Who doesn’t love the chirping of birds early in the morning? Birds not only produce relaxing sounds, but they can also be quite mesmerizing to look at. If you want to enhance the natural atmosphere of your garden at home, inviting some fine-feathered friends is definitely a nice project to undertake.
It is not that difficult or costly to make your home more bird-friendly. If you find that your yard or garden seems lacking in the presence of birds, don’t worry as there are a couple of things that you can do to make these visitors come and stay in your property more often.
- Provide them food and water. The easiest way to increase the bird population in your own backyard is to make sure that they are provided food and water. Install a couple of bird feeders within your garden, as well as a small water feature such as a bird bath. Sometimes, just a plain basin of water will do. You will see that word will quickly get around in the bird community that your garden is a great place for them to hang out in.
In order to attract different species of birds, make sure that you offer a variety of bird feeds and bird feeders. Tray feeders are flat containers that are suitable for pigeons and sparrows. House feeders, meanwhile, attract finches, blue jays, chickadees, and the like. Tube feeders are cylindrical containers with small holes for birds like finches and grosbeaks to stick their long beaks into.
Suet feeders are usually tied or attached to a tree trunk and are suitable for woodpeckers, nuthatches, and other birds who love staying in trees. Suet is actually a compact piece of animal fat covered in seeds. In terms of other types of feeds, try out sunflower seeds and different combinations of seed mixes.
Create a home for them. Birds will definitely stay longer in your garden if you provide a place where they can stay and nest. For this, simply place a birdhouse or a nest box in the vicinity. You can make your own or you can purchase a ready-made one from hardware or supply shops.
Some things to consider when getting a nest box include choosing the right material. A sturdy box made from heavy wood like oak, cedar, or beech is ideal. Boxes made of these kinds of wood are usually 15 to 19 mm thick. You might want to consider an insulated box depending on the season. The size of the box will also determine the type of birds that you wish to attract. Finally, make sure that you install the box properly. Keep it at a safe distance from other animals such as cats and other predators. Don’t forget to fill the box with nesting materials such as dried twigs or even discarded pet hair and grass cuttings.
- Beautify the natural environment. Most importantly, birds naturally love being in trees. As such, make your garden as inviting as possible by planting and taking care of lush greenery. The right trees, shrubs, and flowers can help mimic the natural ecosystem where birds thrive.
Consider having a nice, big tree such as oak, cherry, or hickory. Apart from providing shade and natural shelter, they also bear nuts that serve as bird food. Other types of trees such as pine and spruce are also ideal. These coniferous trees provide refuge for birds from predators. They also provide natural food such as sap and seeds.
In terms of plants, birds appreciate crabapple, dogwood, and serviceberry because they provide readily available nourishment. Ferns and thistles, meanwhile, provide abundant sources of nesting material. In terms of flowers, sunflowers and black-eyed Susans are not only colorful but useful as a source of food for birds.
The Beauty of Birds
You may not realize it but birds play an important role in the natural ecosystem of our surroundings. If we look out for them and nurture them, we help care for and nurture many other creatures. In turn, we reap the benefits of a more harmonious, pleasing, and refreshing environment.
Author: Monica Mendoza
