BRUSH PILES FOR BIRDS: If you like birds, maybe you should 
rethink keeping a tidy yard [:04 “…attract wanted birds.”] we 
explain ahead…on Passport to Texas. 

This is Passport to Texas

If you’re a suburban or urban bird lover who maintains an 
extremely tidy landscape, don’t be surprised if interesting 
birds don’t flock to your yard. 

05— Yeah, tidy yards don’t always attract good birds. Wanted 
birds.

Cliff Shackelford is TPW’s non-game ornithologist.

12— A lot of people have their golf course looking lawn and they 
just get great tailed grackles in some of these cities. But, what 
we recommend for urbanites is keep a little brush pile.

When you’re doing yard work, instead of sending fallen 
branches and deadwood, or cuttings from pruning trees 
or shrubs to the landfill, use them to create a sanctuary.

10— For some birds that like thickets and hiding places, those 
brush piles are good. And, also think about in the breeding 
season; there’s nest material that they can break off from those 
brush piles.

Don’t worry about your HOA—just keep the bush pile in 
the backyard away from prying eyes. And in rural areas, 
create habitat for thicket-loving birds by leaving shrubs 
and brush growing along fence rows. 

13— There are a lot of birds that really like that cover. A lot of 
native sparrows and wrens and quail and thing that like the 
brushy edges. So, keep brush piles when you can and keep your 
fence rows brushy when you can.

The bigger the brush pile the better for the birds, but 
even a small brushy patch is better than nothing. That's 
our show… Funding provided in part by Ram Trucks. 
Guts. Glory. Ram

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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