How to Prepare Your Backyard for Spring Birdwatching

Spring is the most exciting time of year for birdwatchers. Migratory birds are returning to their breeding grounds across Canada, and your backyard can become a key rest stop, if it’s set up the right way. With just a few simple updates, you can create a haven for colorful spring arrivals like warblers, grosbeaks, hummingbirds, and orioles.

Whether you're a seasoned birder or just starting out, here are some practical spring birdwatching tips to help you attract more birds and enjoy the season to the fullest.

1.   Clean and Restock Your Bird Feeders

Before you hang your feeders for the season, thoroughly clean them. Use a mix of hot water and mild dish soap (or a 10% bleach solution if there’s mold). Rinse well and let them dry completely before refilling. Clean feeders keep birds healthy and encourage return visits.

Choose the right feed for the season:

●       Black oil sunflower seed – a high-energy staple that attracts finches, chickadees, nuthatches, and grosbeaks

●       Nyjer seed – ideal for goldfinches, pine siskins, and redpolls

●       Suet cakes – full of fat and protein for woodpeckers, nuthatches, and wrens

●       Oriole nectar and grape jelly – draw vibrant Baltimore orioles

●       Sugar water (4 parts water to 1 part sugar) – fuels ruby-throated hummingbirds

If you’re in northern Ontario and need reliable, weather-resistant feeders, we offer a range of bird feeders in Sudbury built for Canadian conditions.

2. Set Up a Reliable Water Source

Birds need clean water for drinking and bathing, especially during dry spring days. Adding a birdbath, shallow dish, or even a small water fountain can significantly increase the number of birds visiting your yard.

Tips for a bird-friendly water setup:

●       Keep the water shallow (no more than 2 inches deep)

●       Add a dripper or solar fountain to keep the water moving, which attracts birds and deters mosquitoes

●       Place your birdbath in partial shade and clean it every 2–3 days to prevent algae buildup

Even small changes can make a big impact on your local backyard birding experience.

3. Plant Native Shrubs and Flowers

If you want to attract birds in spring naturally, add native plants to your garden. These plants produce berries, seeds, and insects that birds rely on throughout the breeding season.

Top native plants for Canadian birds:

●       Serviceberry – early spring blooms attract pollinators, berries feed robins, waxwings, and thrushes

●       Red-osier dogwood – dense cover and berries for sparrows and cardinals

●       Coneflowers and black-eyed Susans – attract finches and provide seed heads in late summer

●       Goldenrod and milkweed – host insect larvae that serve as protein-rich food for nestlings

Native plants are low-maintenance and drought-tolerant, and they provide year-round benefits to birds and pollinators. For help selecting native plants for birds in your region, reach out to us or visit our planting guide online.

4. Create a Safe and Welcoming Habitat

A bird-friendly yard doesn’t need to be perfectly tidy. A little wildness helps:

●       Leave leaf litter and brush piles for ground feeders like juncos and towhees

●       Add nesting boxes for chickadees, wrens, and swallows

●       Avoid pesticides, which kill off the insects that birds depend on for food

●       Install window decals or screens to reduce bird collisions with glass

The goal is to create a space where birds can safely rest, feed, and raise their young.

5. Start a Spring Bird Watching Journal

Tracking your bird sightings is one of the most rewarding parts of backyard birding. You can jot down notes in a notebook or use birding apps like eBird, Merlin, or iNaturalist to log your observations and contribute to citizen science projects.

Here are some helpful details to note:

● Date and time of each sighting
● Bird species spotted
● Behaviours observed (e.g., feeding, nesting, singing)
● Weather and habitat conditions

Over time, you’ll begin to see patterns and recognize returning visitors as the seasons change.

Spring Won’t Wait—Get Bird-Ready Now

Spring migration doesn’t last long. Preparing your yard now means more opportunities to attract a wider variety of species. From premium bird feeders in Sudbury to native plants and nesting boxes, we have everything you need for a memorable season.

Explore our selection at BackyardBirder.ca or stop by in-store to get started.