to 11b. The open blooms of this plant have such a rich concentration of nectar that they are top of the list for migratory butterflies, helping the annual monarch butterfly migration.

In fact, monarchs rely on Mexican sunflowers to refuel them along the way. The plant is considered an endangered species, so don’t hesitate to bring them into your landscape in a site that gets full sun.

Remember that this Central American native loves heat and grows fast. The stems grow to 5-6 feet (1.5-1.8 m) tall and the flowers sit right at the top. As unfussy as a plant can get, these annuals thrive on neglect and bloom until the first hard frost.

You can buy Mexican sunflowers to grow from seed at Lowe's.

3. Tatarian Aster

Gigantic, tough, yet beautiful, the native perennials known as tatarian asters (Aster tataricus) are perennials, thriving in USDA zones 3-8. This type of aster flowers from late summer to the first frost, offering dense clusters of lavender-blue blooms, providing a just-in-time meal for migrating butterflies. The flowers can also go purple, pink, or white.

Tatarian aster is huge – growing to 6 feet (2 m) tall and half that wide. The flowers appear in late summer and just keep blooming until a frost kills them off. That makes them a late-season feast for butterflies, including the migrating monarchs passing through the garden.

Plant these tall asters in the back of borders to use their height as an advantage, not a challenge. These asters need full sun and good drainage, but otherwise, ask nothing. They are vigorous growers and can spread quickly.

Tatarian asters can be hard to find at the nursery, but you can get them online from Etsy.

4. Purple Coneflower

Purple coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea) are native to North America, and like so many native wildflowers, they are tough, easy-care, and their flowers are beloved by pollinators.

This coneflower grows to 5 feet (2 m) tall and 2 feet (0.6 m) wide, its branches smothered in distinctive daisy-like flowers – think rosy-purple petals circling a spiny orange cone. Blooming is in full swing from midsummer into fall.

Echinacea is hardy in zones 3 to 9. Plant it in a full sun location in a spot with well-drained soil. The migrating butterflies will flock to the spiky core in the center of the flowers.

But that’s not the limit of its benefits to wildlife. The seed heads provide food for goldfinches as other flowers fade and the growing season winds down. Its long bloom time and resilience make it a must-have in my pollinator garden.

You can shop a wide array of echinacea flowers from Wayside Gardens.

Wouldn’t it be nice if all it took to lure migrating birds into a stop-over in your backyard was a welcome sign? Well, in reality, that is all it takes, but it has to be a welcome sign written in a language our feathered friends can understand.

So how do you flag down and help the birds heading south for the winter? Fall bird migration is the perfect time to lay down the welcome mat and turn your garden into a favorite bird pit stop. All it takes is adding a few critical elements that will aid these birds in their long journey south.

I’ll share my top tips to turn your yard into a migratory bird’s new favorite pit stop. Just making a few simple changes to your landscape can help birds survive and safely reach their southern destination for winter. Here’s what to do now before the migration season begins.

Why Supporting Migratory Birds Is So Important

Migratory birds never had it easy, with a long and tiring flight north in spring mandating a reverse flight that’s equally long in fall. This includes many colorful songbirds like orioles, tree swallows, red-eyed vireos, scarlet tanagers, yellow-rumped warblers and thrushes.

But these beautiful species are declining dramatically, causing all of us bird-lovers to worry. Yes, much of the problem is due to losses of habitat and breeding grounds from urban spread. But these migratory birds have also suffered from a significant loss of rest stops along their migration routes.

As parks and wild lands get eaten up by human activities, the migrating birds’ customary stopover areas are reduced. These have been important resources for the birds, providing them with safe places to stop, rest, and refuel in their long voyage to a distant destination. These vital wildlife habitats are shrinking, but you can help reverse this problem by adding just a handful of elements to your garden now before bird migration begins.

Turn Your Yard Into a Bird Migration Pit Stop

The good news is you don’t have to have thousands of acres or millions of dollars to help. By turning your landscape into a high-quality stopover area, each of us can join the fight to save the migrators and help keep them alive. Think high-energy food, clean water, and safety. Here are the critical elements you need to get started on creating an appealing pit stop.

1. Provide High-Energy Food

I sometimes head out to watch the San Francisco Marathon or Bay-to-Breakers race, cheering on the regular people who are courageous enough to run the extra miles. Their friends and supporters stand on the sidelines along the way handing out high carb snacks to keep the runners fueled, like raisins, dates, bananas, and jelly beans.

You can be that kind of loyal supporter to your migrating bird population, too. Put energy-packed food in your bird feeders, like black-oil sunflower seeds, niger seeds, and millet blends. Add high-energy suet cakes, which you can get from Chewy, to provide protein and fat. These are the options tired birds will appreciate most.

2. Grow Native Fruits & Berries

Many different types of fruits and berries ripen in fall, and these natural snacks can attract even more passing birds than your feeders. Provide a variety of fruit trees and bushes like blackberries, beautyberries, sassafras, spicebush, dogwood berries, wild grapes, and elderberries as well as apples. Birds can eat the fruit off the tree or fruit that has fallen to the ground.

Remember, even if the bird doesn’t want to eat your particular fruit, fallen fruit attracts bugs and bugs make wonderful meals for birds. Don’t forget about cedar and juniper trees that produce berries birds will devour. Then there’s holly berries that mature in fall and bright red hawthorn fruit that ripens in late summer. These berries can remain on branches well into winter for the latest birds on the migration path.

You can find lots of native fruit trees, shrubs, and plants for sale from Nature Hills Nursery to grow in your garden for birds.

3. Offer Fresh Water

All living creatures need water. If there was neither food nor water, your lifespan drops to a maximum of three days. Think of the migrating birds!

Water sources are critical life support elements for migrating birds. Flying long distances dehydrated birds quickly. Without hydration, the birds simply cannot make it through the arduous journey.

They need to be able to fill up on water quickly after they descend from the sky to rest. Plus, they use water to bathe and clean their feathers, which are essential for aerodynamic flight.

Yet wetlands and marshes are being sacrificed to urban spread and rivers are being rerouted or polluted. Adding a reliable water source for birds to your backyard will go a long way toward creating the pit stop your feathered friends are dreaming of.

Use a shallow bird bath and maintain it well. Clean your bird bath by picking out fallen leaves and debris every day, rinse out the muck, and fill it up with fresh water every few days. You can find tons of beautiful bird baths that suit a variety of garden styles from the Home Depot.

4. Create a Safe Landing Spot

What are the big dangers for birds when they stop in a backyard? Assuming you’ve followed the suggestions above, they won’t have to worry about dying from hunger or dehydration. But look out for the windows! Attach stickers or make a big X out of brightly colored tape to keep windows visible to flying birds.

Plus, keep kitties indoors. A cat outdoors will sport with birds – it’s in their nature. Free-ranging domestic cats take out some 1.4 to 3.7 billion birds each year in this country. That’s one heck of a threat to the wild bird population. Protect the exhausted visiting migrating birds by keeping house cats away from your garden.

On August 12, the Moon will pass in front of the Sun, temporarily dimming daylight across parts of the US. It won’t be a repeat of the dramatic total eclipse that crossed the country in 2024 (most Americans will see only a partial rather than a total solar eclipse) but research from that 2024 event showed just how sensitive birds can be to sudden changes in light.

Think about it: birds rely on the natural cycle of light and darkness to tell them to do all sorts of things, whether it's when to wake, feed, forage, migrate or settle down for the night. When an eclipse suddenly dims the sky in the middle of the day, then, scientists have found evidence that some birds can respond as though night has arrived – becoming quieter, changing their feeding behavior and, in some cases, returning to their roosts.

And then, just as quickly as it arrived, daylight returns, throwing them all (from cheery songbirds to your very own birth month bird of prey) for a complete and utter loop. Indeed, many species appeared to switch back into a dawn-like chorus back in 2024 when the light returned.

How To Help Birds After The Solar Eclipse

Yes, a solar eclipse doesn’t just make the sky look extraordinary. For animals that use daylight as a cue, the sudden drop in light can trigger surprisingly night-like behavior, and other wildlife can respond to the sudden darkness, too – making an eclipse a rare opportunity to see how closely animals' behavior is tied to the natural light cycle.

Now, while I love the birds in my garden, I can’t do much about the moon getting in the way of the sun. However, there is one very simple thing I can do once the solar eclipse is over – and it will literally take me all of two minutes to do. Probably less, actually.

You guessed it, folks! That evening, I’ll be turning off my outdoor lights. Which, yes, might sound like a tiny gesture, but artificial light at night can disrupt wildlife even when there isn't a social eclipse in the mix.

The Royal Horticultural Society has warned us a few times now that garden lighting can disturb birds from sleep, alter their feeding and singing patterns and disorient birds that migrate at night. As such, experts say we should make a point of turning garden lights off when they aren’t needed; if outdoor lighting is necessary, we should keep it low, directing it downward and using warmer, lower-intensity lighting where possible. Motion sensors and timers can also help prevent lights from being left on unnecessarily.

Basically, invest in the kind of garden lighting that reduces light pollution as a rule, and keep it off at night if you want to do your bit for local birds and critters. Especially after a disruptive event like a solar eclipse.

Wildlife-Friendly Garden Lighting:

Honestly, the easiest thing we can do for birds and wildlife after a solar eclipse (partial or total) is simply to let them have a nice and quiet night... preferably one as dark as possible. If you want to do your bit, then, avoid unnecessary outdoor lighting, keep disturbance to a minimum and make sure birds have access to the basics they need throughout the summer – clean water, natural shelter and places to feed (this stunning solar bird feeder ticks off a lot of boxes!).

Remember: an eclipse is a natural event, and birds have evolved alongside changes in daylight. Once the sun comes back out, normal daylight resumes... but that doesn’t mean we need to make the night that follows any brighter than necessary.

If there’s one thing many of us want more of in our gardens, it’s birds. And with summer heat making access to fresh water particularly important, bird baths have become a popular way to give our feathered visitors somewhere to drink, cool off and bathe... and marinade, apparently.

Yes, a new TikTok trend is encouraging people to add herbs and leaves to their bird baths, with the idea that the extra greenery and texture provided by all of those fragrant herbs will make the water all that more enticing to visiting birds.

