Attracting birds to your garden: some tips to fill your garden with their musical chirping
A garden full of various chirping birds is "good for the soul" and can easily be achieved.
Attracting birds to your garden can also be a way to help the ecosystem by creating an ideal environment for these birds to nest and thrive.
Below, we explain why it is important to attract wild birds to your garden and ways to easily do this:
The importance of attracting wild birds to your garden
There are several benefits that wild birds can bring to your garden:
- Moving from one plant to another, birds become "accidental pollinators", transporting pollen between different plants, encouraging growth and propagation;
- Birds are also very important in combatting parasites: by feeding on larvae and insects, birds elimnate mosquitoes, midges, snails and other insects (and gastropods) which can harm your plants;
- Last but not least, the presence of birds will encourage your children to spend more time outdoors watching them. This, in turn, will allow you to teach your kids the importance of taking care of the ecosystem and the animals that inhabit it.
How to attract birds to your garden
To attract birds to your garden or terrace, the simplest way is to put out bird food, such as seeds and dried or fresh fruit:
- Raisins, apples, oat flakes, bran, walnuts and hazelnuts will be perfect to attract birds to your home;
- Seeds are also an appetizing meal for small birds: birds love black sunflower seeds in particular, as they are a very nutritious food which will help sustain them during the winter months. Linseed, poppy, thistle, wheat and striped sunflower seeds are also favored by birds.
To put out the food, build or buy a bird-feeder: you will need to place this in a place protected from predators and quiet, at a reasonable distance from surrounding bushes or trees. Make sure you always keep the feeder clean and add a tray of water.
During the winter months, provide the birds with shelter to encourage them to nest.
Plants that will attract birds to your garden
Certain types of plants can help to attract birds to your garden:
- A hedge or bush of a local species will provide shelter for the birds, and will encourage them to build nests;
- Aromatic plants will attract birds with their bright colors and their intense aromas;
- Finally, flowering plants will also attract birds to the garden, as they will feed on the seeds these plants produce.
Now your garden is ready to welcome your feathered friends!
