Birds bring a touch of joy to our lives with their beautiful songs and entertaining antics. So if birds aren't coming to your yard, despite your best efforts to attract them, it can be frustrating. You might wonder if you're using the wrong bird feeder, putting out the wrong food, or simply doing something that's sending them elsewhere. But according to experts, the real reason backyard birds are skipping your yard may not be what you think.

After all, birds are, by nature, flighty animals, and unless they're nesting or non-migratory, most will only stop by for brief visits. However, a backyard that's consistently quiet often signals that something is missing, or that something is making birds feel unwelcome as there are several factors that can influence whether birds decide your yard is worth visiting or not.

So, if you're a birdwatcher and have always dreamed of creating a bird-friendly backyard filled with cardinals, finches, bluebirds, hummingbirds, and other feathered visitors, you're in the right place. We spoke with bird expert Maria Kincaid, ornithology research specialist for FeatherSnap, to learn the biggest reasons birds aren't coming to your yard and the simple changes that can help bring them back. That way you can know what you can do differently to befriend them.

The Most Common Reason Birds Aren't Visiting Your Yard

If you've been wondering, "Why aren't birds coming to my yard?" you're not alone. Many people notice that their backyard birds seem to disappear from time to time, even if they regularly fill their bird feeders. In many cases, the reason has less to do with the birds leaving for good and more to do with changes in what they're looking for throughout the year.

"The most common reason birds stop visiting your backyard is because one or all of their major needs aren't being met," Kincaid explains. "Many species of birds have seasonal shifts in their diet, so they may stop visiting your yard because the food they need at the time isn't available."

Every bird species has its own diet, migration schedule, and habitat preferences. A bird-friendly yard that attracts cardinals or finches in the spring may appeal to different birds in the summer or fall. Even if you're offering bird seed, fresh water, and shelter, seasonal changes can influence which backyard birds stop by and how often. "Another reason birds may leave a location is the time of year," Kincaid adds. "Our local birds may stay in the same general area year-round, but there are a wealth of migratory birds that are only in certain regions for part of the year."

The Hidden Yard Factors Birds Are Extremely Sensitive To

Wildlife experts say that subtle changes in your outdoor space could be the reason birds are not coming to your yard. According to Kincaid, backyard birds are surprisingly sensitive to their environment, and even small landscaping or maintenance decisions can make your yard feel less safe or less inviting. Here are a few other subtle yet significant factors that might be scaring off your feathered friends.

Chemical Use

Birds are highly sensitive to pesticides and other lawn chemicals. Not only can these products be harmful to birds, but they also reduce the insects that many species rely on for food. "The choices we make in our yards, from what types of plants we use in our landscaping to whether or not we use insecticides or other pesticides, have an impact on birds," Kincaid explains.

Native Plants

A bird-friendly yard starts with native plants. Many birds depend on native flowers, grasses, shrubs, and even plants that are often dismissed as weeds. "...Many plants we consider weed species, like dandelions, are an important part of the ecosystem, so removing them by various means has a great impact on bird populations," Kincaid says.

Predator Exposure

Birds are far less likely to visit a yard where they don't feel safe. If outdoor cats, hawks, or other predators are common in the area—or if feeders and birdhouses are placed in exposed locations without nearby trees or shrubs for cover—birds may choose to feed elsewhere. "If you don't have enough cover like trees or bushes for them to get away in if they have run across predators in your yard, they'll move on to a safer location," Kincaid warns.

Why Your Bird Feeder Might Be Driving Birds Away Instead of Attracting Them

If you've ever thought, "Why isn't my bird feeder attracting birds?" the answer may have nothing to do with the bird seed you're using. According to Kincaid, one of the most common mistakes is forgetting to regularly clean and maintain bird feeders. Spoiled food, mold, and bacteria can all discourage backyard birds from visiting and may even make them sick.

"You think to yourself, 'I've got my bird feeder up and filled, it's been sitting for a while, why are no birds visiting?' One thing we often forget is that we have to make sure we're maintaining our bird feeders," Kincaid says. "Different foods we feed our backyard birds, like seed blends, suet cakes, or hummingbird nectar, can spoil quickly. Hummingbird food is basically sugar water, and that can mold or ferment quickly. Suet is often a seed blend encased in fat, which can melt or spoil in warm weather, and seeds themselves can mold or spoil if they get wet in a rainstorm. It's important to make sure that you clean and refill your bird feeders regularly."