On paper, it sounds like a dreamy idea: floating leaves add movement and visual interest to an otherwise rather boring bowl of water, and some people think that all of the rosemary and mint and the like will make the bird bath feel more natural, not to mention give birds something to peck and explore. But does it really work?

Should You Add Herbs To Your Bird Bath?

Look, I wanted to believe that adding herbs to my bird bath would prove a wonderful little treat for all my feathered pals, because I love birds. I know my birth month bird, I’ve spent far too much time researching what the birds I see most often in my garden supposedly say about me, I know exactly what the first bird I see each morning means for the day ahead, and I spend a frankly obscene amount of money on suet.

Basically, I am that person who leaves seed heads standing rather than cutting them back because I know the birds will make use of them. So, yes, when I started seeing herbs floating around in bird baths on TikTok, my first thought was that it looked a brilliant idea. Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that putting anything other than clean water into a bird bath might be doing more harm than good.

So I asked someone who knows considerably more about birds than I do.

Denys Hemen, Operations and Facility Manager at the Audubon Center at Debs Park, says that adding herbs to your bird bath is just a bad idea all round.

“First of all, some herbs contain oils,” Denys explains, pointing out that, if those oils are released into the water and a bird then gets into the bath, there is a high likelihood of feather contamination.

Most birds’ feathers interlock with one another “almost like a zipper”, he adds, creating a waterproof protective layer around the body. When oil contaminates the feathers, it can interfere with that interlocking structure, allowing water to penetrate through to the bird’s skin. This can cause hypothermia.

Bird Bath Essentials:

There’s another problem, too: contaminated feathers can affect a bird’s ability to fly. Oil can weigh the feathers down, making it harder for a bird to get lift. More seriously, Denys says, contamination can damage the interlocking feature of wing feathers to the point where a bird may be unable to fly at all.

If that weren't enough reason to stop adding herbs to bird baths, he adds that leaving leaves sitting in water can cause them to wilt and rot, creating dirty (and stinky) water that can itself become a feather contaminant. Which is, yes, a fairly compelling reason to resist the urge to turn your bird bath into a tiny botanical pond.

If you want to attract more birds, the good news is that you don’t need to get particularly creative. According to Denys, the priority should simply be clean water. “Bird baths should be cleaned, rinsed and sanitized every few days and, if possible, left to dry between uses,” he says.

You can also make a bird bath more appealing, Denys notes, by placing it somewhere birds feel safe and where they have a clear view of their surroundings. And if you really want to add a little movement, a small solar-powered fountain like this one can help catch birds’ attention without putting anything extra into the water.

I know, I know; a handful of rosemary, a sprinkling of basil or a carefully curated collection of floating leaves sounds far more exciting an addition to a bird bath than plain old clean water. But if it keeps our garden birds safe, I’ll take boring every single time.

Sometimes the joy of garden bird encounters can feel like a bit of a waiting game. When I seek out birdlife in the backyard, it’s often the case that I can hear it more than see it. Hedges and shrubs might be quivering midsummer, with boisterous twitterings and enthusiastic grub-gobbling. Certain species are as lively as ever, and just as keen for a drink or a paddle. But just when you think you’ve spied a flash of color near the bird bath splash zone, the moment’s gone, and the wait continues…

Would it surprise you to hear that this waiting game is actually a critical part of the backyard birdlife dance? In fact, it’s so important for attracting birds, they need dedicated areas of the yard devoted to it. Does that sound ridiculous? Well, it really isn’t, at least, not to a bird. Our little feathered friends need special “observation decks” where they can sit, observe, and spy their chance for that perfect moment to approach your specially prepared bird bath and enjoy the facilities, as it were.

Fail to give them this perch, and the jig may well be up. Birds, like us, appreciate comfort and places to rest in summer. Think of it as your bird’s deck chair. Yet it’s amazing how often this waiting branch gets overlooked in our quest for the perfect bird bath. We obsess over the relative merits of pedestal versus platform versus hanging models – but how many of us give a minute’s thought to bespoke birdie branches? Frustrated bird bath owners, it’s high time we did. Here’s how to add one easily (and where to put it) to enjoy more bird bath action and save yourself some waiting…

What is a Waiting Branch?

To understand why a waiting branch is so important for your bird bath, it’s important to take the bird’s eye view on things. Yes, your birdie visitor may be parched and desperate for a refreshing dip. But an exposed basin planted firmly in the middle of a yard is risky business.

We might see an ornate basin with inviting water twinkling in the light. But such a setup puts a small songbird in a vulnerable position, even if they are craving a drink or a soak. A bird bath near a tree with strong horizontal branches, such as a serviceberry like Autumn Brilliance, which you can pick up on a budget from Walmart, is far superior to one in plain sight with zero nearby support or cover.

Birds are creatures of curiosity, but also caution. When spying a bird bath, a little tufted titmouse, finch, wren, or bluebird will rarely swoop straight in. Instead, they prefer to hop down through a leafy staircase of careful steps, taking their sweet time to size up the scene. A waiting branch is their trusted observation deck: a cozy spot to tilt their small heads, tune into the vibe, and make sure the coast is clear.

When approaching a bath, they’ll want to check water levels and assess for predators. On the way back, they need the same branches to shield and protect them as they shake off water droplets, preen, and get their feathers fully flight-ready again. If your bath stands isolated without any kind of landing pad, songbirds will move onto more sheltered bathing opportunities. Even if you don’t have room for a full-sized tree, some well-placed branches mounted nearby make a huge difference to a little bird in need of privacy and security.

Choose something 18-24 inches long (45-60cm) so multiple birds can queue in comfort. You can buy bundles of textured wood, like the Yoosountic Birch Branches from Amazon, with varying thicknesses to fit into a range of backyard fixtures like fence posts, deck spindles, or garden stakes. This one addition creates an idyllic poolside vibe for observing and preening, before and after bathing.

Pick your Perch

You don't need a massive oak tree to give songbirds a 5-star observation deck. Waiting branches and staging perches come in all shapes and sizes, from living native flora to ornate, space-saving pieces. Here are a few bird-friendly options for poolside perching near the splash zone.

Get the Vantage Advantage

For most shy and timid bird species other than your more adventurous robins, that waiting branch needs to be in the right place – and the correct height and distance are critical. Your birdies need a sunny vantage point to weigh the risks before wetting a single feather. Enter the vantage advantage! Basically, the ideal distance for a waiting branch is around 10-12 feet (3-3.7m) from the water's edge. It is near enough for a soggy, water-heavy bird to flutter back to safety in a heartbeat, yet far enough to prevent a sneaky garden cat from leaping out from hidden ground foliage. Get this right, and your feathered friends will be brave enough to take that splashy voyage.

Clear lines of sight and height are equally important. Position your perch 4-6 feet (1.2-1.8m) from the ground to give birds full scope to assess activity both on the ground and in the air. Your waiting branch also needs to allow for smooth entry and exit. To give a clear sightline at a perfect height from the splash zone, secure a tall ground pole or shepherd hook (like the Vigoro Fuchsia 84-Inch Deluxe Double Shepherd Hook from The Home Depot) into the ground or lawn or a large planter. Choosing something a few inches more than you need gives you that sweet spot when the staff or pole is inserted into the soil or sward.

For a basin on a patio or apartment balcony, you can get shepherd hook and bracket sets online. Try the excellent adjustable Juegoal Extended Deck Hook and Clamp from Amazon which mounts directly to a deck railing, to which you can then hang the branch of your choosing. This gives timid finches and chickadees a secure, elevated launching pad with a clear flight path to a safe summer soak. A few species (like dark-eyed juncos) might prefer perches nearer the ground, raised 2 feet (60cm) and tucked close to thicket cover. However, most birdies are happiest with their waiting branch higher for that full-vision vantage point.

Make Your Perch Work

As well as where you place it, the type of waiting branch you choose has to be right for the particular needs of your yard around the bird bath. So give some thought to the more practical aspects, such as available space for planting, access for changing bird bath water, and whether you might need to factor in multiple branches for a wider bird community. Native shrubs like serviceberry, flowering dogwood, or arrowwood viburnum provide built-in multi-level perches with protective leaf cover – but obviously you need sufficient space to grow them.

Where planting a full shrub or small tree isn't an option, structural add-ons work brilliantly. Training vines up budget-friendly Aboxoo 2-Pack Decorative Metal Trellis from Amazon creates a lush, multi-tiered waiting ladder right behind the basin. These are lovely both for multiple perches and an evolving curtain of added privacy. For balcony and deck gardeners, a simple clamp-on deck hook is ideal. You can attach natural sticks or branches to these hooks, clamped to available railings. You can even get cute swing-style waiting branches, like the Hiwzitar Natural Wood Bird Swing from Amazon with its textured wood and leafy twine.

As well as ensuring a decent branch length (around 2-3 feet/60-90cm) for potential birding partners or parents, make sure your branch is a reasonable thickness and strength for little birdie toes waiting to hop into the community pool. Perches that are too springy may send timid bathers scattering. Something 1-1.5 inches (2.5-4cm) thick and ideally textured is best for little feet to grip. If you can vary your branch textures with multiple options, you’ll increase the scope for delicate sparrows and chickadees, as well as more sturdy birdies keen to enjoy the splash zone.

Overcoming Birdy Fears

August in the backyard can be full of family drama for prospective bathing birds, especially when fledgling season reaches its peak. To an uncoordinated juvenile, a bird bath looks like an ocean. Young cardinals and robins are notoriously clumsy bathers, and that waiting branch helps bewildered babes find their feet while their parents demonstrate the art of the splash. The waiting branch also gives them the best chance to preen safely as they get to grips with new post-splash sensations.

For adult birds, the primary fear is getting trapped. Relying on just one landing stick can create a frustrating traffic jam, or situations where bossy blue jays or grackles might corner shy goldfinches and juncos. Incorporating a few staggered perches gives timid bathers like nuthatches an instant escape in either direction.

Finally, there’s also the birdy fear of approaching a bird bath that might be too still. You can improve your chances of attracting more birdies even further by ensuring that your bird bath features some continuous, gentle movement. Adding subtle water motion with a wiggler like the Solar Water Wiggler from Walmart helps to reassure your perch-bound birdies that the bath is active, safe and clean. Happy splashing!

