In This Post:
– Bird Feeders
– Choose the right feeder
– Nesting sites
– Bird bath
– Deter cats
– Remove plants that birds don’t like
Bird enthusiasts feel thrilled to spot an exotic bird sitting on their windowsill. If you have a sprawling green space, then you can easily attract birds to your garden. There are some tips that you need to follow, which can guarantee the visit of these fluttering friends all year round. For instance, never use a scarecrow or you won’t see any colourful bird in sight. Place ample food, a water feature and nesting sites to make birds feel at home. Let’s discuss some of the best ways to attract birds to your garden.
Best Ways to Attract Birds to Your Garden
There is no better feeling in the world than waking up to the sounds of chirping birds and when it rains, the birds who frequently visit your garden, seek refuge on your windowsill so that you can watch them up close and admire the works of nature. Here are some of the best ways to attract birds to your garden.
- Bird feeders
- Nesting sites
- Bird bath
- Deter cats
- Remove plants that birds don’t like
Let us discuss these tips to attract birds in your garden in more detail.
Bird feeders
There are quite easy ways to attract birds to the garden, however it also depends upon a number of factors. Do you live in a crowded place, in the heart of the city or in the outskirts? Are there enough parks in your neighbourhood?
If you are wondering how to attract different birds to your garden, then you must take a good look at your surroundings. Even if you are not living on a crowded street, but there are cars honking on the roads or there are not enough big trees in your garden then the birds will not find your green space quite appealing. The key point is to make sure that you cater to the demands of and needs of your birds throughout the year and accommodate accordingly both for seasonal birds stalking your garden or the residents who visit daily.
One of the major reasons why birds will visit your garden is the availability of food. If your green space offers plenty of food, the birds will automatically be attracted. So, it is best to set up feeders in your garden at higher points, where prying cats don’t reach.
Choose the right kind of feeder
Before selecting the bird feeder for your garden, take a small survey as to what kind of birds visit the neighbourhood. Also, it is a common misconception that throwing out stale bread or pieces of leftover food on your terrace can attract birds.
These fluttering animals find it hard to swallow stale pieces of bread. If you have to give them bread, then soak them in water. Never ever keep cooked oats in the feeding tray as it can stick around their beak causing more harm than good. Don’t put dessicated coconut as it can swell in the bird’s stomach eventually taking the bird’s life.
There are different kinds of bird feeders in Pakistan. You can buy it in a pet shop or simply purchase it online with the click of a button. Let us check out some of the most commonly used bird feeders in the country.
A tray feeder will attract sparrows and pigeons. But remember to keep a screened tray instead of a solid base to help get better water drainage and also to avoid contamination of food due to bird droppings.
If you want to attract other birds like finches and chickadees, then use a house feeder which is covered on all sides and keeps the seeds inside protected from water and bird droppings.
Go for tube feeders which are cylindrical in shape and contain many holes through which the birds can peck and eat the seeds. These are good for smaller birds who like to peck through holes.
Suet feeders are covered in a wire mesh and are one of the best ways to attract birds to the garden, especially blue jays and woodpecker.
Use a good variety of seed mixes to attract different varieties of birds to your garden. For instance, keeping sunflower seeds in a feeder can attract greenfinches, while goldfinches love nyjer seeds. Nuthatch and Blue Titmouse love to eat peanuts. So, how about converting your suet feeder into the perfect treat the birds are looking for!
Word of caution: If you are an avid bird enthusiast, then don’t place the feeders in areas which the cat can sniff out. Place it high above the ground. Also, don’t place it near the windows as the birds can collide with windows and die. Be extra careful. Regular cleaning of feeders is mandatory or the food can become contaminated for the birds.
Nesting sites
You can easily purchase a nesting site from a local pet shop or allow the birds to build their own. Birds usually look for a cover to form a nest. Just above the pipe of your exhaust system or a cosy spot on your tree, birds need twigs, wires and lots of straw to weave a comfortable looking nest. It is important to make your birds feel at home so provide them with the perfect ambience and environment.
When buying a nest box for your garden, choose a box that is made of some type of insulation material like thick oak wood. If you have made a nest box out of ceramic, then it will become hot or cold depending upon the quick changes in the environment.
Bird bath
Birds are very much attracted to the sound of gushing water. How about placing a big pond with a gurgling fountain to attract birds. You can also make your own DIY water feature. Make sure the bird bath you make has 4 inch depth to allow different kinds of bird species to visit the garden.
Remember, birds have a habit of cooling themselves down in water. They will stop by if your garden offers a good source of water. It is important to keep the bird bath away from cats or other predators. This you can do by placing the water feature in the centre of the lawn, away from the dense cover of the bushes and shrubs.
Keep changing the water in the water bath after every couple of days. A foul-smelling bird bath is a big turn off for rare species of visitors. Place some rocks and old twigs in the bird bath to help them perch on it.
Deter cats
Kids love cats and usually sneak out to feed the cat without informing you. This could be one of the reasons why there is a sudden decline of bird visits in your garden. If a cat is regularly visiting your green space then the birds won’t feel safe and would eventually stop paying any visit. So a simple tip to attract birds to your garden is to keep cats away.
Remove plants that birds don’t like
Invasive plant species compete with the locally grown shrubs and can steal away their source of food and water. Remove all invasive plant species from your garden. Add strawberry patches that your birds would love to eat. Create a brush pile made of fallen branches, twigs and grass clippings. The birds would like to eat insects off the ground under the brush pile. Similarly, don’t cut dead trees. They provide a good source of shelter and food. The alcoves in dead trees provide perfect nesting grounds for birds visiting your garden.
Moreover, birds don’t like shiny surfaces or shiny objects in the garden – anything that could scare them away – just remove it from your garden.
If you follow these tips you will hear beautiful bird songs early in the morning. Make sure to use organic homemade pesticides in your garden to provide a natural habitat for the birds. If you are looking to upgrade your garden then take a look at these ideas to recycle old tyres. Don’t forget to subscribe to the Zameen Newsletter appearing on the right hand side of the page. Give us your feedback at blog@zameen.com and we will surely get back to you. Stay tuned to the Zameen Blog for regular updates.
