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| BirdsBirds can turn even the smallest garden into an interesting and attractive haven, whether it is for the beauty of watching them feast or for the resultant pest-free plants. Birds There are between 650 and 700 species of birds seen in the UK. Many are either rare and/or are only seen during migratory flights. The following birds however are relatively common in the UK and many can be a very common sight in UK gardens.
Birds, like any animal need a place to breed; it needs to provide their basic needs as well as being a secure and sheltered space. Basic needs include supplies of food and water as well as a safe neighbourhood; needs which are similar to ours. Security comes in more than one level in that it needs to be a safe place hidden from predators and a stable platform to support the weight of the family. Some types of birds will generally become residents in a garden if it satisfies all of the bird’s needs.
Garden Bird Box Birds will build there own nest for breeding but there is no reason why you can’t provide a bird box for them to nest and roost within. The boxes range in size depending on the bird they are designed for - i.e. the number of bedrooms and with a conservatory. If you are considering buying a bird box then I recommend waiting till you know what birds are in your area and buying one or more accordingly.
Of course when buying your box there is also a wide range of manufactures and materials, I recommend choosing an FSC certified box. With regards to its positioning then think about where birds position their nest: sheltered from view and the weather as well as being high enough and inaccessible by predators; ideally in a tall strong tree. When fixing the box in place make sure that it is secure so you may even consider installing a ‘bird-cam’ so you can keep a look out for any resident buyers Feeders/Tables
One type of feeder that most gardens have already whilst being probably the easiest form of feeder is the lawn. A lawn any shape or size will attract many common garden birds either for the food placed their or the vast amount of living food lying on and below the surface. When placing food on the lawn I find it best near the perimeter of the lawn as the birds can pop in and out of the surrounding plants without being in the open for to long. On the other hand some birds will fly straight onto the lawn and feed from it, such as the woodpigeon that requires quite a bit of space to land with its wingspan size. Seed feeders come in many different forms and sizes depending on what type of seed they are intended to hold. Seed feeders generally comprise of a clear plastic tube through which the seeds are held and depending on its size anything from 2 or more perches for the birds to feed from. The perches allow for the birds to get to the seeds whilst keeping the tube dry. There are seed feeders available that are specially design for a type of bird and or/seed. An example of this is the nyger seed which is a very small seed and therefore needs a small hole for feeding from - this is ideal for the goldfinch which has a thin pointed beak suited to extracting the seeds. Feeder Sites The positioning of the feed can be very important as too much in the open then the birds will be wary and feel exposed but then in a hidden area then you are unable to see the appreciate the joys of them feeding. You need to find a good compromise and if you’re feeder doesn’t attract birds straight away then don’t be put off it can take a while for the birds to find the food and then assure themselves that it isn’t a trap. Once birds start coming to the feeder then others will come flocking as its position is passed on by word of beak. If it turns out that no birds are coming after the particular feed you are offering then try investing in another feeder and offer a different type of feed. If you have multiple feeders then try not to out them to close together so that you give the birds a greater chance of feeding without the feeling of competition.
Food
Why feed birds in your garden? Birds were once commonplace in the coutryside and gardens, but a whole host of factors are contributing to their decline including loss of habitat and intensive farming methods. Food comes in many forms. See below. Each are enjoyed by different birds and are to be fed to the appropriate ways with feeders designed to be used with this food. Water is very important for birds, especially in winter. It serves not just to drink, but also to clean and bathe in. Safety & Hygiene Gardens are mostly an enjoyable habitat and breeding space for birds but they can also be a dangerous place for birds. I am not talking about the predators that they encounter but more of the threat caused by windows. The problem is usually created when there is a view straight through the house thus there appears to be no windows to the unsuspecting bird. Birds easily fly into windows and the lucky ones will just be temporally stunned but the unlucky ones can be killed as this poor bird found.
 Bird imprint on window |     |
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