Shop Bird Bath Extras

Once your waiting branch is in place and your local songbirds feel safe surveying the scene, it’s all about keeping your splash zone sparkling and active. These small extras make a huge difference to birdlife visiting your yard. Use these choice bathing picks to help create a safe, clean and popular poolside vibe all summer long.

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Have you ever heard of a stop-and-fuel garden? It is one of those low effort ideas that works wonders... especially if your goal is to a) see more hummingbirds in your garden, and b) help aforementioned hummingbirds in your garden!

Whether you're the kind of person who obsessively reads up on your birth month hummingbird or not, I suspect you'll already know that August can be a surprisingly important month for hummingbirds. Because, while our gardens may feel like they’re reaching their late-summer peak, these tiny birds are working harder than ever – feeding frequently to maintain their incredible energy levels and, for many species, preparing for migration.

That means your yard can (and should!) become more than just a pretty outdoor space. In fact, with a few thoughtful additions, you can turn it into a vital stop-and-fuel garden – aka a place where hummingbirds can quickly refuel, find themselves something to eat, and enjoy a rest before continuing on their journey.

Create A Stop-And-Fuel Garden For Hummingbirds

If you're keen to do your bit and create a stop-and-fuel garden for hummingbirds, I have some good news for you: we only need three (three!) things to create one.

Without any further ado, then...

1. Set Up A Hummingbird Feeder

The easiest way to turn your yard into a hummingbird stopover? Why, with a reliable hummingbird feeder, of course!

During late summer, when natural food sources start to dwindle, a clean feeder provides a dependable energy boost. Hummingbirds have incredibly fast metabolisms and need to consume large amounts of nectar throughout the day, so gifting them some (whether you buy it pre-made or use this DIY nectar recipe), is always a good idea.

Shop Hummingbird Feeders:

There is a little maintenance involved here, of course; nectar should be changed regularly, especially during hot weather, and feeders should be cleaned frequently to prevent mold and bacteria from building up.

Still, as ways to create a stop-and-fuel garden go, it's really simple! Think of it as the garden equivalent of a roadside gas station, and set up accordingly.

2. Grow A Late-Summer Flowering Plant

A feeder is helpful, but the best hummingbird hangouts don’t rely on artificial nectar alone. Unsurprisingly, planting flowers gives these birds a more natural food source... and it does it while adding color, movement, and life to your yard.

Some of the best hummingbird-friendly plants for August include salvia, bee balm, cardinal flower, and fuchsia – all rich in nectar and beautifully suited to late-summer borders.

I particularly love salvias for this purpose, as their tubular flowers are perfectly shaped for hummingbirds, and many varieties continue blooming well into the season, creating a long-lasting food supply.

Shop Salvias:

A garden full of hummingbird plants has an added bonus, folks, as it also benefits other pollinators, turning your yard into a small but lively ecosystem. Beneficial for your garden, yes, but also the planet. Win win!

3. A Safe Place to Rest

Hummingbirds may be famous for their constant movement, but they also need somewhere to pause.

Adding a small tree, nesting shrub, or sheltered perch gives them a place to rest between feeding sessions and watch for potential threats. They might be cute to look at, but they are also territorial birds, so having nearby branches where they can sit and survey their surroundings can make your garden feel like a safer stopover.

A shallow water feature with moving water, such as a mister or gentle fountain (I rate this cute solar fountain!), is another welcome addition; hummingbirds aren’t typically attracted to deep bird baths, but they enjoy bathing in fine sprays or droplets.

Shop Hummingbird Essentials:

And there we have it, everyone! Honestly, the beauty of a hummingbird stop-and-fuel garden is that it doesn’t need to be complicated. All it really takes is a good feeder, a few nectar-rich flowers, and a safe resting spot, and you can transform even a small yard or teeny balcony into a valuable wildlife refuge.

So, this August, don't just sit and watch hummingbirds pass through. Instead, take the time to gift them a place where they can pause, refuel, and return – because, after all, hummingbirds always remember a good spot and tell their friends about it. You can bet they'll be back (and in greater numbers) before too long...

There are around 2.5 million ants for every human on this planet, and if you feel they’re all in your yard right now, you’re not alone. This summer’s heatwave has created ideal conditions for ant populations to surge, particularly in urban areas where there are few natural predators. And the garden spot that’s a magnet for ants? Hummingbird feeders.

Ants detect sweet substances using specialized chemical receptors on their antennae, and can pick up the scent up to 20 feet away. The reason why hummingbird feeders attract so many ants is that sugar granules dissolved in water release a much stronger chemical signal than dry crystals, so are far easier to find. Once a scout ant discovers a plentiful source, it heads back to the nest, leaving behind a pheromone trail that other ants can follow – and suddenly your feeder is smothered in ants.

And that’s a problem. Ants attracted to and falling into the sugar water contaminate the food supply and can jam the small feeding holes. Hummers rarely touch a feeder that’s covered in ants either. Right now, if you’re wondering how to help hummingbirds prepare for their great migration, making your feeder ant-free should be on your to-do list. As well as the basics of keeping your feeder clean and drip-free, there are plenty of chemical-free solutions to try. Researchers have found that hummingbirds can remember their favorite feeding spots, so make sure yours stays ant-free.

1. Hang a Length of Fishing Line

One of the best ways to get rid of ants on a hummingbird feeder is to hang it from a length of fishing line. Ants can climb most things, but fishing line is too fine and slippery for them to grip. Use 20 pound fishing line such as this Stren Original Monofilament Fishing Line from Walmart to create an impassable barrier.

2. Use an Ant Moat

Another effective but natural pest solution to prevent ants from reaching a hummingbird feeder is to attach an ant moat above it and keep it filled with water. Smaller ants are able to cross water as they’re light enough to not break the surface tension, but a moat will stop most. If you find ants are still breaching this preventive measure, simply hang two moats, one above the other.

Most ant moats come in a pack of two or four and are a cheap buy – this pack of four Red Umbrella Ant Guards from Amazon is currently $8.99 – so that’s easy to achieve.

3. Wrap Aluminum Foil Around the Hook or Pole

Some folk say aluminum foil is too slippery for ants to grip, others reckon it disrupts their navigation signals; some say it works great, others reckon it doesn’t work at all – but as you’ve probably already got a roll handy in a kitchen drawer, it’s well worth a try. Make sure the shiny side faces outwards.

4. Sprinkle Wood Ash Around the Pole Base

Wood ash is fine, dry and gritty enough to irritate ants, and if your feeder is on a pole, sprinkling a good amount around the base is a strong deterrent. You’ll need to re-sprinkle after rain, though, and be careful if that feeder stake is pushed into your lawn. The high alkalinity of wood ash will help to deter ants, but it can also scorch and damage grass.

5. Use Diatomaceous Earth Instead

Diatomaceous earth is a better solution to use on lawns because it can actually help to strengthen grass. This is another fine, abrasive powder that dehydrates ants who attempt to cross it so, like wood ash, only works when it’s dry and needs reapplying after rain. Do use a food-grade product such as Harris Diatomaceous Earth from Amazon that's safe for use around animals.

What Not to Do

Whatever you do, don’t apply Vaseline or any type of oil to a hummingbird feeder pole, even at the base, to stop ants. Even a tiny amount of an oil-based product that gets onto a hummingbird’s feathers can prove fatal. Petroleum jelly in particular causes feathers to lose their waterproofing, attracts dirt and is easily spread as the bird preens, affecting the hummer’s ability to fly and, ultimately, survive.

Keeping ants off a hummingbird feeder is simple with these natural pest prevention solutions. And if you feel you need to reduce the ant population in your garden, a chemical-free ant trap using pantry staples is the answer to getting rid of ants and anthills naturally.

Feeders With Built-In Ant Moats

I'm no stranger to heatwave anxiety. Every time the forecast starts creeping into the high 90s, I find myself wandering around the garden with a watering can, mentally apologizing to whichever plant I've inevitably forgotten. The tomatoes get extra attention, the containers become my full-time job, and I'm forever checking whether anything looks a bit droopy.

Wildlife has always been part of that equation, too. I keep bird feeders topped up, try to garden with pollinators in mind, and never need much encouragement to stop and admire a bumblebee going about its business. A recent CBS 8 San Diego report about birds and other wildlife struggling to find enough shade and fresh water during extreme heat, though, still stopped me in my tracks.

It wasn't that I hadn't realized heatwaves were hard on wildlife; of course I had. Seeing just how desperate the search for something as simple as a drink of water can become, though? Well, it broke my heart more than a little bit... and it made me look at my own garden differently, too.

5 Ways To Make Your Garden A Lifeline For Wildlife During A Heatwave

If you're just as concerned about local critters as I am (particularly your birth month animal), your garden could be the answer – especially if you want to offer them a little relief when temperatures become dangerous. And I have good news for you on that front, because helping doesn't have to be complicated.

These are the five simple things I'm doing to make my garden a little kinder to wildlife during a heatwave. Feel free to join me, so we can all make things a little easier on them...

1. I'm Keeping A Bird Bath Filled With Fresh Water

One of the easiest things you can do to help wildlife during a heatwave, a bird bath gives birds somewhere to drink and cool off when natural water sources begin drying up. You can buy one or make your own DIY bird bath, it doesn't really matter; just make sure you pop it somewhere that's easy to spot but close enough to shrubs that birds have somewhere safe to retreat if they feel threatened.

I'm also making a point of refreshing the water every day during hot weather. Not only does clean water encourage more wildlife to visit, but changing it regularly also helps stop mosquitoes from breeding (something nobody wants; no offence to the skeeters, but they're the one critter I'm not actively seeking to help when things heat up).

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2. I'm Making A Bee Watering Station

Birds aren't the only thirsty visitors; bees and butterflies need water too! For these mini pollinators, deep bowls can quickly become dangerous, so I've filled a shallow saucer with fresh water and scattered a handful of pebbles across the bottom. The stones give insects somewhere safe to land while they drink, turning an ordinary dish into a tiny pollinator pit stop.

