| Bird feeding is relatively easy once you know what you can and shouldn’t do. But to be even more effective and attract a broader range of bird species to your garden, here are seven of my top tips and tricks l can share. |
| Providing a diverse range of food types is a surefire way to attract a variety of bird species. This not only caters to their different dietary preferences but also ensures a balanced and nutritious diet for them. Just like us, birds have a diverse palate, each with their unique dietary preferences. By offering a variety of seeds, you can create a bird buffet that will attract a multitude of species, making your birdwatching experience even more thrilling. For instance, sunflower seeds and hearts are a favorite of finches and sparrows, while nyjer seeds are a magnet for goldfinches. Red or golden millet, safflower, flax, canary, and rape seed are also popular among various bird species. But other food types can be offered, like peanuts shelled and not, suet sticks, balls or squares, and there are many different varieties and mixtures here again with the suets, like those with berries or insects included. Sure kitchen scraps can be put out on your bird table for some species as well, such as – grated hard cheese [not soft like bries or blues], fruit that is slowly souring or going off, fresh fruit, finely chopped old beans, lentils, breadcrumbs, and even plainly cooked pasta and rice [as long as it is soft] can be put out, breakfast cereals, unsalted bacon, bacon rinds and marrow bones, mashed potato, stale bread, cooked hard boiled eggs squashed or chopped. There are many unsalted nut varieties; make sure to chop, squash or crush them. One crucial aspect of bird feeding is maintaining a clean feeding area. Always remember to clear the uneaten debris away promptly. This not only keeps the area tidy but also prevents the unwanted attention of pests, ensuring a safe and healthy environment for your feathered friends. |
| Different Feeder types Offering your garden birds a choice of feeders will also appeal to other bird species. One fixed style will only attract some species, so try to play with the styles each season. Half coconut shells filled with suet hanging from the branches in your trees will appeal to the quieter bird varieties that are shyer and less confident. Treecreepers, jays, and woodpeckers benefit from this feeding style and enjoy peanut butter crushed into the tree bark. Many birds love eating suet variety blocks like goldfinches, nuthatches and tits. Feeders with several perch options allow several birds to feed from one source at a time and cause less friction and competition amongst species. Ground tray feeders appeal to robins, blackbirds and thrushes who prefer to feed on the ground level. Always ensure that you follow a clear and direct level of hygiene with all your feeding platforms, trays, and tables. Thoroughly clean all units used with the birds once every week. If the foods you put out are not devoured, clear the debris away to prevent pest infestation and the potential for harmful pathogens and bacteria to form and populate. |
| Seasonal Feeding Routines Understanding the seasonal changes in bird behavior is crucial for tailoring your feeding routine. Different seasons bring different species, behaviors, and feeding styles. In colder climates, birds need more energy-boosting food types like suet. During the summer and warmer seasons, birds engage in courtship and breeding, and their diet expands to include wider seed mixtures and insect food types like mealworms, crickets, black soldier fly larvae, silkworm pupae, and calciworms. But also remember, feeding the birds in your garden isn’t about occasionally providing; it is about your commitment to them. If you feed and water the visitors, do it all year. Sometimes, your hospitality might be the only feed some birds might see. Birds appreciate routine and reliability. As natural habitats continue to be destroyed, the responsibility for wildlife care falls on us. We have a duty to ensure the survival and well-being of our feathered friends. |
| Be Predatory Mindful Always be mindful of where you place and sit your bird feeders. Predators can lurk under bushes and behind bins and shrubs—always provide a clear line of sight for your visitors. It doesn’t take long for a bird’s trust in you to develop, but it takes a long time to return if their trust in your environment is broken. |
| Water: A Vital Element in Animal Care If you provide feed, ensure that watering facilities are supplied, too. Refresh your water feature daily, especially during the warmer months, which might have to be refreshed several times daily. You can provide a large dish or pond-like feature with plenty of space to drink and bathe from and in. |
| Go Natively Wild Down at the allotment, I have many features that cater to the bird species I frequently encounter – for instance, I have a mini pond on legs which they drink from and bathe in, and other areas that hold water for their use. I have a dead hedge in which they nest, forage and hunt from and in. I also have various seasonal and permanent plants growing and areas for nesting and feeding. Here in the garden at home, I have a large water bath, and I have tailored parts of my garden to reflect nesting, feeding, hunting and foraging for the sparrows, robins, and blackbirds that visit over the seasons. In the many gardens I work in with Earthly Comforts, I also ensure that we have sufficient areas for these bird species to go natively wild. It’s not just about having a beautiful garden, it’s about creating a haven for our feathered friends. By choosing shrubs, plants, and flowers with berries, blossoms, and insect attractions, you’re not just adding to the beauty of your garden, you’re providing a vital food source for bird populations. When you’re considering cutting back, trimming up or transplanting, ask yourself, is it necessary to pull those weeds now, or can they wait a few weeks longer? Your decisions can make a real difference to our wildlife. Honeysuckles, ivies, hawthorns, rowans and hollies are excellent choices as they provide fruit for birds to feed and insects to forage for. Other plants that attract birds and insects include [specific plant names]. You have the power to create a space where wildlife can thrive. Could you plant an area of your garden that can go wild and stay so for the year? Can you let a pile of sticks or leaves rest for a while for a season or two? Could you build a dead hedge or a bug hotel for your garden where wildlife, including your birds, could visit and feed? Small twigs and bits of moss and old grasses are wonderful for nest building. These simple actions can make a world of difference for our wildlife. Just a thought. |
| Food Storage When it comes to bird feed storage, I opt for metal dustbins with secure lids, sealed with bungee cables. This is because rodents, with their ever-growing gnawing teeth, can easily chew through plastics and cardboard. I store the bags of seeds within these containers, ensuring the contents remain dry and preventing the growth of mould on damp seeds. It’s crucial for each of us to be mindful of our seeds, ensuring they are protected and stored safely. This responsibility falls on us as gardeners and bird enthusiasts. |
Earthly Comforts 
When I’ve moved to Singapore I wanted to buy some bird feeders and hang them in the balcony and after a bit of research I’ve found out is not allowed to feed the birds 🙈 Now that I am in Phuket and I have a bit of a garden and some trees, I guess I can do it 😆 There are so many cute little birds around here ☺️
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wonder if it was because of the potential of the dropped seed to attract mice and other smaller rodents?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not sure about the reason why but in the end, after 11 years in Singapore, I think is ok to not allow it as people are not responsible and probably will have attracted other issues…
LikeLiked by 1 person
We are not allowed to have have bird feeders, however, hubby attached a tray for birdseed to the balcony rail, which is not easily seen. There are a variety of birds that visit the feeder and we love to watch them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Why are you not allowed Eugenia, is it because of potentially attracting vermin?
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is because the management feels hanging feeders and hanging plants can fall and hurt someone. Go figure.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh right, well there is a certain amount of truth to that l guess.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Rules are rules but it seems they should focus on more important things like broken sidewalks.
LikeLike
Oh l agree on that wholeheartedly Eugenia, we have the same issues over here. I think broken pavements/sidewalks are worldwide as the example.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice post, Rory! Very informative. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Betty, glad you enjoyed it 🙂
LikeLike
Nice 💖
LikeLike