Top 10 Things You Need For a Bird & Butterfly Friendly Garden

Jul 22nd 2024

It's finally springtime! The last of the snow has melted. You can smell the fresh flowers and feel the warmth of springtime sunshine. People are riding bikes and playing lawn games and gardening again. Spring heralds not only better weather, but also the return of our favorite pollinators: birds and butterflies. Many of our high-flying friends make a return trip of hundreds (and sometimes thousands!) of miles from their wintering spots back to raise families in our backyards. But, as any parent could tell you, raising a family is hard work! Make it easier for these important insects and animals with fair trade.

By providing a handmade bird house, bird feeder, and other backyard birding essentials, you provide a source of shelter and safety for many species of birds and butterflies. In addition, there are lots of things you can do to create the perfect avian paradise. Here are the top ten most important things you need to know to make your fair weathered friends at home in your yard!

For the birds

1. Make sure your birdhouse has a properly-sized opening to prevent larger, more aggressive birds and predators from getting in. Depending on the type of bird you're trying to attract, you'll need a specific opening size for your birdhouse. Bird house openings range widely, but warblers, wrens, and other small songbirds need a 1–1 ½" diameter opening.

2. Ensure sturdy construction to protect and insulate the birds and their nest. The last thing you want to see is broken eggs on the ground or an abandoned nest. Make sure your birdhouse is sturdy enough to endure the weather in your area.

3. Use a sloped roof to direct water away from the house. Protecting the house from moisture helps keep its inhabitants dry and the nest box free of mold, which most birds are especially sensitive to.

Many of our beautifully handmade birdhouses fit the bill for your favorite winged guests! From our one-of-a-kind, hand painted Rangeni Bird House from India to the eco-friendly Anilao Birdhouse from the Philippines, you'll find the perfect birdie abode for your yard.

HINT! Having trouble getting the birds to stay? Make sure you also have plenty of available food and water sources. Our unique birdfeeders and suet feeders are perfect for holding numerous kinds of birdseed, and our Eco-Iron Hanging Birdbath is perfect for a quick drink or splash (or use it for lots of seed)!

For the butterflies

To encourage these beautiful pollinators to stay in your garden, why not give them a place they can call home? While butterflies probably won't take up residence like a bird, they'll use these special houses for shelter, especially during inclement weather. If you follow the steps below, you'll create a butterfly paradise.

4. Ensure your butterfly house has long, narrow slits in one face. This allows the butterflies to crawl inside while warding off potential predators (like birds!).

5. Paint your butterfly house with a nontoxic paint in a bright color. Butterflies are drawn to reds, pinks, purples, and other bright colors and painting your butterfly house in one of those shades will help these gorgeous insects locate it.

6. Mount your Butterfly House in a safe and secure location. A butterfly house should be securely mounted about 4 feet off the ground, somewhere it's sheltered from the wind.

7. Plant butterfly-friendly greenery and flowers near your butterfly house. This provides the butterflies a reliable and familiar source of food.

For all high-fliers

8. Use native plants in your landscaping. By planting native species of shrubs and flowers, you'll be providing a reliable source of food and shelter for many pollinators. Plus, you'll be preserving local ecosystems!

9. Avoid using pesticides and herbicides. While it may be tempting to use Bug-Be-Gone and Dandelion Destroyer on your beautiful garden, pesticides and herbicides are harmful to anything that ingests them, including birds and butterflies! Instead, consider eco-friendly alternatives like Diatomaceous earth, neem oil, or peppermint oil blends.

10. Set up your bird or butterfly house before the spring. If you set up early, birds coming back from wintering will have a place to stay after a long trip and butterflies will appreciate having a cozy spot to hunker down when spring weather turns gray.

Show Us Your Bird and Butterfly Houses!

Do you have pictures of your bird or butterfly houses in action? Or photos of your feathered visitors nesting? Send them to us! We love seeing birds using our handmade birdhouses. Email marketing@serrv.org, and your photos could be featured on SERRV's social media pages.