It's one of the easiest wildlife projects I've ever done, and it takes less than five minutes to put together. That being said, the Bee Cups on Amazon are an even easier option. Designed by an ecological artist, they are, quite honestly, the perfect vessel for attracting bees – not to mention a place for them to safely stop, drink the water they need, and rest without drowning. And they're incredibly beautiful, too, so they make perfect holiday gifts for wildlife lovers.

3. I'm Leaving More Shady Spots

For years, I thought a tidy garden was automatically a better garden. Now I'm learning that wildlife (especially wildlife during a heatwave) often disagrees.

Dense flowering shrubs, ornamental grasses, climbing plants and even the cool shade beneath larger perennials all create places where animals can escape the hottest part of the day. Living mulch plants, too, cut watering down dramatically. Rather than cutting everything back or clearing every corner, I'm leaving those cooler pockets exactly as they are so that nature can provide its own air conditioning.

Which is why, yes, my fence has all but disappeared behind a dense wall of climbing passionflower and hops (hey, the butterflies seem to be big fans! So sue me!).

4. I'm Letting Part Of My Garden Stay A Little Wild

A gardener's first instinct, it feels, is always to tidy; deadhead the flowers, sweep up the leaves, trim the edges, mow the lawn... you get the picture. If you want to help wildlife during a heatwave, though, those slightly untidy corners become valuable shelter.

Yes, log piles, tree stumps, seed heads (I actually love the look of a dried allium seed head!), and dense planting all help create cooler and more humid microclimates where insects and other small creatures can ride out the hottest weather.

I've decided my garden can survive looking just a little less perfect for a few weeks. Which is why (horror of horrors!) I've got a pile of dead leaves and cuttings at the very back of the garden, which has become something of an insect equivalent to Disney World. It's hidden behind my magnolia tree, so I can't see it unless I go hunting, but it's there doing its bit for my birth month bug and his friends. Which means, in turn, it's doing a lot of good for hungry birds, too (including, ironically, my birth month bird. Favouritism, eh?).

5. I'm Planting To Support Pollinators

Yes, growing pretty flowers can be a godsend for bees, butterflies and other pollinators when they need it most. Try to stick to nectar-rich flowers that continue blooming through the hottest weeks of summer, especially native species where possible.

Coneflowers, asters, blazing star, bee balm and native sunflowers should do the trick nicely, while brightening your borders at the same time.

Shop Heat-Tolerant, Pollinator-Friendly Blooms:

Look, I'm under no illusion that one bird bath or a few extra flowers will solve everything (there is a lot more that everyone needs to be doing to help wildlife during a heatwave). Still, if every gardener offered a drink of water, a patch of shade and a few safe places to rest, together we'd create thousands of small refuges woven through our neighborhoods.

To quote Michael Pollen, "The single greatest lesson the garden teaches is that our relationship to the planet need not be zero-sum and that as long as the sun still shines and people still can plan and plant, think and do, we can, if we bother to try, find ways to provide for ourselves without diminishing the world."

I love that. Let's all of us strive to garden with that in mind, then, shall we?

Is it any surprise I've been busy searching for a way to feed birds and banish slugs at the same time? Hardly; even though they're just trying to live their little slug lives, I have long been at war with this garden pest (my poor lupins appear to be their favorite restaurant).

I never learn my lesson; every year I lovingly grow plants, admire the first fresh leaves and wait for those beautiful flowers to arrive... only to find that the slugs have beaten me to it. However, I have always had a much softer spot for another garden visitor: birds – they can eat every single one of my strawberries and I will forgive them without question.

My obsession started when my granddad first taught me how to identify common songbirds by their calls. He'd point out a trill or a whistle before I had even spotted the bird itself, and ever since then I've been fascinated by the tiny flashes of color, movement and personality that appear in the garden – particularly when it comes to my birth month bird, obviously. And what the bird that visits my garden most says about me.

So when I discovered there might be a way to combine my two garden passions (aka encouraging more birds while dealing with slugs naturally), you'd best believe I was immediately interested.

How To Feed Birds And Banish Slugs At The Same Time

it sounds too good to be true, right? And yet the idea is surprisingly simple: if you want to feed birds and banish slugs at the same time, al you have to do is take a leftover orange or grapefruit, cut it in half and place the empty halves around the garden.

That's it. Done. Finito! The fruit acts as a small feeding station for visiting birds like orioles , while the cool, damp space beneath the rind can provide a tempting hiding place for slugs.

According to Richard Green, a bird feeding specialist at Kennedy Wild Bird Food & Pet Supplies, the idea works because it brings two parts of the garden ecosystem together.

“Using citrus-fruit traps is a fantastic, natural alternative for pest control in the garden. Cutting an orange or grapefruit in half and placing the halves throughout your garden can serve a dual purpose. Birds are drawn to the fruit, and slugs are attracted to the leftover rinds," he says. "Once the slugs gather, the birds will return to eat them, creating an effective and eco-friendly way to manage pests.”

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Now, I should say that I don't expect a grapefruit half to single-handedly solve every slug problem overnight, but I love the idea behind it. Rather than declaring war on every creature that wanders into my flower beds, this feels like a way to work with nature – giving birds another reason to visit while making my garden slightly less appealing to its tiniest (and hungriest) enemies.

All hail, then, the power of the citrus fruit! I shall be taking care to share my breakfast grapefruit with my feathered friends from now on...

As soon as hummingbirds have done raising their brood, they start growing new feathers so they’re in tip-top shape for their fall migration. So right now, they’re in full plumage preparation, and there’s a simple way you can help hummingbirds get their feathers fully flight-ready, no matter how big or small your garden. You see, hummers need water to clean and preen their feathers, but they have super-short legs so don’t often land in bird baths. Instead, they seek out fountains and waterfalls where they can fly through airborne sprays of water – and that’s where you come in.

Adding a cheap floating solar-powered fountain to your bird bath – or, even better, fashioning a purpose-made hummer splashpark with a container and said garden gadget – will give hummingbirds the sprays of water they’re looking for at this time of year. Making a garden feature with a floating solar fountain is cheap, easy and sounds just as lovely as it looks. And boy, is it fun to watch those speedy hummers scooting though!

In the north, hummers begin their epic fall journey in August; in southern states, September to October is peak travel time – so now is the exact right moment to support hummingbirds in this simple way.

It’s estimated that 8-10% of adult hummingbirds die during the fall migration (the figure is devastatingly high among juveniles making their first journey, with a 60-70% mortality rate), and having plumage in prime shape makes a difference. Clean, preened feathers are essential for insulation and waterproofing as well as efficient flight – and you’ll understand why these are all such critical factors when you consider that many species must fly a non-stop marathon of 500 miles across the Gulf of Mexico as part of their migration.

Ready to help? Here’s everything you need to know to make a quick garden fountain this weekend, and help our feathered friends on their way.

How to Make a Fountain For Hummingbirds

It’s quick and easy to make a fountain for hummingbirds, but there are a few critical factors to get right if you want lots of hummers to use their new garden spa facility.

1. Choose the Right Container

Many bird baths aren’t wide enough to house a floating solar-powered fountain – not because the fountain won’t physically fit in the basin, but because the spray falls outside the rim so water quickly empties. If your bird bath has a large diameter, great. If not, there are all sorts of ways to DIY a bird bath on a budget by using upcycled or reclaimed items or cheap vessels such as plant-pot saucers and animal stock feeders, and making your own means you can choose whatever diameter you fancy.

For water to be safe for hummingbirds to land in, it must be incredibly shallow: no more than a ½ inch deep. So, you may want to keep your existing bird bath as is for most of your feathered friends and make an additional hummingbird fountain. Because hummers are very unlikely to land – and if they do, they'll sit on the fountain itself – you can use a bigger, deeper container that holds a far greater volume of water so it won’t need topping up every day. A wider container also means you can use a more powerful floating solar fountain to create a higher, fuller spray of water for hummingbirds to enjoy.

You don’t need to buy an expensive water bowl, as you probably already own a perfectly suitable container. It’s a simple job to seal the drainage hole of an old planter or make a vintage vessel watertight with a marine silicone sealant like this from Amazon. Pots intended for succulents typically don’t have drainage holes, or have a hunt in your local hardware store for a budget utility tub.

Shop Big-Diameter Bowls

If you are using a deeper container, do fashion a ramp from a piece of wood so any critters who fall into the water can climb out safely, or add a purpose-made wildlife ramp such as this from Amazon.

2. Match the Fountain Power to the Container Size

So you don’t continually lose water over the sides of your bird bath or container, it’s important to match the power of the solar fountain to the size of the vessel it’ll sit in. The amount of energy the solar panels are capable of generating is measured in watts. For a bird bath fountain, a 1W or 1.5W product is plenty powerful enough. In a larger container, a fountain that’s at least 2.5W will power a higher spray and stronger flow of water. Don’t be tempted by a fountain that’s above 5W as these are designed for larger bodies of water.

Choose a product with stabilising arms as these will stop the fountain floating close to the container rim, minimizing water loss. A fountain that comes with plenty of nozzles will allow you to select a spray pattern that falls within the bowl, too. For longevity in a container, it’s also a smart move to look for a fountain with run-dry protection so it automatically shuts down when there’s insufficient water.

If you want to position your hummingbird fountain in partial shade, or want it to operate on cloudy days, you’ll need a product that has a battery. A fountain without a battery will only operate when sunlight is hitting its solar panels; a fountain with a battery will store energy to run in-between times. A battery size of 2000mAh or higher will typically run a fountain for 3-4 hours without sun on a full charge.

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3. Find the Optimum Spot for Your Hummingbird Fountain

Considering the perfect position for your hummingbird fountain will make all the difference to how often it will be used, and how much it will benefit your feathered friends. Placing the fountain within 20 feet of an existing nectar feeder will ensure birds find it quickly. Airborne water naturally cools the air, so think where it might bring you or your plants some benefit, too.

While you need direct sunlight to power the fountain’s solar panels – and sparkling sunlit water droplets and reflections will also attract hummers – if you've chosen a fountain with a battery, then a little shade will lessen evaporation meaning you won’t need to top up as often. A spot that gets around 6 hours of sun a day is the ideal compromise. If it's sheltered, all the better, as wind will also accelerate water loss.

