How To: A Bird-Friendly
Sanctuary
Like us, birds need food, water, and shelter. You can transform any outdoor space into a bird sanctuary that saves water, supports pollinators, and combats climate change — one native plant at a time.
"The secret to success lies in choosing locally native plants, which brim with nutritious insects, berries, nectar, and seed to give birds vital food and refuge."— Audubon Society
The Impact of Native Plants
Species of butterflies and moths a single native oak tree supports
A non-native ginkgo hosts just five.
Of land birds that feed insects to their chicks
Native plants are nature's bounty for nesting birds.
U.S. crops that depend on pollinators to grow
Native plants are essential for birds, bees, butterflies, and bats.
Pounds of pesticides applied to U.S. lawns annually
Native plants support a vibrant balance of predator and prey insects — without pesticides.
Six Simple Steps
Create a Native Plant Garden at Your Property
From Bob's Garden — Eastern Pennsylvania
White-tailed Doe & Fawn
Monarch on Zinnia
Goldfinch on Verbena
Monarch Butterfly
Red Admiral
Pileated Woodpecker
Pileated Pair on Oak
Eastern Bluebird
American Goldfinch
All photographs © Bob Barrett / Wild Bird DesignScapes — Eastern Pennsylvania
Go Deeper
More Information & Resources
Native Plants for Birds
Audubon Society
Find native plants for your zip code that support local bird populations.
Bringing Nature Home
Dr. Doug Tallamy
The foundational book on native plants and their role in supporting wildlife food webs.
American Horticultural Society
Find a Native Plant Society
Locate your regional native plant society for local expertise and plant sales.
Wild Bird DesignScapes
Schedule Site Assessment
Work directly with Bob and his team of Subject Matter Experts for a bespoke habitat design.
This page is adapted from the Audubon Society's "How To: A Bird-Friendly Sanctuary" educational resource, presented and expanded by Wild Bird DesignScapes with original field photography by Bob Barrett. All plant and ecological data is consistent with research by Dr. Doug Tallamy, University of Delaware.
Original Audubon resource: A Bird-Friendly Sanctuary (PDF)