Gardening with Purpose: How to Bring More Birds to Your Yard

As we face ongoing drought conditions in Denver, there’s more pressure than ever to transition traditional turf lawns into more eco-friendly alternatives. With a little bit of planning, you can create a beautiful, low-water landscape that also serves as a much-needed ecosystem for birds to thrive. 

I’ve been transforming my yard since 2020, and the number and variety of birds that have settled in my space increases every year. I’ve gradually covered my lawn with woodchips (though you can solarize, till, cut the sod, or carefully use an herbicide to remove the turf), and while it’s easier now to find specific plants at local nurseries, I’ve been slowly filling the space with plants from friends, community swaps, and native plant society giveaways.  

When you’re planting for birds, it’s not only important to incorporate different types of plants (flowers, trees, shrubs, and grasses) but also plants of different heights and levels (overstory, mid-story, and groundcover). Different birds have different needs, so the more options you provide, the better habitat you’re creating and the more feathered friends you’ll start to spot in your yard. Some plants are better options for seed-loving birds, some provide habitat for the insects that birds eat, some provide fruits, and some are simply places for the birds to rest, nest, and seek safety from predators. 

On any given day, I can sit out on my patio watching the black-capped chickadees climb up the trunk of my silver maple, towhees dig around in the underbrush of my lilacs, magpies pluck my currants, hummingbirds sip nectar from my tall penstemons, and goldfinches pull the seeds from my sunflowers. 

The bird visitors don’t stop coming when the summer season is over. I leave up my healthy stalks through fall and winter until the following spring. While I do find it aesthetically pleasing for off-season interest, it also provides a crucial habitat for bugs and small birds who need spots to stay warm and safe during snowy seasons. 

Not sure which plants to grow? If you have a specific bird you’d like to see, do some research and find out what plants they frequent. Some good tree and shrub choices for the Denver area include Rocky Mountain juniper (Juniperus scopulorum) for its berries and shelter, Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii) for shelter and as a critical larval host for many insects, golden currant (Ribes aureum) for its berries and nectar-filled flowers, and rubber rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa) for shelter and winter seeds. Flowers that offer nectar, insects, and seeds that grow well here are bee balm (Monarda spp.), Maximilian sunflower (Helianthus maximiliani), beardtongue (Penstemon spp.), yarrow (Achillea millefolium), and smooth blue American-Aster (Symphyotrichum laeve). If left over winter, grasses like blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) and little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) are good for seeds and year-round shelter.

If you’re growing in containers, finding plant combinations that look nice together isn’t as hard as it seems. Try grouping plants and using the following three elements in your plantings: a thriller (an eye-catching focal point), a filler (a small, spreading plant with a good color), and a spiller (something that drapes over the pot). Try Rocky Mountain columbine (Aquilegia caerulea) for a thriller, prairie zinnia (Zinnia grandiflora) for a filler, and wine cups (Callirhoe involucrate) as a spiller. 

A few tips to get started:

• Make a plan. Taking the time to map out your landscape will help conserve water and save money down the road. Consider who uses your space and how they use it. If you have pets or young kids, make sure you aren’t planting things for birds near the areas where they like to play. Start with a site analysis and choose the right plants for the right place for the biggest impact. Make multiple plans until you have a layout you love. 
• Start small. You don’t have to have a huge yard to attract birds, and you can also make a multi-year plan and build your garden gradually. New plants, even the xeriscape-friendly or low-water ones, need regular water during their first year while they get established. If there are water restrictions, planting a lot of new thirsty things isn’t advised. Take the time to plan out your space and start little by little. 
• Don’t use pesticides. While it might be tempting to use pesticides to get rid of your bug problems in the garden, it’s important to remember that those bugs also serve as food for birds. (Many seed-, nut-, and fruit-eating birds feed invertebrates to their young!) Some birds consume thousands of insects every day, and if you poison their food source, you run the risk of making the birds sick, too.  
• Provide water. If you’re encouraging birds to come to your yard with food and habitat, make sure that you leave some places for clean, fresh water. Clean the bowl regularly to prevent the spread of disease and bacterial growth. Pro tip: get a bubbler so that your bird visitors can have some moving water. 

No matter how much space you’re able to dedicate to birds, you can make an impact. Be flexible and patient with yourself as you convert your space. Growing things specifically for birds will help foster an entire ecosystem in your yard, and every living thing in it will thank you.

If you'd like to start your journey with a community of nature lovers, join Denver Audubon's Spring Sowing Workshop -  a hands-on event where we will learn all about how to sow our own native plant seeds in time for spring planting. On April 18th at 2PM at the Nature Center, we'll start the workshop with a brief talk on how native plants and Birds have evolved together, and why native plants are essential food and habitat for both migratory and year-round Birds. Then, we'll try out an easy, low-cost way to start native plant seeds outdoors.

This event is for anyone and everyone, no green thumb required! All supplies are provided and you will leave with your own planted seeds, the know-how to repeat the process at home, and the excitement of watching your plants sprout and grow—just in time to support Birds in your own space.

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