The airspace around the fountain must be fairly clear. While hummers will appreciate perches to preen within 6 feet of the fountain, it’s important it's sited well away from dense shrubs or other cover where cats and other predators could hide. Hanging up hummingbird swings such as these from Walmart is a great solution.

Once you’ve found the perfect spot, put your bird bath or container in place, fill with water, add the floating fountain and wait for the hummers to arrive.

Why a Garden Water Feature Helps Hummingbirds So Much

While hummingbirds get most of the fluid they need from supping nectar, water is vital to the feather-cleaning process. If they have easy access to a suitable water supply, it’s thought hummers bathe around four times a day. With any sticky residue from their diet of flower nectar and sugar water preventing feathers from performing properly, it's no wonder they’re such frequent bathers.

After dampening their feathers, hummingbirds will perch and preen, using their bills to spread natural oils and zip up the feather barbs, an especially important process during their annual molt. At this time of the year, hummingbirds have begun the gradual process of losing and replacing their feathers, and at the moment will be molting their body feathers (the molting process then halts during migration, and wing and tail feathers are replaced once birds have reached their wintering zone).

Landing in water is risky for hummingbirds as their legs typically measure less than half an inch, and completely saturating their feathers can leave them unable to fly and vulnerable to drowning as well as being snatched by predators. So hummers prefer to shower rather than bathe, darting repeatedly through sprays of water. Imagine if everyone with garden bird baths created the right conditions for hummers to clean their plumage: not only would feathers be fully migration-ready, but hummingbirds would save a heap of energy searching out suitable spots for a shower.

How to Make Your Fountain Into a Fab Garden Feature

Your new hummingbird fountain looks fabulous just how it is, right? Well, there are all sorts of easy ways you can upgrade it another notch to be a standout garden feature. Use a solar-powered floating fountain with LEDs to create a water feature to light up summer evenings in the garden. Or how about introducing a second, wider planter beneath to DIY a fountain planter for colorful flowers as well as cascades of water and flurries of feathers? Microponds using solar fountains are a huge trend this year, so you could add serious style to your backyard design while helping hummingbirds.

As quick and clever ideas for garden containers go, making a hummingbird fountain is a sure winner.

What Else to do to Support Hummingbirds Before the Great Migration

• Keep feeders clean and filled with sugar water prepared to the correct concentration. This will fuel not only your resident population of hummers but also birds passing through if you’re on a migratory route. Keep feeders filled for two weeks after you see the last hummingbird.
• Act now to fill your garden with fall nectar. Choose perennial plants that flower well into fall and, if you’re on a budget, there are lots of fast-growing annual plants you can still sow in midsummer that will speed from seed to bloom in as few as 45 days. Adding flowering groundcover to borders is another easy win for a long-lasting nectar buffet, or how about planting a hanging basket of nectarous blooms to feed hummingbirds?
• Use decals, such as these Suncatcher Stickers from Amazon, to prevent window strikes.

It can be tempting to create a perfect garden, with every square inch tended and cultivated. Not only is this level of perfectionism difficult to achieve, but it’s also not great for your native wildlife. If you can think of a part of your yard that is currently a little weather-worn and dry, it’s hardly surprising now that early flowering annuals are starting to die back. So what if I were to tell you that you can do your bit for Mother Nature simply by leaving a patch of that soil bare and empty?

The elements you need to create a wildlife garden don’t have to be complicated, and they don’t have to detract from the aesthetics of your outdoor space. They can be as simple as one or two bare patches that easily blend into cultivated areas. You might be surprised at how much this small concession can help native bees, butterflies, and birds thrive in landscapes that are often unfriendly and sterile for wildlife.

With midsummer still baking hot in many places, our backyard creatures face a grueling daily battle for survival. Scorching sun and drying water sources create challenging conditions. Any gestures of help you can give your wildlife matter, but one of the most powerful gestures you can offer is simply leaving a small patch of raw dirt untouched. Find out why exposed soil is vital for native bees, butterflies, and birds this summer.

How to Create the Best Patch

You don't need fancy landscaping or expensive soil amendments to prep your spare wildlife patch. In fact, keeping it simple is the best way of giving key species what they have relied on for hundreds of years. Native ground-nesting pollinators prefer unimproved, natural soil over rich, heavily composted potting mixes. A dedicated patch just 2 feet by 2 feet (60 cm square) is all you need to make a huge impact. Whether sandy, loamy, or clay-heavy, this soil is fine, as long as it isn’t compacted by heavy foot traffic or treated with synthetic fertilizers.

While you don’t need to do much to treat the soil itself, it’s worth making sure you have some native plants next to your patch of earth. Grouping sun-loving perennials like purple coneflower, black-eyed Susan, or monarda nearby ensures that emerging pollinators have a source of energy inches from their front door. You can buy black-eyed Susan from Fast Growing Trees as pre-potted arrivals, plus American Beauties Native Purple Coneflower from Plant Addicts to support your patch. These vibrant perennials will create a nectar-rich perimeter around your bare earth.

3 Reasons Wildlife Needs Bare Earth

Even though many natural habitats are shrinking, our yards can be vital corridors of life for resident bees, butterflies, and birds. Leaving exposed earth is one of the easiest, most rewarding ways to sustain sensitive species during the brutal heat and extremes of summer. Here are 3 ways a simple patch of dirt can serve and protect your local ecosystem.

1. Helping Ground-Nesting Bees

When we think of bees, we tend to picture honeybees in hives. But most bees, including most native bees in your yard, are not communal and don’t live in hives. Iridescent green sweat bees, mining bees, digger bees, and cellophane bees live mostly solitary lives. The females dig tunnels in the soil to create chambers that hold pollen, nectar, and eggs. These burrows are essential for their life cycles.

Dense turf, mulching, weed barriers, and landscape fabric all stop native pollinators from building burrows. If you have covered every inch of your yard with barriers, these solitary pollinators will struggle to find shelter and will be less likely to visit your flowering plants. So keep that dusty patch of soil free. After heavy rains and heat, you might see a crust on the soil surface. Just scratch across the top few inches gently with a cultivator or hand rake, to help mining and sweat bees to dig their chambers.

To give them an extra boost, add a hydration station. Pretty Bee & Butterfly Drinking Flower from Uncommon Goods lends delicate color to your patch, while providing extra service to thirsty bees. Alternatively, fill a shallow water dish with a little water and some Natural River Rocks from Amazon. These are flat and gently textured to help pollinators drink safely.

2. Helping Butterflies with Puddling

It’s not just native bees that need patches of soil. Butterflies also benefit from little spots of bare soil in your yard. They use small, muddy spots for a behavior called puddling. If you’ve seen a flutter of swallowtails, red-spotted purples or monarchs in a patch of driveway dirt, you’ve witnessed puddling. This damp soil is being used to extract minerals and salts. Males are reliant on this practice to extract sodium and minerals, which they pass along to females during mating to help with eggs.

You can create puddling spots naturally by letting your patch of earth collect water after a rain, or after you’ve watered your beds or the lawn. To make a simple mineral station, find a 6-inch (15 cm) terracotta saucer, like the Pennington Terracotta Saucer Tray from Lowe's. Lay this level with the soil, fill it with a little earth and a splash of water, and keep it moist to create a puddling pool for swallowtails and monarchs.

If you like, you can sprinkle a tiny pinch of unrefined sea salt, wood ash or compost over this damp dirt. Keep this mud patch lightly moist throughout July and August. As summer winds down, migrating monarchs will rely on these quick mineral pitstops to fuel their long journeys south. They will also appreciate any late season nectar-rich blooms you can provide, like coneflowers and monarda. You can buy Sugar Buzz Grape Gumball Monarda from Plant Addicts. In late summer, butterflies also use nearby bare patches to bask in the sun and warm their wing muscles.

3. Helping Songbirds with Dust Baths

Many of your local birds also rely on areas of dirt. Sparrows, wrens, robins, towhees, and others use bare dirt patches for dust baths to remove parasites and clean their feathers. Watching a cheeky wren, junco, robin or sparrow fluffing fine, dry soil into its feathers is one of the most enjoyable sights in a wildlife-friendly garden. And all you need is a little bit of soil that is soft and powdery to attract birds to dust-bathe.

When birds are shedding and regrowing flight feathers, access to this powdery soil gives them great comfort. During summer, birds struggle with mite infestations that can compromise flying. Dust-bathing helps them absorb excess feather oil in humid weather, and it can trap cool air. Birds also ingest tiny bits of sand and fine gravel. These particles stay in their gizzard to help them crush hard seeds and beetle shells.

You can support your patch by making sure it is near a bird bath. Keep the bird bath filled with fresh water, and replace it regularly. It’s also a great idea to add a solar fountain or a water wiggler, like the Solar Water Wiggler from Walmart. Moving water attracts many more birds than standing water. One of the most efficient solar fountain add-ons is the Mademax Solar Powered Bird Bath Fountain Upgrade, available from Amazon. These little extras all help to create a safe, quiet retreat.

Where to Place Bare Patches

It’s beneficial to have these bare areas a little out of sight. Tuck them into back corners of the yard, or near the edges of flower beds. A bare patch in the middle of a turf lawn won’t be much help to wildlife, and it won’t look nice. Any old random patch of uncovered soil will help your local wildlife, but to help the animals while honoring the aesthetics of your yard, there are a few simple ground rules (so to speak).

Pick a sunny spot, so your bees, butterflies and birds can absorb heat and warm themselves. Aim for a south or east-facing spot that catches early morning sun rays. Ground bees need that initial solar warmth to warm up their flight muscles on cool summer mornings. Make sure it’s a quiet area that’s relatively undisturbed by people and pets. Also, make sure it is well-drained, and not completely soggy (allowing for a spot that you want to keep moist for puddling pollinators).

Avoid steep slopes, where summer thunderstorms might wash away loose soil or drown bee burrows. Tuck bare patches along gentle borders, under the lee of a shed, or beneath low-hanging native shrubs like serviceberry or arrowwood to give small birds quick cover if they spy a predator. You can buy Proven Winners Blue Muffin Arrowwood Viburnum from Nature Hills for extra canopy protection above your hard-working patch of soil.

