The Backyard Naturalist

Food: One of Three Simple Elements in Your Backyard Bird Habitat

Food + Water + Shelter = Habitat

food

Seeds, nuts, suets, insects, fruit or nectar

Wild birds’ metabolisms demand maximum nutrition for least effort. Most backyard birds will eat seeds, but others may only eat fruit and insects.

Food quality matters.

The Backyard Naturalist's Guide to Backyard Habitats & Food - one of three simple elements.

Start simple with healthy food and a clean feeder. (Hint, hint: Try fresh Black Oil Sunflower Seeds!)

We’ll help you find the healthiest food for your backyard birds and show you how to entice new visitors. It’s ok to start small and just give it a go! Even the smallest effort helps your backyard birds.

Each of our backyard habitats, no matter the scale of effort, can help make a difference for generations of wild birds. While natural habitat continues to be lost to development, our micro-habitats link, backyard by backyard, across our county, our state and our country. Together, we make a difference.

Helpful Resources

Why Quality Food and Clean Feeders Matter

Topics include:
Why Feed Quality Seed to Wild Birds?
What is Best Quality Bird Seed?
Bargain Seed isn’t Always the Best Deal
How to Buy and Store Premium Quality Bird Seeds
How to Tell When Bird Seed Goes Bad
Why Clean Feeders are Important
The Easiest Way to Clean Your Bird Feeder

The Backyard Naturalist Seeds & Suets Menu

Feeding Hummingbirds
Attracting and Supporting Hummingbirds
Hummingbird Feeders We Recommend
Make Your Own Hummingbird Nectar

Feeding Wild Birds Year Round

Feeding Wild Birds in Summer? Oh, yeah!!!
Feeding Birds During Winter

Reasons to Start Your Habitat Today!

Why Feed Wild Birds? It Makes a World of Difference
Support your backyard birds and in return, they will bring you joy each day of the year!!!

Why Birds Matter

2018 is officially designated ‘Year of the Bird’!
Topics include:
Why is 2018 ‘Year of the Bird’?
What is the 1918 Migratory Bird Treaty Act(MBTA)?
Why the Concern Now about the MBTA?
How Wild Birds Bring Us Together
Why Birds Matter to All of Us: Shared Experiences
Committing to the Future
Protecting Wild Birds for Our Grandchildren and Their Grandchildren
How to Find Out More About ‘Year of the Bird’ Activities

Your Backyard Habitat Can Be a Haven for Generations of Wild Birds
Even the smallest, most humble habitat contributes to the health and well-being of wild birds.

Ready to Take Your Habitat to the Next Level?

Grow Native! Add native plants that provide desirable food year round!

There are so many reasons to Grow Native!

  • You’ll be restoring one more piece of natural habitat.
  • Native plants aren’t fussy. They’re easier to grow and no need for pesticides.
  • Native plants don’t need you to fuss over them. And your birds will do most of the gardening by ‘deadheading’ the flowers in the Fall. That means a lot less yard work and more time for bird watching!

See our wildlife gardening page “Support Native Pollinators” for more information and a list of our recommended resources.

Here’s how to start with something very simple! Grow flowers that attract birds, bees and butterflies! We have seed packets containing many varieties and blends that are desirable to our native pollinators. Just ask us!

We’re Here to Help!

Stop by the store and tell us about the birds you’re seeing in your yard. We’ll help you find the healthiest food for your backyard birds and show you how to entice new visitors. (Hint, hint: Try fresh Black Oil Sunflower Seeds!)

We are more than happy to answer questions and give our best advice. That’s why we started The Backyard Naturalist store 36 years ago. Our mission:

To inspire our community to appreciate and nurture the nature found in all our backyards by providing a sanctuary of food, water and shelter for wild birds.

We’re here to help you with your habitat at every step with free advice and quality products that fit any budget.

Let us know how it’s going!

Post a photo of your habitat on The Backyard Naturalist’s Facebook page. Always, stop in or call us if you have questions. We learn from each other!