Pruning Is for the Birds

As the leaves drop this time of year and I start noticing just how ragged the trees look in the front yard, out comes the pruning equipment. Instead of trashing the branches, however, a great option for birders is to build a brush pile from the cuttings to provide extra winter shelter for the birds. The pile can be temporary until spring arrives or it may become a permanent bird shelter, but either way it can help attract birds to your backyard during colder weather. Pruning the branches before all the leaves have fallen will also help make the pile seem more natural and even more attractive.

What other winter preparations do you do to make your yard more bird-friendly? Share your tips in the comments!

Photo © Melissa Mayntz