You can develop your backyard into your very own migrant trap. In fact, the basics of attracting birds to your yard are all that is required to invite a surprisingly large number of migrants.

Cover

A bird-friendly backyard will include a variety of trees and shrubs, with vines and flowering plants serving as important supplements. Provide plants in layers to really make a home for the birds. Do not trim back flowering plants in the fall until the migrants have moved back through. Their seeds can be a valuable food source and attract birds to your yard.

A small brush pile can also works wonders--attracting sparrows, wrens, and maybe a towhee or thrasher.

Visit the landscaping section for additional information on gardening for birds.

Warblers are sometimes called the butterflies of the bird world. The species shown here migrate through large sections of the eastern United States and can be seen almost anywhere there is available habitat. The Common Yellowthroat is most often found in low shrubs and wetlands. The other three species feed on insects, often high in the canopy of medium to tall trees. Planting trees such as pecan, elm or conifers can attract these and other warblers to your yard.

Just add water

In many areas a birdbath works wonders. Dripping water can be especially effective. I once saw a yard near Corpus Christi, Texas that was overflowing with birds. The main draw was a dripping faucet, with the water landing on a few large stones. While the birdbath was not fancy, the birds certainly were. In five minutes we observed Indigo Bunting, Blue and Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Baltimore Oriole, and Scarlet Tanager plus Mourning Doves and several other species enjoying the dripping water.

A clean, reliable source of water also provides health benefits to the birds.

Let's eat

After quenching their thirst and resting in a shady spot, the migrants visiting your yard may be ready to store additional energy before continuing their journey. Providing a wide variety of food sources such as sunflower seeds, suet, and fruit will attract a wide range of species.

Turning your yard into an oasis of green, with a birdbath, running water, and a bird deli is not hard to do. It is a sure way to attract more birds, including migrating species that you may not see any other time of the year.