From brilliant goldfinches and vibrant cardinals to striking blue jays and cheerful chickadees, Minnesota is home to an incredible variety of songbirds. With more than 150 species found throughout the state, it's easy to turn your backyard into a destination for birds to feed, nest, and thrive. Whether you enjoy birdwatching, photography, or simply listening to the morning chorus, creating a bird-friendly landscape is a rewarding way to connect with nature.
At Spikes & Houles, our knowledgeable staff are passionate about helping customers care for the wildlife around them. Here are a few of their favorite tips for attracting more birds to your landscape this summer.
- Provide a variety of food sources: With so many different bird species visiting Minnesota, there's no single seed blend that attracts them all. Offering a variety of seed types gives you the best chance of welcoming a diverse mix of birds to your yard. At Spikes & Houles, we carry an extensive selection of bird seed and feed to meet the needs of everything from finches and chickadees to cardinals and jays. View our Bird Seed & Feeder guide here: https://www.spikesandhoules.com/learn/meadow-ridge-farms-bird-seed-selection-guide
- Use Water: Implementing simple water sources, such as birdbaths, small pools, and decorative ponds, is a fantastic way to attract birds. Providing water sources for birds can be a major gamechanger, as many are attracted to moving water. For best results, place water features in a shaded location and away from dense shrubs or tall vegetation where predators may hide. Regular cleaning will also help prevent algae growth and keep the water safe for wildlife.
- Add Bird-Friendly Plants: Many backyard birds in MN are naturally attracted to plants and their fruits/berries as sources of food. A well-planned landscape provides birds with natural food, shelter, and nesting opportunities. A few tree species that attract birds are crabapple (Malus sp.), spruce (Picea sp.), and pine (Pinus sp.). A couple of shrubs that attract birds are serviceberry (Amelanchier sp.) and dogwood (Cornus sp.). A few native perennials that birds love include purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), wild bergamot/beebalm (Monarda fistulosa), and black eyed susan (Rudbeckia hirta).
- Incorporate Shelter Options: While many birds naturally nest in trees and shrubs, cavity-nesting species such as chickadees, bluebirds, and wrens appreciate the addition of birdhouses. Properly placed birdhouses provide a safe, sheltered environment for raising young while helping protect nesting birds from predators and harsh weather.
- Provide high energy food sources: One of the best ways to attract birds is by adding high energy, food sources like suet cakes. TMade primarily from rendered animal fat and often blended with seeds, nuts, or insects, suet provides a concentrated source of calories that birds can quickly access. It's especially attractive to woodpeckers, nuthatches, wrens, and other insect-eating species, but many songbirds will enjoy it year-round.
- Diversify Bird Feeders : Contrary to widespread belief, the type of bird feeder in your landscape can have an enormous impact on success attracting birds. Typically, tubular bird feeders favor smaller songbirds like finches and chickadees. Offering multiple feeder styles creates feeding opportunities for birds with different habits and preferences.
- Tube feeders are perfect for smaller birds like finches and chickadees.
- Hopper or house feeders attract larger birds such as cardinals, jays, and grosbeaks.
- Tray feeders are ideal for ground-feeding birds like mourning doves and juncos.
- Suet feeders are favorites of woodpeckers, wrens, and nuthatches.
Whether you're just getting started with backyard birding or looking to attract even more feathered visitors, a combination of quality food, fresh water, native plants, shelter, and the right feeders will create a welcoming habitat all season long. Stop by your local Spikes & Houles to browse our wide selection of Meadow Ridge Farms bird seed, premium bird feeders, suet, and backyard birding essentials. Our knowledgeable team is always happy to help you choose the right products so you can enjoy a backyard full of birds all year long.
Browse our selection of Premium Bird Seed from Meadow Ridge Farms, at Spikes & Houles.
