Backyard Birding
Learn how to invite birds to eat, nest, and hang out in your backyard.
The best way to invite birds into your yard is with bird feeders, birdbaths, or nest boxes--and you only need one. My first bird feeder used suction cups to attach to the window. Within a month, birds like cardinals, cowbirds, chickadees, wrens, and titmice were visiting.
![My first bird feeder](https://birdingkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/0FDF489D-CC1A-4C8F-81A2-8C713AE12229_1_105_c.jpeg)
My first bird feeder
Within three months, we had over 20 individual birds that had come, mainly cardinals, who even started bringing their babies to the bird feeders. We saw birds every day, in the bird feeder and also in the yard and trees. We also had a birdbath, which, after we put up the bird feeder, the birds drank from relatively often. A couple of months after we put up the first bird feeder, we added a hummingbird feeder.
![Ruby-throated Hummingbird Ruby-throated Hummingbird](https://birdingkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Ruby-throated-Hummingbird-©-JD-Ryan-1.jpeg)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Near the end of the year, we added many more bird feeders and birdbaths and nest boxes. It took a few days for the birds to get used to the bird feeders, but after that, they came often.
![House Finch House Finch](https://birdingkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/House-Finch-©-JD-Ryan-300x202.jpeg)
House Finch
![Carolina Chickadee Carolina Chickadee](https://birdingkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/CCD72931-8486-4D3F-AAB0-60C2EEF001C4-300x200.jpeg)
Carolina Chickadee
![Eastern Bluebird Eastern Bluebird](https://birdingkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/640-300x272.png)
Eastern Bluebird
![Brown-headed Cowbird Brown-headed Cowbird](https://birdingkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Brown-headed-Cowbird-©-JD-Ryan-300x200.jpeg)
Brown-headed Cowbird
![Eastern Bluebird Eastern Bluebird](https://birdingkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/5BF277FF-0C34-4C66-94A3-978FB69B5003_1_105_c-300x200.jpeg)
Easter Bluebird
![Carolina Wren & Tufted Titmouse Carolina Wren & Tufted Titmouse](https://birdingkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/C0F33125-B606-4B9A-B525-6D959C6B6721_1_201_a-300x200.jpeg)
Carolina Wren & Tufted Titmouse
![Carolina Chickadee 10 Carolina Chickadee](https://birdingkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Carolina-Chickadee-10-300x200.jpeg)
Carolina Chickadee
![Carlina Chickadee Carlina Chickadee](https://birdingkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/341DF0AB-6EC6-4C42-A2D1-EF1F4BE833B9_1_201_a-300x286.jpeg)
Carolina Chickadee
![American Goldfinch American Goldfinch](https://birdingkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/90B83193-5690-4823-B3B3-784D73EB5B07_1_105_c-300x200.jpeg)
American Goldfinch
![Squirrel Squirrel](https://birdingkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/92CC584A-FDCA-44BC-BAA6-664A4F671D7C_1_201_a-300x200.jpeg)
Squirrel
![Purple Finch Purple Finch](https://birdingkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/04052C98-B7BB-4D4D-9F31-BDC756055413_1_201_a-300x200.jpeg)
Purple Finch
![Ruby-throated Hummingbird Ruby-throated Hummingbird](https://birdingkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/8A188DBA-CBEB-48AC-BE86-2A7499229EE7_1_201_a-300x200.jpeg)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
![Chipping Sparrow Chipping Sparrow](https://birdingkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/320-3-225x300.jpeg)
Chipping Sparrow
![Northern Cardinal Northern Cardinal](https://birdingkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/A3E30084-050D-4932-BFD3-4A3DDCC7146C_1_201_a-286x300.jpeg)
Northern Cardinal
![Eastern Bluebird Eastern Bluebird](https://birdingkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/2C98A529-6244-4219-8D96-E30722028F75_1_105_c-300x202.jpeg)
Eastern Bluebird
![Purple Finch Purple Finch](https://birdingkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Purple-Finch-1-300x200.jpeg)
Purple Finch
![Carolina Wren & Carolina Chickadee Carolina Wren & Carolina Chickadee](https://birdingkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/52D39915-7F5A-4BCD-AF83-23509FFD33F9_4_5005_c-300x224.jpeg)
Carolina Wren & Carolina Chickadee
![Screen Shot 2023-07-31 at 6.44.29 PM](https://birdingkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Screen-Shot-2023-07-31-at-6.44.29-PM-242x300.png)
Downy Woodpecker
![Brown-headed Nuthatch Brown-headed Nuthatch](https://birdingkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/7F56D9E1-3B7D-4CC0-9680-8D0C59BEBD59_1_105_c-300x200.jpeg)
Brown-headed Nuthatch
![Downy Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker](https://birdingkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/B61ECFA8-9B8D-4E52-8BB2-7CDE7F050A78_1_105_c-300x287.jpeg)
Downy Woodpecker
![Eastern Bluebird Eastern Bluebird](https://birdingkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/C5C46F73-3956-4F0F-8879-1D7874A42068_1_201_a-300x194.jpeg)
Eastern Bluebird
![Northern Cardinal Northern Cardinal](https://birdingkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/26FC766B-DBDD-4DC8-99C5-ED1C58F247B5_1_201_a-300x200.jpeg)
Northern Cardinal
![Brown-headed Cowbird Brown-headed Cowbird](https://birdingkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/6A74F4CF-9B12-40BA-AE15-09E31DED8CB2-300x200.jpeg)
Brown-headed Cowbird
![Brown-headed Nuthatch Brown-headed Nuthatch](https://birdingkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/640-19-300x168.jpeg)
Brown-headed Nuthatch
![Ruby-throated Hummingbird Ruby-throated Hummingbird](https://birdingkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Ruby-throated-Hummingbird-©-JD-Ryan-2-300x200.jpeg)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
![Screen Shot 2023-07-31 at 6.44.55 PM](https://birdingkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Screen-Shot-2023-07-31-at-6.44.55-PM-300x159.png)
Ground Feeder
We now have over 60 species who visit our yard, and we always get excited when they come. Even if you're not ready to add a bird feeder to your yard yet, you can use the buffet technique. Just pour some seeds out on a surface (a deck railing works well) and watch the birds come eat. Happy backyard birding!