Even if you live in an apartment, townhouse, or

condominium development without much

space for landscaping, the right mix of ingredients on a balcony, patio, terrace, or rooftop can be

an oasis that provides food and rest for wildlife in an

urban concrete desert. Coordinated efforts by neighbors can transform an entire multi-unit building or

complex into a thriving urban habitat that is part of a

larger living landscape.

BIRDS IN SMALL PLACES

A small urban setting can still contribute to the

conservation of birds, while creating a richer place

that is full of life and energy, takes the edge off a

hectic urban world, and connects your home with

the natural world. Inviting birds to your patio,

terrace, or balcony may be as simple as creating a

green space that stands out. Birdscape your single

dwelling, several units, or an entire building complex

by providing birds with plants for food and shelter,

feeders, a nest box, and a source of fresh water. Try

to provide these basic needs for locally common

native birds, additional species you’d like to attract,

and other birds that need the most help in your

area. Consider providing native flowers and a feeder

for hummingbirds.

URBAN BIRDS

Cities often support more individual birds than

suburban or rural areas. However, these abundant

urban birds are mostly House Sparrows, European

Starlings, and Rock Pigeons—highly adaptable

European species that have learned to thrive in

urban settings. By covering or replacing bare

pavement and buildings with native trees, bushes,

and wildflowers, urban areas—including apartment

complexes—can attract a wider range of native bird

species and can serve as valuable habitat for birds

migrating through the city. For more information on

how you can attract native birds to your apartment,

condominium, or townhouse, visit

www.audubonathome.org/apartment.

BATS—THE NIGHT SHIFT

The United States is home to 47 bat species, and

bats are often found in urban areas, where they may

hunt for insects attracted to streetlights. In more

suburban settings, bats may live around multi-unit

dwellings, finding their insect prey over open fields

and waterways. Bats that roost in crevices may take

advantage of a bat house placed at a height of

10 feet or higher on a structure that faces the

morning sun. For more information, visit

www.audubonathome.org/bats.

BUTTERFLY BALCONIES

A patch of bright-colored flowers in a sea of concrete can serve as a magnet for butterflies. Make

your patio, balcony, or small yard explode with color.

Paint flowerpots yellow, orange, and red and plant

them with colorful native flowers. Butterflies may

also come to drinking water placed for them in a

shallow bowl filled with pebbles and water, or drink

nectar from an artificial butterfly feeder. For more

information on attracting butterflies, visit

www.audubonathome.org/butterflies.

THE OTHER “B”

Most of the bees that pollinate native plants do not

live together in hives. Many of these native solitary

bees are declining, but you may be able to help them

by building a bee box. Simply drill small holes into an

untreated block of wood, or tie a bundle of dried

stems together and place them outdoors. Solitary

bees will lay their eggs in the holes, which then

serve as a nursery. For more information on

how to help these beneficial insects, visit

www.audubonathome.org/solitarybees.

CONTAIN YOUR NATIVES

In a small urban habitat, flowerpots, wall-mounted

planter boxes, and hanging plants can add interest

and accommodate a variety of plants that may attract

birds and butterflies. Consult with your local native

plant society to learn which native plants work best

in containers. As a general rule, bigger containers are

better and give roots room to grow. Always include

a bottom layer of rocks or pieces of broken pots for

good drainage and to guard against overwatering.

BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR

Share your enthusiasm for your bird and butterfly

oasis to initiate positive change within your

community. Get together with your neighbors and

form a cooperative “gardening for wildlife” group.

Surround your building with greenery and enjoy your

new bird and butterfly neighbors. Take this poster to

a homeowner’s association meeting and offer your

ideas as inspiration. If you live in a high-rise building,

promote dimming nighttime lights during migration

to avoid attracting migratory birds that may become

disoriented and collide with lighted buildings and

windows. Plan your landscaping to complement

nearby natural areas, and get adjacent landowners

to join your efforts as well. For more information

on working together to help birds and other

wildlife in your community, visit

www.audubonathome.org/neighborhood.