Maintaining Your Patch

Yes, you can leave these spaces alone, but you’ll help wildlife more by maintaining them just a little. Check moisture levels regularly. Ideally, your bare patch needs to have a puddling area and a spot that always stays dry for dust baths and burrowing. Place a few small stones in the areas that puddle to help wildlife with access. Don’t let soil in dry areas get too compacted. When needed, give the soil a little raking to keep it loose. If you’re after a good soil aerator, the Fiskars Hand Cultivator from Amazon is great for gently breaking up soil for ground bees and birds.

Avoid using pesticides near these areas, or you’ll risk inadvertently killing your native guests. Ground-nesting bees spend up to 11 months underground in these burrows, making them exceptionally vulnerable to chemical runoff. Plant ornamental grasses or wildflowers to hide some of the bare dirt from view, while also supporting wildlife with cover and food sources. You can also edge the soil patch with stones or logs, like Amosfun Log Edging from Walmart. This gives your tiny wildlife habitat some natural looking definition, while offering daytime shade for beneficial toads.

Make sure you maintain that dual-texture in your wildlife-friendly patch. Keep one half loose, powdery, and sun-baked for dusting birds and mining bees. Meanwhile, keep lightly dampening the other half for puddling butterflies, frogs, and local toads, which will shelter under your edge logs during the day and feast on pests by night.

Shop Summer Wildlife Care

Round off your wildlife-friendly patch of earth with a few thoughtful wildlife treats. This handpicked summer bundle is tailored to nurturing a safe, comforting retreat for ground-nesting bees, fluttering butterflies, and dust-bathing songbirds. The perfect accompaniment for your bare soil habitat, these little upgrades will keep your wild visitors happy, hydrated, and nourished all season long.

Wildlife Trio

Making a little space for local wildlife doesn’t have to be a big chore, or mean that you leave things messy and untended. So, the next time you're tempted to fill that spot with one more bloom, consider leaving just one sunny area alone. That seemingly empty space could soon be one of the busiest and most important spots in your yard.

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Adding a bird bath to a border is a huge trend this year, and no wonder. Pair the beauty of blooms with the joy of splashing birds and you have the very best pool party any garden could wish for! What’s more, this is a quick and easy DIY garden project for a summer evening or weekend, and making a bird bath yourself means it can be achieved on a budget, so as border ideas go, it's a winner.

As a gardening editor, I’m lucky enough to visit lots of gardens and flower shows and I’ve seen an incredible increase in container ponds of all sorts this year, from make-it-yourself microponds to wonderfully innovative DIY water features using cheap floating solar fountains. But the idea I’ve loved most of all is in-border bird baths. Siting a bird bath in a border is a beautiful way to quickly turn a bed from lackluster to lovely, but this project isn't only for your benefit, as many bird species are seed eaters. You're probably already growing flowering plants with seeds that birds love to eat so adding a border bird bath will pair water with food.

I’ve been snapping photos of examples I’ve spotted so I can create a bird bath in my own garden, where charms of goldfinches regularly descend to feast on scabious seedheads. From pretty kitchen basins raised up on reclaimed brick pillars to gravel-lined pools sunk into the soil, I’ve gathered a ton of inspiration. And, as there’s no telling how long this summer’s heatwave is going to last for, I figured your garden friends as well as mine might appreciate their very own bespoke backyard spa.

Which is the best bird bath design for you will depend not just on your garden style but how frequently cats and other predators use your backyard. The higher the threat, the higher you need to raise the birdbath from the ground, and the clearer the airspace around it should be. Do consider the other wildlife in your garden, too, as a few well-placed rocks can open water access to all sorts of pollinators and other beneficial insects. Here are the 10 best ideas I saw to DIY a border bird bath.

1. Upcycle a Garbage Can Lid

We all have an old metal trash can sitting at the back of the garage, right? Use its lid, upside down in a border, to create a bird bath as has been done here, with a line of pebbles to give insects that fall in safe passage out of the water. I'm loving these wooden-peg plant labels, too!

If you’re one of the very few homeowners without a tired trash can stashed years ago, then why not drill some holes in the base of this well-priced galvanised steel Garden Garbage Can from Ace Hardware? That'll transform the body into a sleek modern planter and hey presto, you have yourself a spare lid to make a bird bath.

2. Make a Water Bowl Safe With Pebbles

If you already have a water bowl or feature in your garden, you can make it a safe depth for birds to use by adding pebbles or gravel. The maximum safe depth for any birdbath is four inches, though varying depths, particularly shallower areas around the rim, mean small birds such as goldfinches and sparrows can use it as well.

This idea can work for water features of any scale, from bijou bowls to expansive pools like this showstopper – imagine that full of a boisterous group of splashing starlings!

3. Repurpose a Reclaimed Item

Pebbles also allow you to adjust the depth of reclaimed items to make them safe to use as bird baths, and using aged materials is a stylish match for more relaxed, cottage-garden-style yards. This old metal trough uses larger pebbles in the base bath but a finer gravel in the upper pool to make it suitable for insects as well as smaller birds.

Do you have an old item that could be repurposed? If not, find your nearest reclamation yard through the Salvo architectural salvage directory and go hunt for one. Small holes or areas of damage are easily made watertight with a marine sealant such as this from Amazon.

4. Raise a Kitchen Basin on Bricks or Blocks

I’ll wager you’ve got a heap of pretty bowls you hardly ever use sitting in a kitchen cupboard – so why not use one to create a unique border birdbath? This shallow ceramic bowl that’s been raised on a stack of alternating pairs of bricks would be perfect for a cottage garden. For a sleeker vibe in a more modern garden, how about a marble bowl on a stone plinth?

As quick and clever DIY ideas for containers go, this DIY bird bath rewards minimal effort with maximum style.

5. Use Bricks to Sink a Spiral Bird Bath Into a Border

This has to be my favorite idea of all. Though the result is super-stylish, this spiral gravel bird bath is simple to replicate using a section of pond liner, bricks or block pavers, and pea gravel. Simply dig a sloping-edge hole and line with the aquaculture material, being sure to spread it well beyond the pool rim, then landscape with blocks and gravel. For longevity, it would be a smart move to lay a couple of inches of sand, such as this All-Purpose Sand from Home Depot, between the soil and the liner, too.

I love how this pool has been integrated into the border with a line of angled bricks leading into the planting. The sloping gravel means it’s safe for insects as well as birds to use.

6. Make a Naturalistic Gravel Scrape Pool

This wildlife pool sits in a gravel border of Carex grass and hart’s tongue fern (Asplenium scolopendrium), with rounded pebbles creating a naturalistic look as well as giving safe bathing for all sizes of birds. To stop mosquitoes from breeding, a small fountain has been used to keep the water moving, and it’s easy to do the same using a floating solar-powered fountain.

You can make a gravel scrape pool for your garden birds in the same way as the spiral birdbath above, by digging a depression and lining it with sand and pool liner material. Take a tip from this lovely example, though, and extend the pool further than you plan the surface area of the water to be. Filling in part of the shallow pool completely with pebbles allows you to add aquatic plants such as this pretty corkscrew rush (Juncus effusus ‘Spiralis’) (bottom right of this image) as part of your border.

7. Sink a Shallow Container

For a quicker DIY sunken bird bath, you can dig out a depression in a border and use a shallow container to hold the water, rather than a pond liner. Any vessel can be used as long as it’s watertight and winter-proof, as you can make the water depth shallower and create sloping sides using gravel or pebbles. Here, rocks in the center and cut logs around the perimeter have been added to create landing perches for flying insects as well as birds.

The wider the container, the better. Not only will it need topping up less often but there will be room to add a floating solar fountain to keep the water moving, making it unsuitable for mosquitoes to breed. A layer of sand such as this All-Purpose Sand from Home Depot between the container and soil will make it easier to do final fine-tuning with a spirit level as well as improve longevity.

8. Upturn a Plant Stand to Hold a Pot Saucer

This genius idea uses a trio of ceramic plant saucers in an upturned plant stand. The top pool is a birdbath while the lower two are half-filled with gravel as well as water to provide drinking spots for bees, butterflies and ground beetles. Just don't use unsealed terracotta plant saucers as the clay is porous.

9. Create a Mud-Pillar Bird Bath

Here’s an interesting idea to try if you live in a dry zone with clay-rich soil – a pillar bird bath created from a mix of earth and chopped up straw. It takes inspiration from the traditional house-building material of ‘daub’, a mix of an aggregate such as sand or soil, a binder such as clay, and reinforcement like straw, hay or animal hair. As long as the daub gets a full week of dry weather to cure, it’s surprisingly resilient in occasional rain, though is unlikely to last more than a summer without a coat of limewash.

Fashion some sort of a mold using a container or plywood boards. Mix clay-rich soil with any fully dried, chopped-up plant stems (crush first if they're hollow) and just enough water to combine, and pack the mixture into the mold. Such a fun garden project, especially if you have children!

10. Relocate a Pedestal Bird Bath

Of course, the easiest way to create your very own in-border avian plash-park is to simply move an existing pedestal bird bath into a flower bed. This bath is especially attractive to feathered friends as it’s tall enough for the water to sit just above the flowers, and a flat rock has been placed in the centre to make an easy landing pad.

There are plenty of other wins in this quick garden project for you as well as the birds. Whether or not yours is a wildlife garden, attracting birds to your plot with a border bird bath is a smart choice because, as well as snacking on flower seedheads, many bird species readily feast on slugs and snails. Add pebbles so insects can drink safely from your bird bath and you'll also welcome an army of smaller pest-control experts. Add some stylish homes for your garden wildlife to shelter all these critters, and your yard will be a haven for beneficial backyard critters that help to keep pests at bay.

Birds have a rough time of it in a heatwave. They can't sweat, they're burning energy just panting to cool down, local insect activity plummets, and the puddles they'd normally drink from could be baked dry by midday. As temperatures soar past 90°F (32.2°C), a bird is expending more water than it can find, in search of diminishing resources, which is where a bag of frozen peas is one of the handiest things lurking in your kitchen.

