Having birds in the garden can be quite beneficial as they have an enormous appetite for insect pests. It can be great fun to watch birds throughout the seasons and a great activity to get children involved in.
Bear in mind that birds will only be attracted to your garden if you give them what they need. The first things they require is food and water.
Water is need for dinking and bathing.
If you can afford it then treat the birds to a bird bath otherwise you can quite easily provide something yourself. A bowl of water is ideal for drinking water but make sure it is shallow enough so your birds can’t fall in and drown. Alternatively use an upturned dustbin lid, shallow tray or any other shallow receptacle.
Keep the water fresh so that algae doesn’t build up as it’s harmful to birds.
What food you need to provide depends on the types of birds you want to attract as food needs to be different for different types of bird. House sparrows for example eat mainly seeds and that is because they have short stumpy beaks. Robins on the other hand have pointed beaks and need soft foods and insects. Therefore it is wise to do some local research first to find out what birds are native to the locality you live in and what their eating habits are. Almost all birds like sunflower seeds.
A lot will depend on the amount of space you have. If you have a garden big enough you can plant trees and hedges such as hawthorn, holly, cherry or crab apples. These also provide a source of food as well as shelter.
If there is not enough space for trees then certain shrubs also provide food. Berberis, buddleia, cotoneaster and pyracantha orange glow are all suitable.
Bird tables and feeders will help attract birds to your garden. There are two things you should bear in mind and these are to keep they high off the ground to prevent cats from getting at them. Secondly they need to be close to cover to protect your birds from other predators.
Choose a variety of foods for the feeder. Live food, fruit, nuts, seeds and fat will attract different species. Ensure your feeder is squirrel-proof or you will more likely attract more squirrels than birds. Clean feeders and empty out on a regular basis to keep them hygienic. Avoid salted nuts as they can be harmful. You can find a range of bird feeders and bird baths, including squirrel proof ones here:The Pet Shop at Stacks and Stacks
and also at the following links:
Bird Lover Gifts – Perfect bird lover gifts from bird house and feeders for the garden to hummingbird jewelry for the bird lover.
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BIRDHOUSES – Handcrafted & Handpainted BIRDHOUSES – Shop Here!
If you decide to have a nestbox the siting of it is very important. The opening must face away from the prevailing weather conditions and it must be firmly attached to the tree or post. Similarly to bird tables it needs to be high off the ground. If you do not have a suitable tree or post to attach it to you can easily attach it to one of the walls of your home. They come in different sizes to suit different birds. You may fancy making one if you don’t want to buy a commercial product.
If you have a nestbox with birds in it then do not disturb it. Although it’s tempting to lift the lid and take a peek it can cause stress to the adult bird.
Make it easy for the birds by providing some nesting materials. Provide them with feathers from an old pillow or rake up some moss from the lawn and don’t forget to clean it out in the autumn.
Attracting birds to the garden is a pleasurable pastime. After all the hard work of gardening is complete for the day what better way to spend your time than to sit and watch them.
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