Phoenix, Arizona –
When Jennifer Fox moved into a new home in Phoenix, she wasn’t just starting over with a new backyard.
She was rebuilding a little piece of something she and her late husband had always shared.
“We were always ‘Team Creatures,’” Jennifer says. Feeding birds, caring for neighborhood animals and rescuing cats were all important to them.
After her husband’s unexpected passing, Jennifer downsized and moved just three miles away. But when it came to her backyard birds, those three miles meant starting over.
At her previous home, she had around 100 bird visitors a day.
At the new house, she had to wait for the bird word to get out.
Starting Over, One Bird at a Time
Jennifer knew that wherever she lived, she wanted to continue the life she and her husband had built around caring for animals.
When she began setting up her new backyard, creating a welcoming place for birds was an important part of making the new house feel like home. She added feeders, fresh water and Happy Birdwatcher seed, then waited to see who would discover it.
“At first, I wondered whether the birds would discover the new space,” she says.
A few appeared. Then a few more.
Today, Jennifer estimates that about 30 birds a day visit her backyard. She regularly sees finches, doves, sparrows, hummingbirds and Gila Woodpeckers, along with the occasional new visitor stopping by to investigate.
“It’s so satisfying watching that process happen. At first they were a little tentative, then a little more trusting each day, and now they are fully comfortable in the new space.”
When the Backyard Began to Feel Like Home
There was one visitor Jennifer will never forget.
Not long after her husband passed away, a Northern Cardinal appeared.
Jennifer had never seen one in the desert landscape before, and its arrival felt especially meaningful.
“I’d like to think it was his little ‘stamp of approval’ for the new beginning.”
There have been other signs that her new backyard has officially been accepted.
Jennifer began noticing several birds comfortably spending time there together. They weren’t simply grabbing a bite and disappearing. “Watching them eat and bathe, and seeing them perch on the block fence, helped me realize that they weren’t just making a quick stop and leaving. They’re comfortable here. They feel like they belong.”
And that changed something for Jennifer, too.
“After leaving behind such an established bird population at my old home, that was when the new backyard started to feel like my backyard. The birds have given their approval!”
A Desert Oasis
Creating a backyard for birds in Phoenix comes with one enormous challenge: the heat.
Just a few weeks ago, Jennifer says temperatures were still topping 110 degrees.
That makes providing food and fresh water especially important to her. It also means that during the hottest part of the year, sitting outside for long stretches isn’t particularly appealing.
Her smart feeders have given her another way to enjoy the birds.
Arizona’s birds can begin arriving for breakfast around 4 a.m. Jennifer is an early riser, but she admits she doesn’t necessarily want to join them quite that early.
Instead, she can check the camera throughout the day and see what everyone is doing.
One bird may be eating. Another is splashing in the birdbath. Someone else is perched on the wall waiting for a turn. And sometimes there’s a whole group gathered around the feeder at once.
With cooler weather finally approaching, Jennifer is looking forward to spending more time outside watching the activity in person.
“I may have created the space for them to feel happy and welcome, but I think I am the one who is benefiting from their presence the most.”
The Bird Word Is Definitely Out
It took a little while, but Jennifer’s new backyard is no longer a secret.
Her feeder cameras have captured everything from quiet solo breakfasts to much more spirited gatherings.
And the close-up views have introduced Jennifer to some pretty memorable characters.
There are now enough regular visitors that the backyard Jennifer once worried birds might never find has become a busy little community of its own.
Keeping Team Creatures Safe
The birds aren’t the only animals enjoying Jennifer’s backyard.
She shares her home with six rescued cats. Four were part of the family before her husband passed away. The other two arrived unexpectedly after a young female cat they had rescued the previous summer turned out to be pregnant.
When the young mother initially wasn’t quite sure what to do with her babies, Jennifer stepped in, bottle-feeding the kittens every three hours for a few days. Eventually, mama took over, and together they raised two healthy kittens.
“I feel like they made our little group complete.”
Jennifer also had a catio professionally built in her new backyard. Her cats can safely spend time outside and enjoy what she calls ‘bird TV,’ while the birds stay safe from cat attacks.
It’s a setup that works perfectly for Team Creatures.
What’s on the Menu
Jennifer has given her growing bird community plenty of reasons to keep coming back.
They’re enjoying her customized HappySeed Box blend, Finch & Bunting Blend, and occasional dried mealworms, along with food offered in her ground feeder from Happy Birdwatcher.
Finches, doves and sparrows have become familiar faces, while Gila Woodpeckers and hummingbirds add even more variety.
And Jennifer isn’t finished.
She already has her eye on a few new feeders for winter, especially for the hummingbirds.
Considering how quickly her new backyard has gone from zero visitors to around 30 a day, we have a feeling the bird word will keep spreading.
Jennifer’s Backyard at a Glance
| 📍 Location | Phoenix, Arizona |
| 🌿 Setting | An urban desert backyard with feeders, fresh water and a ground-feeding area |
| ❤️ Favorite Thing to Watch | Seeing birds become comfortable enough to eat, bathe, perch and spend time together in her new backyard |
| 🐦 Regular Visitors | Finches, doves, sparrows, hummingbirds and Gila Woodpeckers |
| 🌻 Favorite Happy Birdwatcher Products | Starter HappySeed Box, Finch & Bunting Blend, and Dried Mealworms |
| 🎉 Special Backyard Moment | An unexpected Northern Cardinal appearing not long after her husband’s passing |
| 🐱 Fellow Birdwatchers | Six rescued cats who safely enjoy “bird TV” from their catio |
| 🐦 Daily Bird Traffic | About 30 birds a day and growing |
Congratulations, Jennifer, and thank you for sharing your Happy Backyard with us!
Could Your Backyard Be Next?
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