Birds are more intelligent than you may think; they know exactly where to find food, and exactly where to build safe nests.
If you don’t see many birds in your garden, it may be a telltale sign that you haven’t created a welcoming environment for them. But don’t worry – there’s a simple fix for this!
Within this guide, we will talk you through how to attract birds to your garden within days, no matter where you live.
Why Should I Attract Birds?
Before we uncover how to make your garden more appealing for birds, let’s take a look at the many benefits of doing so:
Conservation: As more trees and green areas get taken over by building sites, birds are left with very few safe spaces. Creating a nice environment for birds in your own garden will help to preserve them for years to come.
Stress-Relief: There is a direct link between bird-watching and mental health; many nature-enthusiasts claim that it helps them to feel relaxed. With this in mind, easy access to bird-watching will encourage you to take a step back and focus on something else for a while.
Increased Property Value: As you will find out later in this guide, a well-maintained garden will improve your chances of attracting birds. A well-kept garden will improve the overall quality of your home, which may even increase its property value!
Weed Control: Quite a few species of birds eat weed seeds, which is great news for gardens that frequently struggle with unwanted weeds. The birds will help to eliminate your weed problem for good, reducing the amount of time you have to spend de-weeding.
6 Ways To Welcome Birds Into Your Garden
With so many benefits in mind, it’s time to learn how to encourage your garden to beam with wildlife.
1. Get A Bird Bath
Believe it or not, birds are actually very sanitary animals. They have strict feather maintenance routines, but can’t always find the resources to support this. That’s where bird baths come in.
Birds need to dampen their feathers from time to time so that they can wash away any dirt particles. Dampening their feathers also helps with the preening process (an oil-spreading technique that keeps birds waterproof and insulated). Rather than waiting for rainfall, a bird bath allows birds to clean themselves at their own leisure.
Bird baths are also used for hydration. Some birds will utilise the bath to wash seeds down, whereas others will visit it throughout the day for a refreshing drink.
Apart from being a one-stop-shop for a bird’s basic needs, bird baths are also a stunning feature to have in your garden. There are so many designs to choose from!
2. Invest In Bird Food
There’s no denying that most animals are attracted to places with food. Birds are no exception.
When it comes to feeding birds, buy bird seeds from reputable sources. This will ensure that the seeds contain the right nutrients and energy that birds need to function.
For best results, pop the food into a bird feeder and hang it on a sturdy tree. It might take a while for birds to notice the feeder is there, but they’ll keep coming back for more once they do.
3. Avoid Giving Them Leftovers
Speaking of food, avoid chucking out your leftovers in the hope that an animal will eat them. While last night’s dinner may tempt birds, it’ll likely cause their stomachs to swell. There are many foods that birds can’t digest properly, meaning it’s sensible to stick to approved seeds to avoid complications.
4. Make Your Garden a Safe Space
Birds will keep returning to your garden if they feel safe in it. If they come across any danger or get spooked, they’ll simply head to another garden to find what they need.
While you have little control over your neighbour’s pets or loud noises, there are a few things that you can actively do to improve the safety of your garden. This includes:
- Hanging feeders as high as possible
- Placing feeders far away from windows to avoid collision
- Removing any garden netting
- Installing bird boxes onto sturdy trees
The above four tips will keep birds safe without distracting them from predators (more on this later!).
5. Grow Berries
The types of plants and trees you grow will significantly influence how many birds visit your garden. Trees with berries on, in particular, will keep the birds well-fed while also providing tools for their nests.
To avoid wasting time planting the wrong trees, focus on the following for best results:
- Holly
- Honeysuckle
- Hawthorn
- Rowan
If you have the space to grow a shrub, consider cotoneasters, berberis and pyracanthas.
6. Keep Cats and Foxes Away
Keeping predators out of your garden is probably the most challenging tip in this guide, but wildlife will truly start to bloom when successful.
Cats and foxes are the most problematic animals for birds, but luckily, they are the easiest animals to deter away. To get the job done quickly, buy animal-deterrent that can be scattered or sprayed around your garden. With a bit of luck, the fluffy predators will figure out that residing in your garden will have no benefit to them. While it may take time, they will eventually move on elsewhere.
As well as using animal-deterrent, remember to place your bird feeders in plain sight. Cats, in particular, stalk their prey by hiding in covered places. If your feeders are out in the open, the cats will have a tough time pouncing on vulnerable birds.
Enjoy The Wildlife
Now that you know how to attract birds to your garden, all that’s left to do is enjoy the experience! As mentioned before, bird-watching is a great stress-reliever, and you may even start to notice species you’ve never seen before. Whatever your reasons for attracting birds to your garden, you can take comfort in knowing that your garden is a better place for doing so. There is nothing more rewarding than taking care of wildlife.
