Garden for Birds

Join our community to take action to support birds.

Broad-billed Hummingbird by Chezy Yusuf / Macaulay Library.

Congratulations On All Your Gardening Efforts For Birds!

Explore the 2024 beautiful habitat additions

This summer people from all over the United States added habitat to benefit the birds! Review this stunning collection of after photos.

See ALL After Photos
California owner planted over 20 species of native shrubs and trees from local nurseries, along with scattering seeds and the wildlife is more numerous than ever!nshot
Incredible yard additions to support birds! The American Goldfinch are enjoying the coneflowers, but other herbivores have been a challenge to keep from munching new plants.
Native habitat added under these feeders has provided more foraging options for local birds–and a stunning garden to boot!
In Missouri, the bees happily found the swamp milkweed and bee balm. Some plants outgrew their pots and had to be transplanted into the ground. Overall plants did better than expected.
Incredible transformation from a hard to mow spot into colorful habitat for birds and biodiversity.

Month-by-Month Guide

Each month you’ll have a different checklist. Depending on your region, you may be ahead of this list or trailing a bit behind. Don’t sweat it, but make sure to do the step specified on the call-out button each month.

April

  1. Identify where you will plant your plant. 
  2. Take a “before” photo of your patch
  3. Upload your before picture here.
  4. Consider what to plant. 
  5. Decide where to get your plant.
Upload Before Planting Picture
Photo by Lars Jones. Homeowner who began to garden for birds in 2019 when this photo was taken. Stay-tuned for the after photo.
New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) is a low growing native shrub that supports a variety of butterfly species. Photo by Becca Rodomsky-Bish.

May

  1. Prepare your planting site.
  2. Plant your plant(s).

If you have already planted your plant(s), monitor them and take pictures. We’ll ask you to choose and upload your favorite after picture later in the season.

Plant Your Plant, Take Pictures

June

  1. Monitor Birds: Mini GBBC.
    • Use Merlin or eBird.
  2. Optional: Share a Pest Victory.
Monitor Birds and Report
Spotted Towhee eating Canada Serviceberry fruit (Amelanchier canadensis) by Laure Wilson Neish / Macaulay Library.
Losing new plants to grazing deer or rodents is infuriating! All that time, energy, and enthusiasm feels thwarted. Row cover to the rescue? This fabric is generally advertised to protect plants against frost, but it works incredibly well at protecting plants from grazers, too! If you are experiencing deer or rodent pressure, try covering the plants until they are big enough to handle damage. Photo of an unfenced vegetable garden by Becca Rodomsky-Bish.

July

  1. Monitor Birds: Mini GBBC.
    • Use Merlin or eBird.
  2. Upload Picture Before July 31.
Upload Before Planting Picture

August

  1.  Upload After Pictures, If Ready. 
    • Officially due November 1.
  2. Add Water Feature 
    • Optional, but highly encouraged.
  3. Plan to Pledge to Leaf It 
    • Leafing It means less work for you! Leave fallen leaves and dead flowers alone and don’t clean-up the garden.
Upload After Pictures
Incredible transformation! Compare this image to the April photo, which was the before picture from 2019. This is a picture from 2023, displaying robust habitat supporting 130+ birds. Photo by Lars Jones.
Common Redpoll Kyle Tansley / Macaulay Library

September

  1.  Upload After Pictures, If Ready. 
  2.  Pledge to Leaf It
Pledge to Leaf It

October

  1. Upload After Pictures.
  2.  Pledge to Leaf It
  3. Reflect on your experience
Upload After Pictures
Owner in California planted over 20 species of native shrubs and trees from local nurseries, along with scattering seeds and the wildlife is more numerous than ever!

Watch This Short Video to Learn Why Gardening for Birds Matters

Video footage of foraging birds intermixed with interviews and commentary on the role that birds play in our ecosystems and how our gardens can better support them. Produced by Kristen H. Chan, Cornell Communications undergraduate student.

We Are Creating Resources to Support Your Effort

Search for Natives

We’ve chosen a selection of websites that will help you as you learn more about native plants you want to add to your property.

Explore Websites
False sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides), Beebalm (Monarda fistulosa) and Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) by Becca Rodomksy-Bish.

Deer Are an Issue

If deer are frequent visitors to your garden, use these regional plant lists to help you find less palatable options for browsers.

Deer Resistant Plants
Deer can be a menace in the garden. Photo by Scott Carrol / Unsplash CC.

Planting Palette

Take a play out of a landscape architect’s play book. Use this tool for experienced gardeners who are trying to maximize resources.

Planting Palette
Planting palettes are a way to inventory your gardens and find gaps in resources for birds.

Leaf It for the Birds

In the pictured graphic, we explain why Leafing It is the best way to help birds and yourself this fall. Leaving things where they fall extends the value of your new plants or gardens for the birds. The plant(s) you planted will continue to support and feed birds with drying seed heads, ripening fruit, and overwintering habitat for insects. The bonus is it makes for a more relaxed fall and a shorter to do list!

Embrace the freedom to leave your new plantings alone. This is a win-win – less work for you, more food for the birds.

Before Pictures

Be inspired by how many other properties around the United States are engaged in transforming a portion of their landscape to better support birds and biodiversity.

Seeing is truly believing! Keep them coming and we are looking forward to seeing the after pictures.

See Before Pictures

 

Maryland yard that is working towards supporting healthy native invertebrates and birds.

Along the Way

We’ll provide you with monthly emails to deepen your journey in supporting birds at home and in your community.

In addition, we’ll offer discounts on native plants and bird-friendly goodies from Garden for Wildlife!

This project runs from March 2024 – October 2024; with the follow-up survey happening in November.  Completing all surveys will enter you in a drawing for one of four gifts.

We’ll reach out via monthly emails during the growing season. Participation is voluntary. If you decide this project isn’t for you, you can withdraw from the project directly from any of our emails.

What do you say? Are you ready to take more actions to support birds?

Ruby-crowned Kinglet forages on sumac ©️ Blair Dudeck / Macaulay Library.
Garden for Wildlife native plants support American Goldfinch and other birds.

Garden for Wildlife Partner

In collaboration with Garden for Wildlife, we’ll help you find the right plants for your yard.

Sometimes knowing what to plant and where to get those plants can be half the battle in planting for birds. Garden for Wildlife will make these decisions easier on your mind and your wallet.

Since 1973, Garden for Wildlife™ by the National Wildlife Federation has empowered individuals to transform their spaces into wildlife-friendly habitats using native plants. Our plants support birds, bees, and butterflies and are grown without harmful chemicals by a network of local growers and shipped directly to your doorstep. 

Registration is closed.

Please email rbr75@cornell.edu if you have questions.

Stay connected to the Great Backyard Bird Count.

By subscribing to stay connected to the Great Backyard Bird Count, you agree to receive communications from The Cornell Lab, Audubon, and Birds Canada. You may unsubscribe from any of the organizations' communications at any time.