5 tips to attract more wild birds into your garden
Encouraging wild birds into your garden can be a rewarding experience for both you and the birds themselves. Here are five tips to help attract more feathered friends to your outdoor space:
- Avoid the Use of Pesticides: Pesticides can be harmful to birds and the insects they feed on. Opt for natural pest control methods to keep your garden healthy and bird-friendly.
- Provide a Variety of Bird Feeders: Different bird species have different feeding preferences. By offering a variety of feeders such as seed feeders and suet feeders you can attract a wider range of birds to your garden. It is important to remember to keep their food and homes away from predators too – cats and squirrels can be menaces to wild birds.
- Plant Native Trees and Shrubs: Native plants provide natural food sources, shelter, and nesting sites for birds. Consider planting a mix of trees, shrubs, and flowers that produce berries, seeds, nectar, and insects that birds love alongside your fruit and vegetable plots. Allow seedheads to develop on some plants and vegetables as a source of food. This is a good tip as your garden winds down later in the gardening calendar, as leaving flower heads or letting a few onions go to seed will attract the local bird population to you!
- Offer Fresh Water: Birds need water not only for drinking but also for bathing and preening. A bird bath or a shallow dish of water placed in a quiet spot will attract birds to your garden, especially during hot and dry weather. It is vital to keep the bird bath clean and topped up throughout the season.
- Create Shelter: Birds need places to rest, hide from predators, and build their nests. Planting dense shrubs, installing nestboxes, and leaving some areas of your garden untamed can provide the shelter that birds seek. Avoid cutting vital shelter such as hedges between March-Oct to minimise destroying any birds nests. You should not undertake arboricultural work during this time period without a survey, as nesting sites are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
By following these tips, you can create a welcoming habitat for wild birds in your garden and enjoy the beauty and sounds of these delightful creatures up close. Speak to one of our friendly and knowledgeable staff at Bernaville for more information.