As increasing amounts of land are used for building and other development, so gardens and backyards have become so much more important to many wild birds' way of living. Birds adapt and make use of any available habitat, whether it be open landscape, bird sanctuaries, urban parks or overgrown and derelict gardens. Not all birds are welcomed by avid gardeners who find their prized plants being stripped of buds and leaves by some finches, for example.
Generally though, the situation provides an opportunity to both help birds and gain much enjoyment from encouraging them to visit a garden where they contribute colour, activity and song while being observed.
Watching birds behaving naturally is relaxing and can also become intriguing as one sees how they behave and why they behave as they do.
Practical Considerations
There are both obvious and less obvious routes to bringing wild birds to gardens:
- Small gardens or backyards are as attractive to birds as large ones. While cats and children will usually deter birds from visiting, birds will adapt to make use of attractive features when opportunities are available.
- New equipment, whether it be a nestbox, a new shed or a birdfeeding stand, will take some time for birds to regularly visit unless there is a shortage of food for the wild birds in any nearby countryside or surrounding area. Older, weathered and mature materials work much better as well as being considerably less expensive.
- Birdfeeders, nestboxes and bird tables all play a role, but anyone seriously interested in attracting birds will find that a strategically-placed untidy area with the right weeds or plants will help considerably. These become home to insects that quickly become the focal point for many birds' regular visits.
- Bird-friendly lawns have dandelions and clover in them to achieve a similar effect. Borders contain thistles and other weeds that some birds love, while the soil in flowerbeds might also be the source of a quick snack.
- Older hedges, shrubs and trees are much more likely to become a nesting location than anything artificial.
The Fun Factor
Different birds can be attracted by different aspects of a bird-friendly backyard or garden, so a bird garden can soon become an engaging opportunity to investigate what does and does not work. With some thought, researching from the many available sources and varying degrees of trial and error depending on one's objective and available time, there is a great deal of enjoyment to be gained from creating and developing a garden to become a haven for wild birds.
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