Want more birds, and maybe more butterflies too, in your backyard?
Notes from a Texas Master Naturalist about native plants and why they matter to wildlife.
What does it take to bring your favorite winged things into the yard? Sorry, it’s not about just one thing. Creating habitat for native species means replicating to the extent possible the habitat features they need and expect, where they were living long before we built and moved into their territory.
Let’s start with birds: Competition for resources is fierce in nature, so it’s a bit of a fine line between offering food and shelter that draws birds in, and creating a war zone. It’s always best to consider if there are specific birds you would most enjoy, and then cater to the needs of those. For example, some of the smaller birds such as finches are especially fond of thistle seeds, while other larger species prefer a heartier meal. And if you are thinking of setting up nesting boxes, keep in mind that families with chicks don’t really like to be too close to competition for food so you may not get, say, bluebirds if they can see another nest box from one they might have otherwise considered. And it’s essential to have a good variety of native plants that the birds have been using for food and shelter for thousands of years before people showed up in the neighborhood. That also means reducing, or eliminating if possible, chemical use in your landscape so you aren’t deterring an important food for almost all bird species – insects and their larvae.
It’s pretty much a “ditto” of the above for insects, too. In essence, plants are toxic to insects. Period. Plants fight back with chemicals to reduce the damage of insects using them as food. But over the millennia, some insects and plants have adapted to not only co-exist, but even have mutually beneficial interactions (Think plants and pollinators). If, for example, you want to see more butterflies in your yard, do a little digging into which butterflies are native and what their habitat requirements may be. Most need two kinds of native plants/trees: One to serve as food sources for adults, and one to serve as “host” plants for egg-laying as well as caterpillar food. One without the other reduces the number and variety of butterflies you’ll see in your landscape.
Native Texas Landscape is a great resource for native plants and can help you make choices to accomplish your landscaping goals of creating a haven for birds, butterflies, moths, and other beneficial insects to flourish – and for you to enjoy.
Teri MacArthur has been a certified Texas Master Naturalist since 2001 and is an environmental educator offering a broad scope of adult and youth nature programs in the region.
July 2025
