If you're ready to level up your outdoor game, consider adding a bat box to your space.

Why it matters: Hosting bats takes patience and some strategic setup, but once your winged guests are settled, the benefits abound.

The big picture: Bats are under threat globally due to habitat loss. Giving them a safe place to roost helps protect these nocturnal MVPs — key pollinators that also spread seeds and devour pesky insects like mosquitoes, wasps and flies.

• D.C. is home to seven bat species — including two that are threatened or endangered.

Fun fact: The big brown bat is D.C.'s "state" mammal — and the one you're most likely to spot.

Friction point: If you build it, they might come. "Bat houses are complicated to get right," warn experts at Bat Conservation International. "They can go unused for years, attract pests, and even harm bats when installed incorrectly."

Yes, but: The effort can pay off, especially in cities. Without a proper roost, bats may end up in less-than-ideal spots like attics or lofts.

Zoom in: The Back Yard Bird Feeder, a longstanding local company with 5 DMV locations, sells Songbird Essentials bat houses for around $90.

• They're built to last — with sealed roofs, ventilation and space for up to 100 bats — and boast a "proven 80% occupancy rate," sales specialist Vianca Trinidad tells Axios.

🦇 What to know:

• Height matters: Aim for at least 15 feet off the ground — "the higher, the better," Trinidad says.
• Skip the trees: Mount on poles or buildings to avoid predators like raccoons and owls.
• Sun is your friend: Bats prefer warm roosts, so direct sunlight helps.
• Bring patience: It can take a year or more for bats to move in.

The intrigue: You won't see inside the box — but you'll know it's working when guano starts piling up below. Great for fertilizer — bad if it's over your grill, so plan carefully.

D.C. homeowners built dream outdoor kitchens. Turns out, they just wanted somewhere nice to eat outside.

Why it matters: The backyard has become less about showing off culinary skills and more about creating "a great space to entertain," says Joseph Richardson of the D.C. landscape-architecture firm Richardson & Associates.

The big picture: For years, outdoor kitchens kept growing — think: bar-top seating, TVs and 15 different appliances. But they mostly sat unused.

• People "didn't magically become great outdoor chefs," Richardson tells Axios.
• Now, clients are "actively de-emphasizing the outdoor kitchen" and instead prioritizing gardens, furniture, lighting and other details that improve the overall vibe.

Between the lines: The shift may reflect a bigger move toward more intimate gatherings.

• The art of hosting — the ambience, the music, how the food is presented — "is starting to make a comeback," Richardson says.

Yes, but: Outdoor kitchens still command a premium.

• Nationwide, they can help homes sell for over 4% more than similar listings, according to a Zillow analysis.

This Capitol Hill townhouse is selling for $899,000 and features a brick patio ready for entertaining or a quiet night in.

The big picture: A sunny living room with skylights opens up to the home's private outdoor space — a hot commodity in D.C.

Zoom in: Located at 331 10th St. SE near Eastern Market, the roughly 1,200-square-foot home has two bedrooms and two bathrooms, per the listing.

• It's listed by Nate Guggenheim with Washington Fine Properties.

Spring cleaning gigs surged in the D.C. metro area last month, according to Taskrabbit data shared with Axios.

Why it matters: 'Tis the season to refresh every part of the house, inside and out.

By the numbers: Yard work bookings were up 39% in March from a year earlier, per Taskrabbit.

• Home organization (+84%), deep cleaning (+83%), and trash and furniture removal (+50%) bookings also jumped.

The bottom line: Some Washingtonians are outsourcing the elbow grease this spring.

McLean resident Ken McKune has spotted many birds at the feeder outside his window.

• The list includes: Cardinals, goldfinches, Carolina chickadees, Carolina wrens, white-throated sparrows, white-breasted nuthatches, mourning doves, woodpeckers, hermit thrushes, bluebirds, blue jays and juncos, he tells Axios.