Create a Bird-Friendly Garden: 7 Essential Tips for Autumn

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Autumn is a wonderful time to welcome birds into your garden. As the days grow shorter and food becomes scarcer in the wild, it's the perfect opportunity to turn your garden into a true avian haven. But how can you attract more birds to your garden, and what steps can you take to entice them? This article offers seven practical tips for drawing birds in and creating a genuine bird-friendly garden.

1. Provide a Variety of Food

One of the most effective ways to attract birds to your garden is by offering them food. But is it permissible to feed birds in your garden? Absolutely, especially during the colder months when they struggle to find enough food. Ensure you're providing the right types of food. Different birds have different preferences. Seeds like sunflower hearts are popular with species such as blue tits and great tits, while sparrows are fond of mixed seeds.

In autumn, you might also hang up fat balls or peanut strings. These high-energy foods are crucial for birds to keep warm. Place the food at various heights and locations in your garden to accommodate both ground-feeding birds and those that prefer to forage higher up.

2. Offer Shelter and Nesting Sites

Birds feel safer in gardens where they can find shelter. How can you get birds into your garden? By planting shrubs and trees that offer both food and cover. Birds use these spots not only to hide from predators but also to rest and build nests.

Dense shrubs like holly or privet provide excellent cover for smaller birds. Installing birdhouses can also attract more birds to your garden. Ensure the houses are placed in safe locations, away from cats and other predators.

3. Water is Vital

Water is a crucial resource for birds, both for drinking and keeping their feathers clean. A simple birdbath or pond can make a significant difference in the number of birds visiting your garden. Ensure the water remains clean and does not freeze in winter.

By adding a shallow pond or birdbath, you create an inviting space for various bird species. Particularly in autumn and winter, when natural water sources may be frozen, it’s essential that birds in your garden have access to water.

4. Choose the Right Plants for a Bird-Friendly Garden

How can you attract more birds to your garden? Opt for the right plants! Certain plants and shrubs are highly attractive to birds as they provide food or cover. Consider planting berry bushes such as pyracantha, rowan, or hawthorn. These bushes not only attract birds with their berries but also offer excellent nesting sites.

Additionally, sunflowers and thistles can provide a natural food source. These plants produce seeds that birds enjoy eating in the autumn.

5. Create a Bird-Friendly Environment

It’s crucial to create a calm and safe environment for birds. Avoid using chemical pesticides in your garden as they can be harmful to both birds and insects. Birds consume a lot of insects, so maintaining a healthy insect population ensures a natural food source.

Furthermore, try to cultivate a natural garden. For example, leave some fallen leaves on the ground in autumn. Under these leaves, you’ll often find insects and worms, which are a valuable food source for birds such as the blackbird.

6. Which Birds Visit Your Garden?

Depending on where you live and the layout of your garden, you can attract a wide variety of birds. In urban gardens, you might commonly see sparrows, robins, blackbirds, and tits. If you reside in a more rural area, you may also encounter species like finches, starlings, or even woodpeckers.

By creating a varied garden with different types of food and cover, you can attract a greater diversity of birds. Keep track of which birds visit most frequently; this information can be useful for activities such as the National Garden Birdwatch.

7. Count the Birds in Your Garden

A fun way to contribute to bird research is by participating in the National Garden Birdwatch. Each year, usually at the end of January, you can take part by counting the birds in your garden for half an hour. But how do you count the birds in your garden? It's simple: note the number of birds you see at once for each species. Record the highest number you observe.

This counting helps map bird populations across the UK. It’s an enjoyable and educational activity to do with family or friends, and by participating, you contribute to scientific research on bird populations.

How to Attract More Birds to Your Garden

Attracting birds to your garden is not only beneficial for the birds but also brings much joy to you as a gardener or nature enthusiast. By providing a variety of food, water, shelter, and the right plants, you can create an environment where birds feel at home. Whether you want to learn more about which birds visit your garden or simply enjoy their cheerful songs, these tips will help you turn your garden into a true bird sanctuary.

Don’t forget to take part in the National Garden Birdwatch each January. It’s the perfect opportunity to see how many birds visit your garden and which species feel at home there.