Native cavity-nesting birds have been negatively impacted in urban and suburban areas like Arlington due to cat predation, competition from the invasive House Sparrow, pesticides, herbicides, extreme temperatures, and a decline in dead trees called snags, native plants, and insects. You can bridge the gap by creating essential habitat for native birds.

Here is a list of suggestions for constructing an optimum habitat for native birds with food, water, shelter, and safe places to nest and fledge:

1. KEEP CATS INDOOR
   • This is one of the biggest threats to native birds. Cats kill 2.4 billion birds each year – more than any other human-related cause (other than habitat loss) in the United States and Canada. Cats love to hunt even if they are not hungry. Source: Loss et al. 2015
   • Keep cats indoors especially during the nesting season from March through September when inexperienced new fledglings are most susceptible. Visit Cats Indoors for more solutions to keep cats and birds safe.
2. PROVIDE SHELTER
   • Thickets, hedges, and brush piles provide protection from predators and storms. Native plants suggestions can be found here. 
3. PROVIDE CLEAN WATER
   • Provide clean water for bathing and drinking by providing a shallow dish of water lined with stones and with a branch or two just above the surface in early spring and summer to allow for perching and a non-slippery grip. To prevent mosquitos in bird baths, change the water every five days, add an agitator or aerator, or add “Mosquito Bits” (a bacterial insecticide that kills mosquitoes but is not harmful to birds or other wildlife).
4. HAVE BUGS FOR BABY BIRDS – Native baby birds are fed high-calorie, protein-dense insects and spiders. Birds bring back hundreds of caterpillars to their nestlings every day.
   • Plant native plants, especially trees, to host larvae of native caterpillars. Most caterpillars cannot digest the leaves of non-native plants.
   • Native birds rely on insects and spiders for fuel and to feed their growing nestlings. Avoid herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers as they contaminate the plants, insects, and water. Native plants are a great choice as they require no fertilizers or pesticides.
5. PROVIDE FOOD FOR NATIVE ADULT BIRDS
   • ​As insects become scarcer in the winter, birds rely on berries, nuts, and seeds. Plant diverse native plants to attract songbirds in all seasons. Visit Plant NOVA Natives for more tips on how to garden for songbirds.
6. PROVIDE NATURAL NESTING SPOTS
   • Plant plants of varying heights: canopy trees, understory trees, shrubs, grasses, and perennials to provide nesting spots.
   • Dead trees (snags) provide essential nesting cavities to birds. Consider leaving the bottom 15-20 feet in place.
7. KEEP THE INVASIVE HOUSE SPARROW AWAY
   • House Sparrows take over nesting sites, damaging eggs and killing young and adults. They evolved alongside humans eating grains and are attracted to backyards, buildings, utility poles, and signs – pretty much anything in the built environment. Patch any holes in your home or building since House Sparrows would be the most likely to nest in these kind of cavities.
   • Learn to identify House Sparrow adults, nests, and eggs and remove nesting material from your birdhouses.
   • House Sparrows are seed-eaters, so don’t offer easy-to-access seeds, millet, cracked corn or ground feeding – instead try suet without embedded seeds, preformed cylinders of seed, nyjer-seed feeders. Protect sunflower seed feeders with a halo baffle that deters House Sparrows. Visit Feeder Watch for detailed tips.
8. PROVIDE SAFE NEST BOXES (BIRDHOUSES)
   • When looking for a nest box, select one that is well-constructed with:
     • wood at least 3/4-1″ thick
     • an entrance hole that is 1-1/2″ or smaller
     • a slanted roof to shed rainwater
     • ventilation holes to keep it cool enough in summer.
     • a Noel and snake guard
     • Don’t have a peg perch because House Sparrows like to them.
     • Don’t choose one with a dark colored box or roof because it can overheat.
   • Put them on poles so that they do not become a “lunch box” for a hungry predator.
   • Unless your yard is a large open field, use 1 1/8″ faceplates to provide the native Chickadee and House Wren a safe place where the larger invasive House Sparrow cannot enter and attack their nest. Inexpensive faceplates can be found here.
   • Remove old nests from nest boxes once birds fledge. Birds start fresh every time to reduce the risk of parasites and keep things clean.
   • Monitor nest boxes weekly to check on their nesting progress and treat problems. See our page on nest box monitoring.
   • Make any repairs to ensure that it is a dry place to nest.
9. LEAVE OUT FUR
   • Leave out dog and cat fur in your garden for the birds to use to line their nests. You can use a suet cage to hang fur under a dry spot like a porch or stoop for the birds to help themselves.