One of spring’s greatest joys is watching nesting birds. But as Virginia loses open spaces to conversion, many species of birds struggle to find a safe place to raise their young. Luckily, you can support native bird species in your own backyard, whether you live in a residential neighborhood or a rural area.

• Install species-specific nest boxes to provide a safe place for birds to shelter from predators and raise their young.
• Remove invasive plant species and plant natives such as warm season grasses, forbs (flowering plants), shrubs and fruit and nut bearing trees to provide food and shelter for birds.
• Leave snags (dead standing trees) whenever they don’t pose a safety risk so cavity-nesting birds can use old woodpecker holes to build their nests.
• Raise the blades on mowers and tractors to 8 inches or higher to avoid destroying grassland bird nests.

Learn More

• Find species-specific nest box guides — including size, placement, materials and predator deterrents — at Cornell University’s nestwatch.org Right Bird, Right House directory.
• Visit vagrasslandbirds.org to find more best management practices from the Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative — a PEC partner program that empowers landowners and producers in 16 counties to manage their lands for the benefit of birds and farms. 

This article appeared in the 2026 spring edition of The Piedmont Environmental Council’s member newsletter, The Piedmont View. If you’d like to become a PEC member or renew your membership, please visit pecva.org/join.