Audubon’s 2019 report, Survival by Degrees: 389 Bird Species on the Brink sends a clear message about the serious dangers birds face in a warming world. Protecting them will require redoubling conservation efforts to safeguard critical habitat.

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

You can help restore bird habitat by planting native plants in your landscape.  To survive, native birds need native plants and the insects that have co-evolved with them.  Bird-friendly landscaping provides food, saves water and fights climate change. Your garden is your outdoor sanctuary.  With some careful choices, it can be a haven for birds as well. Landscaped with native species, your yard, patio, or balcony becomes a vital recharge station for birds passing through, and a sanctuary for nesting and overwinter birds.  Here are some resources to help you create a haven for both local and migratory birds.

View the following pdf files for native plants that thrive in Whatcom and Skagit counties.  You will find pictures and descriptions of the plants, as well as the birds they attract.

• Birds and Native Trees

• Birds and Native Shrubs

• Birds and Native Plants Perennials and Ground Covers

  Review our Native Plants for Birds presentation.

  Visit the Audubon Plants for Birds database and access the interactive tool that uses your zip code to generate the best native plants for birds in your area.  You will also find local nurseries and links to more information. 

  The City of Bellingham has great information on planning a wildlife friendly landscape, as well as specific information on attracting birds.
  

Explore these websites for additional information to help you create a bird-friendly landscape.

• Washington Native Plant Society

• Washington Fish and Wildlife

• Bird Note:Top Ten Ideas for Creating a Garden Paradise for Birds…and Humans

• National Wildlife Federation

• American Bird Conservancy

• King County Native Plant Guide

• WSU Cooperative Extension Whatcom County

• Attracting Hummingbirds

Here are some local nurseries where you can purchase native plants:

• Whatcom Conservation District

• Fourth Corner Nursery

• Plantas Nativa, LLC

• Cloud Mountain Farm Center

• My Garden Nursery

• The Garden Spot

• The Gardens at Padden Creek

• Kent's Garden and Nursery

You are what hope looks like to a bird. 

View Audubon’s Climate Action Handbook for more steps you can take to help birds survive.