Spring is a delightful season for backyard birding as migrant birds return and winter residents are more active renewing their territorial claims and seeking mates. Birders who take steps to prepare their backyards for spring birds will not only be delighted with the seasonal visitors who arrive, but may encourage them to stay nearby throughout the spring and into the summer.

When Is Spring?

The first step to be ready for the arrival of spring birds is to know when to expect them.

The exact time seasons begin to change varies, with sooner spring dates the closer you are to the Equator (further south in the Northern Hemisphere and further north in the Southern Hemisphere). Backyards at lower elevations and closer to oceanic coasts may also experience spring sooner than mountainous, inland areas.

Consulting a local garden center, birding club or nature center can offer clues about local spring seasonal changes, but just watching for early spring flowers, warming temperatures and longer days can also indicate the arrival of spring.

Spring Preparations for Backyard Birds

The most bird-friendly backyards offer food, water, shelter and nesting sites for birds, but the exact needs birds have vary by season. Natural bird-friendly features such as fruit trees or perennial flowerbeds will change with the season, but backyard birders should make their own spring adjustments to supplemental features such as feeders, baths and houses.

Bird Feeders

After a harsh winter, a bit of work may be necessary to ensure that bird feeders are in top condition to offer treats to spring birds.

Well-stocked feeders will be especially appreciated by hungry migrants, but a poor feeder can be more dangerous than delicious.

To prepare your feeders for spring birds…

• Inspect feeders for winter wear and damage, and make repairs as necessary. Especially look for broken feeding ports, and take the opportunity to thoroughly clean feeders.
• Include raking and cleaning up accumulated hulls from underneath feeders in your bird feeder spring cleaning, and if necessary, shift feeders to a new, cleaner location.
• Add more bird feeders to accommodate larger flocks, and spread feeders throughout the yard so hungry birds are not stressed by feeding in a crowd.
• Inspect baffles and other predator and pest guards on all feeders, adding more protective measures as necessary.
• Shift to more spring-appropriate foods, including adding nectar for hummingbirds and orioles, mealworms and fruit for thrushes and calcium for all nesting birds.

Bird Baths

Water is essential for all birds, and while spring rains will bring a flood of streams and puddles available to birds, they will also readily visit bird baths. A clean, safe bird bath is essential to provide fresh water for birds to drink and bathe.

To prepare your bird baths for spring birds…

• Clean and sterilize every bird bath, removing algae buildup and scrubbing around the rim to eliminate any accumulated feces or other dirt and debris.
• Swap out heated bird baths for unheated designs after all danger of freezing temperatures has passed, and store heated baths carefully so they can be used the next winter.
• If necessary, change to deeper bird baths or remove interior rocks or pebbles so the bath is deep enough for birds to bathe. A depth of 2-3 inches is ideal, but a shallower area is also good for smaller birds.
• Move bird baths closer to bushes or trees so birds feel more secure when visiting the water source.
• Add a bubbler, mister or dripper to the bath so the sound and motion of the water will attract more birds.

Bird Houses

Spring is the nesting season and many birds will nest in bird houses. An unsafe house, however, can lead to poor reproduction and chick fatalities, and backyard birders should take the appropriate steps to be sure the housing they offer is in top shape for spring birds.

To prepare bird houses for nesting birds…

• Inspect all bird houses for damage or pests, and remove any old nests so the space is fresh for a new resident.
• Clean used houses with a weak bleach solution to eliminate insect infestations or mites that can be dangerous to nesting birds and hatchlings.
• Convert any bird roost boxes back into bird houses if the design is intended for year-round use.
• Take steps to protect bird houses from predators and ensure both the brooding adults and the young chicks are safe.
• Mount new houses in appropriate places and at appropriate heights to catch the interest of birds scouting suitable nest locations.
• Offer a variety of nesting materials in different areas of the yard so birds can conveniently build nests, even if they aren't cavity-nesting species.

Landscaping

A bird-friendly landscape is essential in any season to welcome birds to the backyard, and these tips can spruce up your spring landscaping to make it even more attractive for both resident birds and returning migrants.

To make your landscaping spring-bird-friendly...

• Rake the lawn to remove matted, dead grass and break up patches that may have developed winter mildew. This will also stir up early insects, a bounty of nutritious food for favorite spring birds like warblers and thrushes, and many birds will appreciate the loose nesting material left behind.
• Prune trees and shrubs to make way for spring growth, but leave some of the smaller clippings available as natural nesting material. Adding larger prunings to a brush pile will provide suitable shelter for birds until leaves have returned.
• Add early blooming spring flowers to gardens and flowerbeds, choosing colors that attract birds and will offer nectar for hummingbirds.
• Minimize any chemical use, including insecticides, and allow birds to provide natural pest control without risk of toxic contamination.
• Take steps to prevent bird window collisions as more migrants arrive in the backyard and more birds are competing for resources in the same space.

Spring is a fast-paced season for birding, and being ready to welcome spring birds to the backyard is easy if birders note all of birds' spring needs – food, water, shelter and nesting sites. By meeting each of those needs early in the season, not only is it possible to attract spring birds, but it is easier to convince them to stay nearby all season long.

Photo – Japanese Tit © Takashi Hososhima