Bring a touch of nature to your apartment by welcoming birds onto your balcony.
With the right setup, your outdoor space can become a peaceful retreat where you can enjoy the gentle sights and sounds of visiting birds.
These simple tips will help you attract local species while keeping them safe and comfortable.
1. Plant Native Flowers
Native plants are bird magnets! They’ve evolved alongside local birds, creating perfect natural relationships.
Try adding coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, or sunflowers to your balcony containers. These plants produce seeds birds love.
2. Install a Birdbath
A colorful ceramic birdbath adds a fun splash of personality to your balcony while giving birds a refreshing place to drink and bathe.
Place your bird bath on a stable surface like a table or mount it securely to your balcony railing. Remember to change the water daily to keep it fresh and clean for your feathered visitors.
3. Use Hanging Bird Feeders
Hanging bird feeders are perfect for balconies as they can easily attach to railings. These feeders come in various styles to hold seeds, nuts, or suet, attracting different bird species.
Make sure your feeder is securely fastened to prevent it from falling. Position it so it hangs inside your balcony area for safety.
4. Colorful Nesting Boxes
Adding bright nesting boxes to your balcony helps attract birds looking for a safe place to rest. Paint wooden birdhouses in cheerful colors like yellow, blue, or red to make them more noticeable.
Place the boxes at least 5 feet high and make sure they’re securely mounted. Your feathered friends need stability for their new homes.
5. Orange Bird Feeding Ring
A fun way to attract orioles and other fruit-loving birds is to add an orange bird feeding ring to your balcony. Simply hang a metal or wooden ring designed to hold orange halves securely in place.
Cut a fresh orange in half and place it in the ring with the cut side facing out. Replace the orange every few days to keep it fresh and appealing to birds.
6. Glass Hummingbird Feeder
The Perky-Pet glass feeder brings beautiful hummingbirds right to your balcony.
The feeder features four flower-shaped feeding ports and a perching ring that lets hummingbirds rest while they drink.
You can place it 15-20 feet from your windows and near some plants for the best results.
7. Window-Mounted Transparent Feeder
These feeders attach with strong suction cups and let you watch birds eat from just inches away.
Fill your window feeder with small seeds like nyjer or sunflower hearts. Birds like finches, chickadees, and nuthatches will visit to grab a snack while you watch from inside.
8. Suet Cakes with Mealworms
Making suet cakes with mealworms is a perfect way to bring birds to your balcony during cold weather. You can create these treats by mixing lard or peanut butter with cornmeal, birdseed, and dried mealworms.
Your feathered visitors will love these high-energy snacks that help them stay warm in winter. Just remember to take them down when temperatures reach above 80°F to prevent melting.
9. Grow Bird-Attracting Herbs
Herbs aren’t just great for your cooking—they’re bird magnets too! Mint, basil, and oregano produce scents that naturally attract birds to your balcony space.
These herbs serve double duty by attracting insects that birds love to eat. When you let herbs flower, they provide nectar for pollinators, which in turn brings more birds.
10. Avoid using noisy wind chimes
Wind chimes might add a nice touch to your balcony, but they can actually keep birds away. The sudden, unpredictable sounds from metal chimes often startle birds and make them avoid your space.
If you really love wind chimes, consider bamboo ones instead. They produce gentler sounds that are less likely to scare birds off.
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