"Third in a three-book series Peterson field guide/Bird watcher's digest Backyard bird guides"--Introduction.

"Two of the best-known names in birding--Peterson and Bird Watcher's Digest--team up to provide reliable, expert advice on how to attract the birds you want into your yard. Which birds use nest boxes? What's required to maintain a birdhouse? What kind of habitat will attract which birds? What does it take to be a bluebird trail operator? What does it mean if baby birds or eggs disappear from their nest? Bill Thompson III answers all of these questions and more, helping readers to create yards and gardens where birds will make their homes and raise their young. It's easy enough to hang a birdfeeder. But there are plenty of other things that can attract birds to a landscape--and, in fact, birds need four essentials: food, water, shelter, and a place to nest. The more of these elements a yard has, the more attractive it is to birds. A lavishly illustrated chapter provides ideas and inspiration for creating bird havens by profiling "Birdy Backyard All-Stars," fifteen homeowners from around the country who have actively worked to create bird-friendly habitats"-- Provided by publisher.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 191-193) and index.

1. Bird-friendly Habitat -- Four Things That All Birds Need -- Why Welcome Birds? -- 2.Natural Homes -- Non-cavity Nesters -- Improving Your Yard's Nesting Potential -- 3. Bird Housing -- What Is a Birdhouse? -- Why Do This? -- The Purple Martin Story -- The Bluebird Story -- Proper Housing for Birds -- Monitoring Nest Boxes -- 4. Profiles of Cavity Nesters -- Chickadees -- Titmice -- Nuthatches -- Wrens -- Swallows -- Purple Martin -- Bluebirds -- American Robin -- Flycatchers -- Woodpeckers -- Owls -- American Kestrel -- Prothonotary Warbler -- Ducks -- European Starling and House Sparrow -- 5. Troubleshooting and FAQs -- Being a Backyard Landlord -- Frequently Asked Questions -- 6. The Birdy Backyard All-Stars -- Ed Kanze : New York -- Clay and Pat Sutton : New Jersey -- Jeff Payne : Pennsylvania -- Alan Pulley : Virginia -- Julie Zickefoose : Ohio -- Connie and Pat Toops : North Carolina -- Andy Kinsey : Georgia -- Terry and Marci Fuller : Texas -- Dudley Edmondson : Minnesota -- Steve and Cheryl Eno : Nebraska -- Lynn Hassler : Arizona -- Kathy Wiederholt : North Dakota -- John and Durrae Johanek : Montana -- Alvaro Jaramillo : California -- John Riutta : Oregon -- Appendix: Nest-box Plans -- Resources.