Even jet-setting songbirds need a good pit stop

Hello migration season! It’s officially the time of year when all your favorite jetsetters are either gearing up for their epic journeys south or they’re already on their way. You can help support their long flight by providing an epic pit stop where they can find nutritious food, fresh water, and safe shelter.

First, every worthwhile pit stop has delicious snacks. For birds, the snacks need to be nutritious and loaded with energy to help fuel their long flights. Fill your bird feeder with high-energy seeds like black oil sunflower seeds, shell-free sunflower hearts, and safflower seeds to attract migratory birds like grosbeaks and buntings. You can find these high-energy seeds in our Cardinal & Crew, Nut & Fruit, and Safflower, Nuts, & Hearts blends. These energy-rich seeds give our globetrotting cool birds the quick calorie boost they need to keep them going.

Second, hydration is key. Water is literally just as important as food, and it can be hard to find this time of year. Up your backyard birding game by adding a birdbath to your backyard. Both migratory and year-round resident birds will thank you. But please, don’t get lazy. Keep that birdbath sparkling clean to help your frequent flyers stay healthy and happy! You can add a small fountain or a dripper to attract even more birds. Cool birds love the sound of moving water, because it means it’s fresh and ready for drinking!

Third, make sure your yard is attractive to all birds, not just seed-eating birds. Fill it with native plants that provide seeds and nectar like asters, goldenrod, and sunflowers. Got bugs? Don’t sweat it. Birds like warblers and thrushes LOVE bugs! Attract them to your yard and they’ll help exterminate any unwanted bug life.

Finally, no one wants unsafe accommodation while they’re traveling, so make sure your backyard bungalow has a 5-star safety rating. Dense shrubs, tall grasses, and trees with plenty of branches provide cover and a safe place for birds to relax and unwind.

A bird-friendly habitat is like an airport lounge with all the amenities, so make sure your globetrotting icons can eat, drink, and rest before taking flight on the next leg of their epic journey and do it all over again in the spring.