Few yards will be able to supply sufficient food or shelter for a variety of birds all year long. However, you can improve your backyard's shelter offering by building or purchasing bird houses or nesting material.

All bird species have specific nesting requirements. For instance, Eastern bluebirds prefer nesting sites that border open fields where as Chickadees prefer to nest in wooded areas.

Before starting, find out which species are common in your area and can be encouraged to nest in your yard. Make or buy a bird house specifically designed for the bird you wish to attract. The size of the entrance hole is critical to prevent the eggs and young from being destroyed by larger birds. Also, pay close attention to box size, height above the ground, direction the entrance hole faces, and amount of sunlight.