Pets Corner

Bring birds to your garden

Tips on how to encourage birds into your garden and how to care for them.

How can I encourage birds to nest in my garden?

Plant native hedges, trees and climbers to provide suitable sites.  More immediately you can encourage Blackbirds and thu4shes by providing a platform in a sheltered position, such as behind a bush against a wall or a bunch of twigs tied around a tree trunk.  Robins will find their own nesting places and can pick the strangest of places i.e an old kettle with the spout bent downwards for drainage, in a sheltered place.

What are the best trees to plant for birds?

The best are the ones that produce berries or seeds as they will provide natural food for them in autumn and winter as well as shelter and shade all year round.  If you have space you can have a mix of trees, such as maples, conifers and native species to your area.  If you only have room for say one tree consider, a rowan, crab apple, small weeping birch or native hawthorn.

Which are the best shrubs to plant for the birds:

The best shrubs are pyracanthas, berberis, elder, ivy, and female varieties of holly.

Is it ok to feed the birds during the summer?

While it is important to feed in the Winter it is okay also to feed in the sumer months, if you wish.  Do not leave out full nuts when the babies are about as they would choke on them; always use a fine wire mesh feeder for safety.

What type of food?

The best are sunflower seeds, oatmeal, sultanas, raisins, currants, grated cheese, cooked potato in any form, melon seeds, stale cakes, tinned cat or dog food.  Moisten dry bread and don’t forget the water.