Prepare Your Backyard for Migration: How to Support Hummingbirds and Songbirds in Early August

As August arrives in Ontario, our backyards become busy rest stops for some of nature’s most remarkable travelers: migrating birds.

From dazzling Ruby-throated Hummingbirds to flocks of warblers, orioles, and swallows, many species begin their southbound journeys in early August. And whether you live in a city, suburb, or rural area, your yard can play a meaningful role in helping them along the way.

Here’s how to make your outdoor space a migration-friendly haven — and enjoy unforgettable bird watching while you’re at it.

Ruby-throated hummingbird. Photo by Heather Kerrison. 

Why Birds Migrate in August

Although peak migration happens in September, many birds begin their preparations in early August. You might notice:

• Hummingbirds becoming more active (and competitive!) at feeders

• Orioles and Purple Martins gathering in groups

• New visitors passing through your yard for the first time

These birds are fueling up for long-distance flights, and access to safe, food-rich stopovers can mean the difference between survival and exhaustion.

Yellow-rumped warbler, fall plumage. Photo by Shayna Hartley. 

What Makes a Migration-Friendly Yard?

Creating a welcoming space for migrating birds is easier than you think. The goal is to offer safe shelter, abundant food, and clean water, the essentials for a successful pit stop.

Here’s what to focus on:

💧 1. Provide Fresh, Moving Water

Migrating birds need clean water for drinking and bathing. In August’s heat, birdbaths can dry out quickly or grow algae, so check them daily.

✅ Tip: Add a dripper or water mover to attract more birds — the sound of moving water draws them in.

👉 Explore birdbaths and accessories 

Rose-breasted grosbeak. Photo by Kristen Martyn. 

🌺 2. Keep Nectar Feeders Full (and Clean!)

Ruby-throated hummingbird. Photo by Heather Kerrison. 

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are in high-gear right now, doubling their weight before heading south. Help them by:

• Keeping nectar feeders filled with a 4:1 water-to-sugar solution (no red dye)

• Cleaning feeders every 2–3 days to prevent mold and fermentation

If you have multiple feeders, space them out to reduce territorial squabbles.

👉 Browse hummingbird feeders

🐛 3. Offer High-Energy Foods

Migrating birds need calories — and plenty of them. Supplement your yard with:

• Suet for woodpeckers, nuthatches, and warblers

• Mealworms for robins, chickadees, and bluebirds. Not all of them leave, but it's an important time for them to bulk up nonetheless 

• Fruit or jelly for orioles and tanagers

These foods mimic what birds would find in the wild and help them build fat reserves for the journey.

🌾 4. Let Native Plants Do Their Work

If you’ve planted native flowers, grasses, or shrubs, let them thrive!

• Native plants produce natural food like seeds and berries

• They support insects (a crucial food source for many birds)

• They offer shelter and perches for rest and protection

Consider letting some flowers go to seed and avoid cutting back plants too early. Even a slightly “messy” garden is rich with resources for migrating birds.

🚫 5. Keep It Safe

• Turn lights off at night to reduce collision risks during nocturnal migrations

• Keep cats indoors, outdoor cats are a major hazard for migrating birds

• Avoid chemical sprays in your yard

A few small changes can make your yard significantly safer for passing wildlife.

Whether it’s a hummingbird pausing for nectar or a warbler catching its breath in your shrubs, your yard has the potential to become a critical stopover site on a very long journey.

And in return? You get a front-row seat to migration, a true joy! 


Enjoy it while you can and bid adieu to some of your favourite birds until next year. 

Warmly, 

Heather