Bluebird Trail: Backyard Habitat

A backyard habitat is one that provides essential resources for different kinds of wildlife.

Any yard can provide habitat for cavity nesters and other animal species! It’s not necessary to have a large piece of land. As people develop the land and alter it from its natural state, it becomes more and more important that we provide the resources wildlife need to survive: food, water, cover, and space.

Habitat types

Typical backyard

Farm or pasture

Forest edge

Forest

Water

Creating backyard habitat

Figure out what type of habitat
you live in. Do you live near forests,
water, open areas, or urban areas?
Through observation and research,
find out which bird species live and
reproduce in your habitat. You can
improve your backyard habitat for
these birds.

After installing a nest box in your yard, you can continue to create backyard habitat by:

• Adding native plants for
  food (seeds, nectar) and
  cover
• Putting up supplemental
  bird feeders
• Providing a water source
  (heated in the winter)