From chickadees to catbirds, these expert tips will help you turn your backyard into a wild bird haven.

Bird watching is something of a national pastime. Ninety-six million Americans are birding these days, but 91 million of them are doing so from home, according to a 2022 U.S. Fish and Wildlife survey. Together they spend an estimated $4 billion annually on feeding birds, from seed to sugar water.

Watching wild birds from your home can be both thrilling and relaxing, but it can also come with a scientific reward. For instance, researchers use the backyard sightings that users submit to Project FeederWatch—a joint program run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Birds Canada—to track long-term changes in bird populations.

There are many decisions that go into bringing birds to your yard, and they all depend on the kinds of species you want to attract, says Matt Young, an expert birder, author, and founder of the Finch Research Network.

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