Plans to build 12 functional birdhouse and feeder projects, plus valuable insights on creating the perfect backyard environment to attract birds.

Offers advice for creating a landscape that will attract birds year-round, with information on plant selection, soil, birdhouses, water gardens, and predators.

Publisher Description

As popular as birdhouses are, many are designed with aesthetics in mind, rather than the bird's preferences and needs. Not so for the projects in Making Bird-Friendly Birdhouses. Lifelong birder Mel "Bird Man Mel" Toellner and pro woodworker Matt Maguire walk readers step-by-step through 15+ projects for safe birdhouses that birds find conducive to their natural nesting habitats. They begin with a comprehensive introduction to why birdhouses are so important, and why the birdhouses should be created with specific birds in mind like bluebirds, wrens, chickadees, owls and even bats! With additional sections on distribution maps, detailed plans, mounting instructions, and tips on attracting birds to your yard, it has everything you need to create a successful backyard haven for your winged friends.

Britain’s gardens are a vast, living landscape and the home to hundreds of species of birds. Learn to pay attention to these visitors to your own garden or local park and you’ll have a front-row seat to the unfolding drama that is the garden bird’s year.

**Transform Your Yard into a Beautiful Backyard Oasis** Step into your dream garden with "Beautiful Backyard Oasis," the ultimate guide for creating a serene retreat right in your own backyard. If you've ever aspired to have a stunning outdoor space that's easy to maintain, this eBook is your blueprint to achieving that goal. Dive into Chapter 1 with a comprehensive introduction to low-maintenance backyard oases. Discover the incredible benefits of minimal upkeep gardens, understand your climate and soil, and master the key principles of design to start your transformation journey. Navigate through the crucial stages of planning and budgeting in Chapter 2, ensuring you create a functional layout that suits both your vision and your wallet. From there, delve into the world of hardscaping in Chapter 3, where you'll learn to choose durable materials and install low-maintenance features that stand the test of time. In Chapters 4 and 5, explore water features and plant selection tailored for easy care, including drought-tolerant and native plants that thrive with minimal attention. Efficient irrigation systems and lawn alternatives are covered in Chapters 6 and 7, offering modern solutions for smart water use and low-maintenance care. Chapter 8 introduces you to the versatility of container gardening and raised beds, while Chapter 9 highlights the best low-maintenance trees and shrubs for your space. Outdoor furniture, lighting, and simple structures are tackled in Chapters 10, 11, and 12, providing practical tips for selecting weather-resistant pieces and effortless lighting solutions. Design inviting outdoor entertaining areas with ease in Chapter 13, and follow the seasonal care tips in Chapter 14 to keep your oasis looking impeccable all year round. Attract wildlife seamlessly with Chapter 15’s hassle-free bird-friendly, butterfly, and bee garden ideas. Address common garden issues with confidence in Chapter 16, and maintain your garden using the expert advice in Chapter 17. Be inspired by real-life case studies and transformations in Chapter 18, and learn the secrets of sustaining your beautiful oasis over time in Chapter 19. Finally, wrap up your garden journey with the essential takeaways and further resources provided in Chapter 20, ensuring your backyard oasis continues to flourish. "Beautiful Backyard Oasis" is your complete guide to creating a stunning, low-maintenance garden that offers tranquility and beauty with minimal effort. Embark on your backyard transformation today!

“An engaging and inspiring comprehensive guide.” —Booklist “A great benefit of creating a bird-friendly landscape is enjoying your garden while watching a bluebird dropping in for a worm in a freshly dug patch, a phoebe snapping at insects, or a hummingbird probing nectar-rich flowers while robins sing in the trees.” With the right native plants, arranged to mimic natural ecosystems, you will provide birds with food, water, shelter, and nesting places. Instead of just visiting your garden to snack, birds will call it home! George Adams offers close-up profiles of birds from across all regions of North America to teach you their nesting, breeding, and feeding habits along with guidance for regional plant selection and garden design.

The key principles of designing a pleasant, comfortable and healthy eco-home, with a foreword written by HRH The Prince of Wales, now King Charles III. Designing an eco-home is much more about working with your house's location and situation than relying on intrusive technology and hi-tech materials. With the soaring energy bills and the climate crisis, it is now more important than ever to invest in a home that is considerate of keeping heat in. In this handbook, architect Christopher Day draws on his extensive experience to explain the key principles of eco-home design, using common-sense methods. Packed full of practical information, it includes several case studies of eco-homes, reviewing (with hindsight) what worked well and what could have been better. There is also guidance on how to generate energy, upgrading old buildings, and site planning. With beautifully hand-drawn illustrations, Christopher explores how to use local topography, combined with landscaping, to improve your home's microclimate and keep your house dry and warm in the winter, and cool in the summer. There are also handy tips on how to minimise hidden environmental impacts, and ideas on ways to make your home a safe and healthy place, both emotionally and physically. The Eco-Home Design Guide is essential for anyone who wants to create a attractive, environmentally friendly home that is in harmony with its location.

Practical and easy-to-follow information on how to create a backyard habitat that will attract a variety of birds throughout the year, from cardinals, orioles, and chickadees to woodpeckers, hummingbirds, bluebirds, goldfinches, and more.