Each autumn bird watching enthusiasts flock to Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts, which are main stops on the Atlantic Flyway. Glimpses of rare birds and awe-inspiring views of flocks of beloved common sea and songbirds are all possible, especially in the southern corners of the region. But with each passing season, there are less birds to see; our birds are in trouble.

Scientists have suspected bird losses for some time, but only in the last few years have declines been quantified. In 2019, researchers from seven institutions released a State of the Birds report with alarming news; North America lost 2.9 billion, or 30 percent of our birds, since 1970. This includes common birds like juncos, blackbirds and finches. It was described as a staggering loss that suggests the very fabric of North America’s ecosystem is unraveling.

Data for our region is equally grim. A 2023 study released by the Audubon Society of Rhode Island found more than one-third of breeding birds are in decline, including backyard favorites like catbirds, blue jays and robins. The report emphasizes that the health of our bird populations is inextricably linked to our own well-being.

Work is underway to better understand the reasons for these declines, but scientists are confident that the top reason is loss and fragmentation of habitat. We cannot put back habitat that has been lost to development, but we can work together to reconnect vibrant patches of nature that do remain and in doing so can create corridors of habitat right across the East Bay and beyond.

Think for a moment of our national roadway system — four million miles knitted together with intricate connections. What would happen if suddenly the roadways did not connect, if they simply hit dead ends? Life as we know it would come to a halt. That is exactly what it is like for songbirds as well as vital pollinators and creatures up and down the food chain. Roadways, parking lots, closely cropped lawns, mulch gardens, ornamental plantings and pesticide-soaked spaces all represent dead ends on the highway of natural life.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

The space right outside our doors represents a land of opportunity to begin building back lost connections. Connections that can be a lifeline. To do this, we first need to leave behind the notion that nature exists only somewhere “over there” and invite nature back home.

When we create usable patches of habitat in our own yards and in various corners of communities, then those spaces connect with each other and into larger conservation lands and suddenly nature has a chance to rebound.

Converting a traditional landscape to a thriving birdscape doesn’t necessarily require a formal plan, but it does require some planning. Here are some ways to begin:

Healthy habitats for birds include places to perch, hide, nest and seek protection from the elements. They are created with a foundation of native plants. Research has shown that landscapes must contain at least 70 percent native plant mass to be a viable nesting site for birds. That is because most birds need insects to feed their young, and it is native plants that in turn support those tasty bugs. Additional research has demonstrated that the berries of native plants offer much richer and better-timed food for native bird populations than their non-native counterparts.

To mimic habitat, plant in layers. Start with a canopy layer made up of trees — large and small — down to shrubs of different heights and sizes. Place trees and shrubs near each other to best meet the varied needs of diverse birds. Some of the most beneficial large trees in our area are oak, pine, red maple, blackgum, and eastern cedar. Small trees and shrubs like native dogwoods, viburnum, sumac, bayberry, chokeberry, winterberry and elderberry offer dual benefits of spring blooms for pollinators and nutrient rich fall berries for birds.

A layer of native flowering perennials brings seasonal interest and is likely to be the showiest part of the garden. Pick plants with varying heights and create combinations that offer blooming from spring through fall. Plant multiples of the same variety in clumps; this provides instant design and offers the greatest benefit to pollinators.

Perennial choices are plentiful, but save a spot for some of the most beneficial ones like milkweed, goldenrod, eupatorium, helianthus, mountain mint, rudbeckia, columbine, grasses, and aster.

Finish it off with a ground layer — referred to as green mulch — that incorporates native groundcovers, sedges and low ferns. These soften the space between taller plants and provide cover and foraging areas. Solid options include wild ginger, wild strawberry, bearberry and pussytoes.

When transitioning from a formal landscape to a birdscape, the goal over time is to fill the space completely with plants. More plants, less visual separation, and less mulch.

If you are anxious to get started, you still have time! Autumn is a perfect time for planting. The above-ground structure of most plants goes dormant by late fall, but the roots continue to grow. When next spring arrives, the strong root growth developed in fall’s warm soil will help the plant better access the water and nutrients it needs for optimal health. And the plants will already be well established and ready to help our wild friends.

Plants are the foundation of your birdscape, but there is more you can do to help:

• Eliminate pesticides, including the poisons hidden in most lawn treatments which kill an estimated 7 million birds per year.

• Leave leaves and other organic matter on site. They are essential to healthy habitat, and the common practice of leaf blowing to remove them is detrimental to our feathered friends.

• Add a water source and keep it clean.

• Build a brush pile instead of whisking branches away.

• Take steps to reduce window collisions, including minimizing artificial light.

• Keep cats indoors for the safety of the birds, and the cats.

• Support the Audubon Society of Rhode Island (www.asri.org) financially or by participating in one of their community science projects or advocacy campaigns.

If we all start now, we can enjoy a growing birdsong across the region come springtime. To help guide you in your planning you can download a free bird friendly habitat checklist at www.thebirdscapers.org.

“Life in the Garden” brings eco-friendly garden tips from Cindy and Ed Moura of Prickly Ed’s Cactus Patch Native Plant Emporium, where they are passionate about helping people realize the essential role everyone can play in supporting life right outside their own doors.