While some bird species migrate south in the winter, there are many species that stay year-round in the Pacific Northwest. These include Juncos, Jays, Sparrows, and Tawheed. As leaves and temperatures fall, it becomes more difficult for these birds to find food and shelter. Creating custom Home Bird Houses not only helps our feathered friends but can benefit your backyard micro-ecosystem.

Having birds around will benefit you and your backyard in several ways. For starters, birds eat insects such as aphids, mosquitoes, and snails. They act as natural pest control that can save your garden from harmful insecticides. Smaller birds, such as sparrows and finches, eat weed seeds, reducing the need to use chemicals in your garden and the pain of pulling weeds. Further, hummingbirds are great pollinators that can enhance the size and color of your blooms by spreading nectar from plant to plant.

There are also intellectual, psychological, and economic benefits of being a bird-friendly gardener. Creating a bird-friendly yard with native plants requires more time outdoors - and what is more relaxing than fresh air, fragrant flowers, and the satisfaction of a well-kept garden? As you spend more time watching your birds, you will begin to notice migration patterns, plumage changes, and courtship behaviors. You'll also begin recognizing familiar faces and relishing the arrival of new ones.