How often you should clean a bird feeder depends on both the weather and the type of food you're offering. Kincaid recommends washing hummingbird feeders every time you replace the nectar, which should be daily during hot weather or every few days when temperatures are cooler. Seed feeders should be cleaned every one to two weeks, or sooner if the seed becomes wet or starts to clump. She also recommends replacing bird seed every few days to keep it fresh.

To sanitize feeders, spray the empty feeder with a 10% diluted bleach solution, let it sit for 10 minutes, rinse thoroughly, and allow it to air dry completely in the sun before refilling it.

Smart bird feeders can also help you keep tabs on the health of the birds visiting your yard. "Smart bird feeders, like both the FeatherSnap Seed and FeatherSnap Hummingbird, allow for images and videos to go directly to your phone or tablet, which helps you keep a better eye on your birds," Kincaid explains. "If you notice a bird acting lethargic, struggling to breathe, or with a growth on them, it's often a good indicator that there is disease present. When you notice those things, it's important to take down your feeder, make sure it's clean and sanitized, and leave it down for a few weeks."

How Food Sources Affect Bird Activity

Many bird lovers assume that keeping a bird feeder full is the key to attracting more backyard birds. While feeders certainly help, Kincaid says they're only part of the equation. The most bird-friendly yards provide a variety of natural food sources, giving birds a reason to return long after they've finished a quick snack.

"We often think of bird feeders as a way to attract birds to our yard, and while that is true, bird feeders are more of a supplemental source of food when natural food sources are limited in availability," Kincaid explains. "By making sure we have native food sources, like insects and a variety of bird-friendly native plants, we can make sure that the birds stay in our yards year-round."

What Actually Attracts Birds to a Yard in the First Place

So, how can you attract birds to your yard? Kincaid explains, the more your backyard resembles a natural habitat, the more likely it is to become a regular stop for local and migrating birds. To create a bird-friendly backyard, make sure it provides these three things:

• Food: Birds need reliable food sources throughout the year, but what they eat changes with the seasons. "The type of food they are looking for is variable depending on the species and the time of year," Kincaid explains. "Some backyard birds eat a more insect-heavy diet during the breeding season and switch to seeds, grains, or fruits when insects aren't as readily available."
• Water: Fresh water is just as important as food. Whether it's a bird bath, pond, or other clean water feature, having a dependable water source can make your yard much more attractive. "Water being nearby is important for birds in most habitats, as many can't get enough water from the food they eat, and it's also very important for caring for their feathers," Kincaid notes.
• Shelter: Birds won't want to frequent a yard—much less build a nest nearby—if they don't have a safe place to retreat to! Because of this, even the best bird feeder won't keep birds around if they don't feel safe. "Most birds require some sort of cover, whether that’s bushes, shrubs, trees, or tall grass, to have a safe place to get away from predators, or an appropriate place to build a nest," says Kincaid.

Simple Changes That Can Bring Birds Back to Your Yard

If birds aren't coming to your yard, you don't necessarily need to overhaul your entire landscape. According to Kincaid, a few simple changes can make your backyard much more inviting. These easy, bird-friendly tips can help make your yard their favorite place.

• Reduce Window Collisions: Window strikes kill millions of birds each year. Window decals, screens, or keeping feeders either within 3 feet of a window or more than 30 feet away can help make your yard safer.
• Keep Feeders Consistent:Birds learn where reliable food sources are. Rather than filling feeders sporadically, keep them stocked consistently with fresh food.
• Offer Different Types of Feeders: Different bird species prefer different feeder styles and foods. Adding a tube feeder, platform feeder, or suet feeder can attract a wider variety of backyard birds.
• Leave Your Yard a Little Wild: If possible, Kincaid suggests building a brushpile in a corner of your yard and leaving the leaves in the fall, as these allow for safety and foraging opportunity for birds and other animals.
• Get a Birdbath: "Another simple action you can take is to put out a birdbath. This provides water for birds to drink, as well as a place to take a bath," Kincaid recommends. "Feathers are important for flight and body temperature regulation, and keeping them in tip-top condition is vital." Just as with your bird feeders, though, take care to clean the bath regularly, replace its water frequently (if it isn't a moving water feature), and overall try to keep it from getting gross.
• Be Patient: This is a big one that's often overlooked. It can take days or even weeks for birds to discover a new feeder or adjust to changes in your yard. Once they know it's a reliable habitat, they're much more likely to return.

Source:

• Maria Kincaid, FeatherSnap