Content Starts Here
How to attract birds to your garden
Attracting birds to your garden
By following David Domoney's simple hints and tips you can turn your garden into a haven for birds. Find out how to set up bird tables and feeders as well as providing the perfect nesting opportunities.
Where to position bird tables and feeders
The two things you should bear in mind when positioning your bird feeders and bird tables are:
1) keep them close to cover so that birds can escape from sparrowhawks
2) keep them high off the ground so cats can't pounce.
1) keep them close to cover so that birds can escape from sparrowhawks
2) keep them high off the ground so cats can't pounce.
What to feed the birds
Provide a variety of foods to attract a variety of birds - different seeds, fat, fruit and live food if possible. Larger nuts such as peanuts will attract bigger birds whilst smaller seeds will encourage smaller birds into your garden.
Don't put out salty or desiccated foods from the kitchen as these are not good for the birds.
Don't put out salty or desiccated foods from the kitchen as these are not good for the birds.
Regular cleaning is essential
In the same way that you would want to eat off a clean plate, clean and disinfect bird tables and feeders regularly to reduce the risk from diseases. Remember to wash your hands after feeding birds and cleaning feeders.
Positioning food on the ground
It can be fun to feed birds on the ground, putting out bird food or kitchen scraps. It's great for the birds and makes excellent viewing for you in the home but make sure you put out the food away from ground cover to reduce the risk of cats getting the birds.
Where to site the nestboxes
The siting of your nestbox is very important. The opening must not face the prevailing weather conditions, it must be high off the ground and firmly attached to the tree or post.
Attracting nesters
Providing a range of nestboxes will give nesting sites for different types of birds. Hole nesters will appeal to birds such as sparrows, open-fronted boxes will attract robins and wrens and nestboxes with larger holes will entice the larger birds to nest in your garden.
You can provide nesting materials
Give the birds a helping hand and entice them into your garden by providing them with nesting materials such as feathers from an old pillow or duvet or rake moss up from your lawn.
Cleaning out the nestboxes
Clean out your nestbox in late autumn. Remember to wear a dust mask and a pair of protective gloves. The dust from old nests can cause respiratory discomfort if inhaled whilst the gloves will protect you from fleas and other parasites that may be lurking in the old nest.
Garden hints and tips
Get great gardening hints and tips from David Domoney, and find out how to build a bird table.
Advertisement starts
Advertisement ends
Page Footer
Access keys
You will need to use different key combinations in order to use access keys depending on your internet browser, find out which on our accessibility page.
- (0) Navigate to Accessibility page.
- (1) Navigate to Home page.
- (2) Navigate to My email.
- (3) Navigate to My Account.
- (4) Navigate to Site Map page.
- (5) Navigate to Contact us page.
- (6) Navigate to Members channel.
- (7) Navigate to Services channel.
- (8) Navigate to News & Info channel.
- (9) Navigate to Entertainment channel.
- ([) Skip down to the Primary navigation block.
- (]) Skip down to the more links within this section block.
- (=) Bypass all navigation and jump to the content.
- (x) Text only version of this page.