HEALTHY YARD PLEDGE

Create and maintain a healthy environment for you,

your family, and local wildlife by pledging to:

U Reduce pesticide use

U Conserve water

U Protect water quality

U Remove invasive exotic plants

U Plant native species

U Support wildlife on your property

Visit www.audubonathome.org/pledge to

make the pledge online.

CREATING A HEALTHY APARTMENT OR TOWNHOUSE

The AUDUBON AT HOME website

<www.audubonathome.org> contains a wealth of

information and downloadable resources to help

you plan and develop your property in a wildlifefriendly way. You’ll find regional resources and

information about the birds, other wildlife, and

native plants in your area.

The AUDUBON AT HOME website contains information

and downloadable resources to help you plan and

develop your property in a wildlife-friendly way. You’ll

find regional resources and information about the birds,

other wildlife, and native plants in your area. Visit

www.audubonathome.org.

NRCS’S BACKYARD CONSERVATION website also

shows ways to help the environment and to make your

yard more attractive and enjoyable. Visit

www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/backyard.

United States Department of Agriculture

Natural Resources Conservation Service © National Audubon Society, Inc., 2006

This publication is printed cooperatively by Audubon and the Natural Resources

Conservation Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

AN INVITATION TO A HEALTHY APARTMENT
Invite Birds, Bats, and Butterflies to 

YOUR APARTMENT OR TOWNHOUSE

BIRDHOUSES offer a good

alternative for cavity-nesting chickadees,

titmice, and wrens.

Bats are important insect predators in

many urban areas, and a BAT HOUSE

can give them a place to roost during

the day.

With the clearing of hollow trees and

the capping of chimneys, Chimney

Swifts are losing preferred places to

nest and roost. Attractive CHIMNEY

SWIFT TOWERS can house these

high-flying insectivores and, when used

to display information, can even double

as community nature kiosks.

Your building’s barren roof area can

become on attractive green hilltop.

ROOFTOP GARDENS save energy

by insulating building interiors, reduce

runoff, last longer than conventional

roofs, and provide habitat for birds,

butterflies, and other beneficial insects.

Hummingbirds will more readily find a

HUMMINGBIRD FEEDER in the

midst of plants, especially those with

tubular flowers. More of these tiny

winged jewels may visit if you and your

neighbors create a network of adjoining

green balconies, roofs, or patios.

Seed-eating birds have an uncanny

ability to find BIRD FEEDERS—even

in the most urban settings. A ready

food source may attract common city

dwelling birds, as well as more unusual

species passing by.

A balcony, terrace, or patio GARDEN

becomes an inviting “microhabitat.” If

you encourage your neighbors to

cultivate their outdoor space as well,

your combined efforts will create even

more habitat for birds and butterflies.

An estimated 1 billion birds die each

year from crashing into windows.

Decorate the outer surface of your

WINDOWS to make the glass visible

to birds, or put up a protective screen

to prevent them from flying into it.

Fresh WATER in a birdbath or shallow

container can provide drinking and

bathing opportunities for many birds.

A community-wide effort to keep

CATS indoors will keep cats safe and

healthy, while reducing cat predation of

birds and other small animals.

BIRDS TO HELP IN YOUR AREA

If your apartment, townhouse, or condo is in an urban area, your primary goal may be

to provide additional habitat for common native birds—to provide an oasis for birds

moving through your neighborhood. Consider providing food, shelter, and nesting sites

for five or six local species. Then keep a close watch to see how the birds respond to

your efforts. To determine which species to help in your area, and how you can attract

them to your apartment, condo, or townhouse, visit

www.audubonathome.org/birdstohelp.

My target species Action points

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ILLUSTRATION BY RICK BROWN

For more information, visit www.audubonathome.org/apartment • For individual copies of this poster, call 1-888-LANDCARE.

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