March

Growing conditions still vary significantly depending on where you live in the U.S. or Canada. Review the checklist below and see what resonates with you and for your space. Don’t worry, you don’t have to do everything all at once!

Adding nest boxes or leaving dead or dying trees standing (only if they do not endanger people or structures) is a great way to encourage birds to nest in your space. Make sure, however, you install boxes properly – add a predator guard, and pay attention to which direction the entrance faces. Different species prefer different orientations!

Green treed area with a square nest box mounted on a pole with a black done on the pole facing down to prevent animals from climbing up.
Nest box installed on a pole and with a predator guard to try to maximize the success of nesting birds. Photo by Holly Grant.

Garden Checklist

Use the guides below on activities you can do now in your area. Gardening is a journey and not everything can be done at once or in one year. So pick and choose where to focus for this growing season!

Warm Regions:

Southern U.S. Regions

Cool Regions: 

Rest of Regions in U.S. / CA

  • Delay your garden clean-up.
    • Even if temperatures are warming, leaving resources in place for as long as possible will provide foraging for birds and time for some insects to emerge.

All Regions:

  • Register for Designing Your Garden for Birds on Sunday, March 8, 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT.
  • See Habitat Photos from 2025 for inspiration.
  • Take a planning picture and upload it. 
  • Identify where you will plant your plant(s). 
  • Consider what to plant & where to get your plant(s).
    • As a first choice, we always recommend sourcing plants from local native plant nurseries. Or, friends that have native plants to share!
    • These vetted resources can help.
  • Bookmark Garden for Birds calendar.
  • Clean out nest boxes or install one.
  • Protect your windows and other glass from bird collisions.
    • Migration is starting in southern regions. Make sure your windows are visible to birds.
  • Take your Wildr Score.
    • Find out how much biodiversity you are supporting. This will provide a baseline before making habitat changes.
Garden picture with recliner and purple flowers.
Pictured is a favorite purple parterre spot from Heather Evan’s home in Rhode Island. She and Zoe Evans will be leading our March 8 webinar. Purple flowers in the foreground are wild bee balm (Monarda fistulosa), some purple cone flower (Echinacea purpurea) is also notable along with an intentionally left, beneficial to birds, snag in the background. Photo by Heather Evans.

Featured Plant & Bird

Common Name: Western Redbud

Scientific Name: Cercis orbiculata

Native to: AZ , CA , NV , UT

(Various Redbud species are native to almost all parts of North America. Search for those native to your region.)

Plant characteristics: Small, early blooming deciduous tree with bright fuchsia flowers followed by edible pods in the summer.

Growing conditions: Tolerates all light and soil conditions and is frequently found on canyon slopes and foothills.

Benefits to Birds & Biodiversity: This tree buzzes with bees. During peak bloom you can “hear” the activity. Butterflies can also be found nectaring on the vibrant flowers. Birds love to hunt for insects in this tree, sometimes eating the blossoms and certainly enjoying the summer seed pods.

Yellow and olive bird perched in a tree with bright fuchsia buds about to open.
Lesser Goldfinch in western red bud (Cercis orbiculata) by Max Breshears / Macaulay Library.

Additional Resources

Stay Connected

By subscribing to stay connected to Garden for Birds, you agree to receive communications from the Cornell Lab. You may unsubscribe from the communications at any time.