Thousands of people across the country yearn to see colorful, entertaining wild birds flitting outside their doors but are limited by some combination of time, space, and money. If you want, you can take some simple steps to attract birds to your small outdoor area easily and inexpensively.

Like most wildlife, and us humans, wild birds enjoy good food, good drink, and a place to shelter from the cold and wind.

Water

Water attracts wild birds, and you can provide it easily. Try a simple saucer filled with water and perched on a ledge or hung from a patio cover. Or, check out more ideas.

Food

You may be familiar with bird feeders filled with birdseed, the most common way to attract wild birds. The birdseed can be sunflower seed, millet, thistle (nyger), or other seeds. You can even provide peanuts or even chunks of bread or fruit. The feeders do not need to be elaborate; again, a simple saucer will do.

Shelter

Wild birds use shelters for more than nesting and hatching young ones. Wild birds will sleep, keep warm, and hide from predators in shelters. It is arguably the hardest to provide shelter easily and economically on your Wildlife Porch, but one of the easiest ways consists of a thick evergreen container shrub.

Examples

Other ways to provide water, food, or shelter:

• Suction-cup window bird feeder filled with sunflower seed
• Hanging ceramic saucer filled with hulled hulled sunflower seed pieces
• A lightweight hanging birdbath
• A wren birdhouse for deck or wall mounting
• A pedestal birdbath