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A Country Living report outlines nine ways to make yards more useful to resident and migrating birds this fall, drawing on advice from Cornell Lab of Ornithology and American Bird Conservancy experts. Suggestions include offering varied food and feeders, maintaining clean water, planting native species and reducing window-collision risks.
A Country Living report offers nine ways to make yards more welcoming to resident and migrating birds this fall, including varied food and feeders, native plants, clean water and steps to reduce window collisions. The advice, attributed to experts from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and American Bird Conservancy, is aimed at helping birds find resources as natural food becomes scarce and some species move through or settle in for winter.
Fall movement varies by species and location. Holly Grant, a project assistant for NestWatch at the Cornell Lab, said migration generally takes place from late July through November or December, with peak periods in September and October. Some hummingbirds, finches and sparrows pass through or arrive for winter, while many familiar backyard species stay in place or travel shorter distances.
Grant and Kaitlyn Parkins, the American Bird Conservancy’s Glass Collisions Program coordinator, recommend adding or maintaining feeders and offering more than one food type, with backyard birds having different preferences. Options in the report include black oil sunflower seed, safflower, millet, corn and suet; different birds favor different foods and feeder styles. Ground-feeding birds, for example, may use platform feeders or food placed on the ground, while others use tube or hopper feeders.
The remaining suggestions are to keep hummingbird feeders available for late migrants, grow native plants that produce berries, fruit or seeds, provide a clean birdbath, make windows safer, and maintain a yard habitat that offers natural food and shelter. The supplied source excerpt ends during its birdbath section and does not provide the full wording of all nine recommendations, so the article’s complete numbered list cannot be independently detailed from the material provided.
Food and Water Through Fall
Yards can offer food and water to birds during a period when some species are migrating and others are preparing for colder weather. Grant said an additional food source can help when seeds, fruit, nuts and insects are scarce, while Parkins described high-fat suet as an option for birds coping with cold conditions.
The advice also points beyond feeders: native plants can contribute natural food, and safer windows may reduce collision hazards. These are practical habitat measures, but the source does not quantify how many birds they attract or establish a guaranteed benefit for every yard. Results will depend on local species, habitat and conditions.
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Migration Varies by Species
The report stresses that not every bird in a yard is making a long journey south. Parkins said cardinals, jays, robins, finches, chickadees, wrens and woodpeckers commonly remain in place or move shorter distances during fall and winter. Grant noted that some American robins shift from open areas into forests, while some mountain birds move to lower elevations.
That variation explains why the recommendations emphasize both migratory stopovers and year-round habitat. Feeder food does not, according to Grant, prevent birds from migrating: she said migration is influenced by daylight hours, and feeders can provide nutrients to birds preparing to travel or pausing along the way.
““Fall migration normally occurs anywhere between late July through November and December, but peak times are in September and October.””
— Holly Grant, project assistant for NestWatch at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, as quoted by Country Living
Local Results Will Differ
The source material does not identify a specific study measuring the effectiveness of these recommendations, nor does it provide estimates of how many birds a household might attract. Bird visits will vary with location, season and species. The excerpt supplied also cuts off after introducing birdbaths and does not include the complete details of all nine listed ways, including the full guidance on collision prevention or other habitat measures.
The report advises refreshing hummingbird nectar every few days to limit harmful bacterial growth, but the supplied material does not specify region-specific guidance for feeder placement, disease precautions or local feeding rules. Readers should consult reputable local wildlife or bird-conservation guidance for advice suited to their area.
Prepare Yards for Cooler Days
For households following the advice, next steps include setting up suitable feeders, keeping them clean, refreshing hummingbird nectar regularly and adding native plants where appropriate. A clean, accessible water source can also support birds as temperatures fall.
Bird activity can change through the season as migration continues and winter residents settle in. The report points readers to Project FeederWatch’s Common Feeder Birds tool to check which foods and feeder types are preferred by species in their area. Any broader assessment of the advice’s effect would require local observation; the supplied report does not announce a study or follow-up measurement.
Key Questions
When does fall bird migration happen?
Holly Grant of the Cornell Lab said fall migration generally runs from late July into November or December, with peak movement in September and October. Timing varies by species and location.
Will a bird feeder stop birds from migrating?
Grant said no: migration is influenced by daylight hours, and feeders can provide food for birds preparing to migrate or stopping during a journey.
What food can attract different backyard birds?
The report lists black oil sunflower seed, safflower, millet, corn and suet, among other choices. Bird preferences differ, so Project FeederWatch’s Common Feeder Birds tool can help match food and feeder types to local species.
Why plant native species for birds?
Native shrubs and plants that produce berries, fruit or seeds can add to the natural food supply. Grant named serviceberry, mulberry, spicebush and arrowwood viburnum as examples.
How often should hummingbird feeder nectar be refreshed?
The report recommends cleaning hummingbird feeders and refreshing nectar every few days to help prevent harmful bacteria from growing.
Source: rss
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