With a little planning, it's easy to create an environment to attract the birds you'll enjoy year-round.

Feed them well

• Grow plants that are native to your region, especially nectar-producing and seed- and berry-bearing plants. These plants provide a diverse selection of food sources that appeal to a variety of birds.
• Incorporate tree stumps, dying trees and decaying logs into your backyard design. They add rustic charm and provide food for insect-loving birds.
• Supplement birds' natural diets by filling multiple feeders with Scotts® Wild Bird Food and placing them throughout your yard.

Keep them safe and warm

• Plant vines along with different varieties of shrubs and trees to provide shelter at varying heights.
• Include evergreens in your landscape for winter shelter, protection from predators and safe nesting.
• Surround your yard with a variety of densely planted deciduous trees and shrubs for year-round food sources.
• Leave dying trees where they stand (unless they pose a hazard). Their natural cavities make ideal nesting sites for some varieties of birds.

Quench their thirst

• Place a birdbath in a safe spot in the yard.
• Add a bubbler, fountain or drip from a hose-moving water is irresistible to birds.
• Create bird-friendly perches by placing flat rocks in ponds or streams.