Welcome, Vancouver!
Christmas Cake is Here!
We may not be ready to say goodbye to summer, but the birds sure are! 
Tips to Prepare Your Yard for Fall Migration 🍂
As summer turns to fall, many backyard birds begin their incredible migration journeys. Some will travel thousands of kilometres, while others will simply shift to new winter feeding areas. By preparing your yard now, you can provide food, water, and shelter to help these feathered travellers along the way — and enjoy more bird activity right outside your window.
1. Understand Fall Migration
In summer, birds focus on nesting and raising young. By autumn, these family territories break down, and birds form flocks to forage and watch for predators together. Some even join mixed-species groups, learning each other’s alarm calls and foraging techniques. Creating a welcoming habitat in fall makes your yard a regular stopover for these travellers.
2. Keep Your Landscape Bird-Friendly
A tidy yard may look nice to us, but birds benefit from a bit of natural variety:
Leave seed-bearing plants for finches, sparrows, and juncos.
Create small brush piles for shelter, resting, and predator protection.
Offer millet-type seed blends in ground feeders or tray feeders for species that prefer feeding low.
3. Refresh Your Feeding Stations
Fall is the perfect time to:
Clean and repair feeders before winter weather sets in.
Move feeders closer to the house — easier to refill in the cold, and healthier for birds when stations are rotated regularly.
Keep food fresh now — even small amounts will encourage birds to return when the weather gets colder.
4. Offer High-Energy Foods
Migrating birds need high-fat, high-protein foods for fuel. Great options include:
Wild Birds Unlimited Seed Blends — fresh, high-quality, and energy-rich.
Bark Butter® and Bark Butter Bits® — enjoyed by over 150 species!
Dried Mealworms — excellent protein source for insect-eating migrants.
5. Provide Moving Water
A moving water source is one of the most effective ways to attract migrants. Birds are drawn to the sound and sight of splashing water for drinking and bathing. Consider a Water Wiggler® or heated bird bath to keep water fresh and open.
6. Make Windows Safe for Birds
Sadly, window collisions kill 16–42 million birds every year in Canada. You can prevent these strikes with simple, effective solutions:
Feather Friendly® Window Decals
Window Gems® Static-Cling Decals
Creating an autumn bird habitat is rewarding for you and life-saving for birds.
Visit us and we’ll help you choose the right foods, feeders, and accessories to make your yard a safe stopover this migration season.
Know who is coming to your feeder - Get the Bird Reel Today
Calling Experienced Birders! Volunteers are needed for the Iona Island Bird Observatory's Fall Migration Census!
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