Here's what makes them so great for attracting birds through summer heatwaves. A frozen pea is roughly 80 percent water, locked in something solid. Set a few out, and they don't soak away into dry ground the way a splash from the hose does. Instead, they thaw slowly and give moisture back over a longer time period. On top of that, peas are soft and sweet, easy for a heat-stressed bird to swallow.

Introducing a small handful of thawed green sweet peas into your backyard is nothing short of a lifeline. It delivers instant moisture in a tidy and reliable form, along with gentle, easily digestible plant sugars. And it does this right when extreme heat can cause sluggishness and stress in your feathered pals. So crack open that underused bag of peas, and give your birdies a unique pick-me-up.

Why Does it Have to Be Peas?

The water content of a pea (Pisum sativum) is what sets it apart as our special summertime treat for birds. A dry seed or a stale crust hands a bird calories, but costs it water to digest. And water is the one thing it can't spare when it's already dehydrated. A thawing pea carries vital hydration and some gentle nutrition in the same soft mouthful, no debt attached. Blackbirds and robins take to them readily. So do starlings, tits, and sparrows, the ground-feeders having the easiest time of it.

You might be wondering if sweetcorn, diced carrots, or frozen lima beans can do the same job. Sweetcorn has a fibrous, heavy cellulose husk that demands significant digestive water to process. Under intense afternoon sun, corn sugars ferment at high speed, creating sour, gut-distressing compounds. Carrots and lima beans are far too rigid, posing choking hazards for small throats. Sweet peas, by contrast, possess paper-thin, easily ruptured skins, enclosing a soft interior. This bird-friendly bundle is packed with electrolytes, vitamin C, and gentle plant protein.

As a special bonus, the price is so low as to make this a relative steal for bird-lovers. A bag of Great Value Frozen Sweet Peas from Walmart is very inexpensive and covers plenty of afternoons. You can thaw them first, or just scatter them still frozen. Either way, they'll be at air temperature before long. Skip the salt, butter, and seasoning, though. Plain is the only version of a pea that belongs outside, either scattered on the ground or on a deck.

For ground based feeding, you can get mesh trays like the Kingsyard Heavy Duty Ground Feeder Tray from Amazon to keep scattered peas elevated off hot soil, while preventing dampness and rot. Or you can put peas in the hanging tray version – the Kingsyard Platform Bird Feeder Hanging Feeder Tray, also from Amazon. You can leave out peas on a balcony just as you would in a full garden. These peas provide days of hydrating, high-moisture summer treats for foraging birds.

While ground-foraging thrushes (like the American robin) and bold thrashers jump at whole peas, smaller species like house finches, Carolina chickadees, and tufted titmice prefer their peas slightly crushed. Taking 10 seconds to lightly smash a small batch with the back of a fork breaks the skin, releasing the sweet juice and making it easy for tiny beaks to pinch off soft morsels.

What to Do with Your Peas

Placement has a big impact on how well this pea treat works. A handful tossed onto an open lawn in full sun will turn to warm mush in no time. Furthermore, songbirds like gray catbirds, song sparrows, and bluebirds are hyper-aware of aerial predators. Setting out food in direct sunlight leaves them exposed. The shade is where they belong. Under a shrub, beneath a garden bench, along the shaded edge of a fence — anywhere out of direct sun keeps them cool and appealing for longer, and gives smaller birds somewhere to feel safe while they feed.

Timing helps, too. Putting them out in the early morning and again toward evening catches birds when they're most active and keeps the food from sitting through the hottest middle hours, inevitably going bad. As well as using a tray or flat feeder (or just some lawn), you can use very simple shelving units to house your peas. The Vattenkar Outdoor Plant Stand & Dish from Ikea is a clean, weather-resistant tray that sits perfectly in shaded borders for discrete ground feeding.

Floating them in water is even better. Drop a small handful of peas into a shallow ground bird bath, like the pretty Bakayoyo Ceramic Ground Based Bird Bath from Amazon. Using a 1.5-inch (4 cm) deep basin gives small songbirds a confident footing while positioning the peas at beak level. The bobbing catches the eye from above, which is how birds find water. Keep the water shallow, approximately an inch or two (2.5-5 cm) at most, and again, make sure the bath receives some shade.

The bright green color of peas against light-colored water is effective in drawing high-flying species like American goldfinches and ruby-throated hummingbirds. Floating peas bob, roll, and rotate as the water shifts, imitating live aquatic larvae. Keep water depths restricted to 1-1.5 inches (2.5-4 cm). Anything deeper creates panic for short-legged species like chipping sparrows. Also, stack a few rough river rocks in a slightly deeper bath, so visiting birds have a slip-free launchpad.

Safety and Comfort with Pea Feeds

Thawed peas sitting in summer heat go slimy and start to ferment, so clear out whatever hasn't been eaten by the same evening. Small batches of peas beat one big pile for exactly this reason. A pea nobody ate in the afternoon is a problem by the next morning, drawing flies and rats to a spot that was meant to help (to say nothing of nocturnal visitors like opossums and raccoons). Rinse the dish weekly as well, since a feeding station used daily builds up mess that spreads disease between birds.

And bear in mind that frozen peas are best used as supplementary treats – not the only food you leave out. Growing songbirds still require dense amino acids and natural oils. Complementing your pea station with mealworms gives bluebirds and wrens critical animal protein. For added protein power, grab a bag of Kaytee Pet Products Dried Mealworms from Amazon for a way to boost the diets of your visiting bluebirds, robins, and wrens once they have hydrated. As with your peas, you can try pre-moistening a few mealworms in water so they are softer for bird gullets.

Native fruiting shrubs like serviceberry (Amelanchier) or native coneflowers (Echinacea) yield rich seed heads for cardinals and finches. Always try to wash your feeding dishes twice a week. Use a 9:1 water-to-white-vinegar solution to keep your yard's sanctuary disease-free all summer long. Heinz All-Natural Distilled White Vinegar from Walmart is great value, non toxic, and tough on mineral crust.Just bear in mind that most birds will investigate new food cautiously at first, so it can take a day or two before they start taking them regularly.

Other Bird Bath Care Essentials

Above and beyond some well-timed and well-placed peas, creating the ultimate summer bird magnet comes down to one element: moving water. In nature, still puddles signal stagnation and parasites, whereas splashing water signals fresh, oxygenated hydration. Warblers, tanagers, and vireos (species that rarely visit seed feeders) will travel across neighborhoods when they hear a lively, splashing bath.

Adding a solar-powered fountain or a water wiggler breaks the surface tension instantly. Create continuous water ripples across the surface of the bird bath water, using the Solar Water Wiggler from Walmart. The highly rated Mademax Solar Bird Bath Fountain Upgrade from Amazon, can also be dropped into an existing bath for gentle sprays to keep water fresh, and charm warblers, thrushes, and songbirds. As a bonus, continuous surface ripples prevent female mosquitoes from laying eggs. Misting systems can also provide extra hydration points in heat. Mounting a gentle leaf-mister is compelling to delicate species like hummingbirds and goldfinches.

To combat green algae blooms caused by intense summer sun, drop a pure copper disc or heavy copper penny into non-metallic ceramic or resin basins. The natural leaching of trace copper ions helps to keep the water clear for days between scrubs. Dropping a copper disc into the basin also helps to keep water fresh for longer. One team favorite is the Melbree Pure Copper Bird Bath Disc from Amazon.

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Those frozen peas are a brilliant emergency measure, but don’t use them in place of the basics. They are a very important emergency measure, but they will work better if you balance your bird care ritual with key feeding and bathing essentials. Make sure you have your bird bath needs covered in order to help with both the peas and conventional hydration and cleaning. These accessories will keep your feathered neighbors safe, hydrated, and happy.

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There are few pleasures in life as enjoyable as waking up to birds chirping in the summer. But most people assume they can’t have that if they live in an apartment or a home with a smaller balcony. Not so! A clip-on railing bird bath doesn’t take up any floor space, doesn’t require using a hammer or a screwdriver to install, and you can turn even the tiniest perch into a real wildlife stop.

Balcony railing bird baths have come a long way. They now combine a clamp system that grips a standard railing without falling off, a bowl that is deep enough for birds to actually bathe in, and materials that are weatherproof. Some of these even double as a bird feeder so you can attract birds that are always looking for food.

Below I'll share exactly what to look for in a clip-on bird bath and a handful of my favorite options that are actually worth buying.

What Makes a Good Railing Bird Bath?

Before you buy, it's worth knowing what separates a useful balcony bird bath from one that tips over and falls at the first gust of wind. A good clamp should fit railings of up to at least 2–3.5 inches thick and tighten securely with a simple turn screw.

The bowl should be shallow enough for small birds to swim safely (no more than 2 inches deep) and wide enough for a few birds to share at once. Rust-resistant materials (powder-coated metal, galvanized steel, or durable ABS plastic) are essential for anything left outside year-round.

But location matters, too. A railing bath on a balcony naturally sits above ground-level predators, which is one reason why birds seem to love them. For more on getting the most from your setup, our guide on bird bath placement mistakes is worth a read before you get started.

Best Clip-On Bird Baths for Balconies

Now that you know what makes a good balcony bird bath, here are four of my favorite options that will suit any outdoor space – no matter how small!

1. Best Budget Pick

2. Best 2-in-1 Pick

3. Best Cast Iron Pick

4. Best Solar Pick

Call it midsummer madness, but I’ve been staring out of windows a lot lately, and the backyard has been filled with much-needed stillness and wonder. The other day, I found myself watching a sparrow bouncing from terracotta pot to dappled bird bath to cherry branch, sometimes with bits of a dandelion clock stuck to his beak. His unabashed joy and curiosity filled me with a sense of rightness in the world. So it’s only natural to want more of that, and to feel a little pang of frustration when the bird bath sits there in the stillness, just being… well, still.

If you find yourself watching and waiting, and wondering where the birdies are, it’s all about that stillness. Sometimes it’s tempting to think there’s a bit of pot luck involved in enticing chickadees and warblers out to play, but there actually is a bit of method to the madness, and if you want to attract more birds to your backyard, it’s all about the ripple effect. A flat, glassy disc of water is not only uninviting to birdies, it can be a little intimidating. Yes, really. Your little avian friends might be curious, thirsty and sociable, but many species are also timid. To a cautious bird led entirely by instinct, static water feels invisible at best and risky at worst.

But you can do something now, very quickly, to transform your still waters into a shimmering, sparkly splash zone that no backyard bird can resist for long. This super-simple bottle dripper trick doesn’t need to cost you a dime, it doesn’t require oodles of technique, and it takes literally minutes to set up. Interested? Here’s how to instantly transform that static water into a hoppy, fluttery wonderland. Oh, and as a special bonus, this quick trick can also help keep the mosquitoes away. Win-win!

Why Birds Need Moving Water

Garden birds are obsessed with moving water. And yes, the ripple effect is definitely a thing. As someone who used to care for budgies in my youth, I would find it fascinating how they would stare at a bird bath from a distance, gazing at it with hypnotic interest. If only I could have told my younger self that they might have needed a little more coercion than repeatedly pleading “come on, come on” in a little voice.

The way birds approach a bath is 1 part curiosity and 9 parts hesitation. That glass disc of water is a mystery. It’s hard to judge the depth, impossible to tell if it’s fresh, and it could leave them vulnerable to predators. But add a rhythmic drip, and the energy changes. The ripples and sounds are a compelling combo. Few backyard birds can resist the allure of a bird bath filled with sparkles and splashes.

That gentle sound of water movement and light play creates a lovely blend of sonic and visual cues for a bird. Literally breaking the tension, it announces fresh water and it gives your finches, sparrows and bluebirds a sense of how deep that water is. Moving water can entice the shyest backyard visitors. Dainty yellow warblers love moving water and will flutter with abandon under falling droplets, while curious chickadees and nuthatches will perform adorable, hoppy zip-and-dips.

And remember what I said about mosquitoes? A rhythmic drip of water breaking the surface tension in a bird bath can also reduce summer mosquitoes. Skeeters need still water to lay their eggs. By keeping the surface constantly rippling, you make it impossible for mosquitoes to set up camp and help keep water clean. You can get some useful commercial skeeter controls, like Summit Mosquito Dunks and Summit Mosquito Bits, both from Amazon. But this dripper trick gives you a very pretty alternative in the form of a cheep (yes, I went there), cheerful splash zone. So how do you make it? Read on…

Prepare the Bath for Your Dripper

The best thing about this bottle dripper trick is that you don't need a fancy, expensive setup to make it work. This trick involves suspending one specially prepared bottle of water above your bird bath, either using a tree branch or a shepherd’s crook. So all you need is a basic household plastic bottle and a few spare minutes. Oh, and a bird bath, of course. Bird baths can run to the hundreds, but the only necessity here is that it is sturdy for weight and safe for birds.

Theoretically, you can use a ground-based, deck-mount or floating bird bath with this dripper trick, it’s all possible. If you are thinking of pairing the dripper with a hanging bird bath, just make sure it is strong, wide and relatively shallow. The wide rim of the gorgeous Monarch Abode Copper Hammered Bird Bath Bowl, from Amazon, is perfect for the surface area for the trick and for the splashing sound.

You can also make this trick work if you are able to position your hanging bottle over a deck-mounted (clamp-style) bath. If you have a deck or a balcony, you can use a bath like the Misopily Deck Mount Bird Bath Bowl from Lowe’s, which clamps securely to patio railings. As long as you have a way of dangling the bottle above it, you’re in business. Just keep an eye on weight and balance. Make sure hanging chains or deck brackets are securely anchored before setting up your drip.

Personally, I find pedestal or standing bird baths work best for this trick. You can use a resin-based bath, like the vintage-style Best Choice Vintage Fleur de Lis Standing Bird Bath from Amazon or a more heavyweight ceramic style. For a little color with your splashing, the Mumtop Hummingbird Bird Bath from Walmart is pretty. Word to the wise, it will be more alluring to common garden birds than tiny hummers, but it holds its own under a water dripper. Finally, the Sunnydaze Avignon Freestanding Ceramic Bird Bath from Walmart is admittedly pricier, but it will pay for itself in terms of bird traffic and it's sturdy and durable.

If you're using a shallow ground dish, a simple plant stake pushed into the soil right beside the bowl can hold your bottle steady. Whatever bird bath you use, just make sure it is strong and safe. As a bit of housekeeping, bear in mind that small birds prefer a water depth of just 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm). If your basin is deep, add a few smooth river rocks or flat stones to the bottom, so tiny feet have a firm place to land, sip and play.

Make Your Bottle Dripper

Transforming a humble plastic bottle into a birdie splash zone takes only a few minutes. The key is getting your setup sturdy and your drip rate finely tuned. The ideal is a clean 16-to-32-ounce plastic water or soda bottle. Larger 2-liter jugs hold more water, but they can get heavy and sag, while tiny single-serve bottles empty out too quickly in the heat. Next, you need a thin sewing pin or needle. You can grab a pack of Singer Hand Sewing Needles from Walmart. Poke a single tiny hole into the bottom of the bottle. The size of the hole is important, so make sure it is tiny.

Once you’ve made the pinhole, fill the bottle with clean water and tighten the cap. With the cap screwed tight, a vacuum forms in the bottle, causing the drip to slow to a stop. But loosen the cap just a fraction, and air enters. This allows steady droplets to fall. Don’t worry, this is as technical as the trick gets, but it’s pretty cool, eh? Test your bottle over the sink until you find the sweet spot, which is a drip every couple of seconds. This creates an inviting sound without draining your reservoir too quickly or frightening skittish, dainty visitors that might be gathering the courage to hop closer.

Securing your bottle safely is crucial. You can wedge it in place, perhaps in the groove of a tree branch. But suspending it above the bath gives you more control over height, tension, and access. You can find shepherd hooks to help with this, such as the Beau Jardin Heavy Duty Shepherd Hook from Amazon. Hang your bottle 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) over the center of your bird bath basin. This height means droplets hit the water surface below with enough force to create glistening ripples and a soft plink that will resonate with your birdie community.

Wrap wire or twine tightly around the neck and base of the bottle to create a harness for the bottle dripper. Double up some jute like Nutscene Greentwist Garden Twine from The Home Depot to hold the bottle securely in place. By the way, if you’re worried about what the birds might think of a giant plastic bottle hovering in mid-air, good call – but it’s fine. They might give it a bit of a side-eye to start with, but once they realize that giant floating bubble is the source of fresh, moving water, they’ll soon be won over. And voila, one splash zone, coming right up!

Other Options for the Ripple Effect

This bird bath bottle dripper trick is a brilliant, budget-friendly entry point if you’re looking to turn your backyard into a birdie holiday resort. Of course, you might eventually decide you want to upgrade. You can get floating solar fountain inserts which harness the summer sun to create plumes of water. Float-and-go options like the Dartwood Solar Bird Bath Fountain from Lowe’s and the MadeMax Solar Bird Bath Fountain Pump from Amazon turn static basins into dynamic bathing spots for birdies. Just drop in your bath and make sure it receives some good sunlight.

You can also get battery-powered and solar-powered water agitators or “wiggler” devices. These create continuous water ripples across the surface of the bird bath water, such as the Solar Water Wiggler from Walmart. For a gentle artisanal alternative, the butterfly shaped Copper Bird Bath Water Wiggler from Walmart creates gentle movement and the copper can also help maintain water freshness.

Finally, you can try fine mist setups that attach to garden hoses. These cast a cloud of micro-droplets and are popular with hummingbirds. Nozzles are available that attach to standard hoses to create fine water clouds. For water features that can also charm local hummingbirds, try a Mellbree Mister Nozzle Kit from Amazon. But I have to say, our simple plastic bottle dripper measures up brilliantly for the cash-strapped and time-poor looking to entice birdies to play.

Summer Bird Bath & Dripper Care

A vibrant, splash-tastic bird bath is only as good as its cleanliness, no matter what else you might throw at it. In peak summer heat, algae can bloom quickly, making regular checks important. Your dripper requires very little fuss, but just check the bottle cap every few days. If the steady drip slows or stops, there could be a speck of algae or mineral build-up clogging the pinhole. A quick poke with a pin should clear the opening. Also rinse out the bottle whenever you refill it. It’s a good idea to swap in a fresh recycled bottle every 3 weeks in summer.

Refill the bath daily and give it a thorough scrub twice a week. Use a stiff-bristled brush, like the Modanu Ergonomic Brush for Bird Baths from Walmart. Stick to non-toxic enzyme cleaners or a simple mixture of 1 part white vinegar to 9 parts water. Dropping a copper disc into the basin is a great way of slowing down algae growth between cleans and helps to keep water fresh for longer. The gold (or should that be copper?) standard is the team fave Melbree Pure Copper Bird Bath Disc from Amazon. Keeping your bath in dappled or partial light can reduce evaporation and algal blooms, but you need to balance this with any solar-powered fountain pumps or wigglers you bring to the party.

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Your summer bird sanctuary deserves a few little treats, for you as well as your resident birdlife. This backyard bundle is tailored to a safe, happy avian retreat that you can enjoy from your sunlounger or kitchen window. Whether you are setting up your very first basin or looking to add a little extra magic to your current dripping setup, these birdie upgrades will keep your feathered friends happy, hydrated, and coming back for more.

Bird Bath Trio

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A successful outdoor space keeps blooming continuously from spring through fall, depending on the local climate. Not only does this provide you with ongoing color and visual interest, but it also feeds your local pollinators. Step outside on a warm July afternoon, and your yard likely feels like a thriving, buzzing haven. However, this midsummer abundance can hide a quiet crisis for native wildlife.

As early spring perennials fade and summer heat accelerates flower burnout, nectar availability drops. For worker bumblebees storing winter reserves, native solitary bees feeding late broods, and monarch butterflies fueling for their migration, this summer gap can seriously reduce feeding opportunities. This is why it’s crucial to make sure you have pollinator plants available for the next couple of months.

What you (and your pollinators) need are resilient bloomers that thrive in warm soil and flower continuously until frosts arrive. By growing these now, you provide an essential lifeline for visiting pollinators for weeks to come. These gorgeous plants reward your efforts with minimal ongoing care, vibrant color, and lasting visual structure. Grow these summer-to-fall nectar-rich bloomers for your bumble queens and migrating monarchs, and you’ll keep them nourished well into the fall.