Plant Gardens 101

If you enjoy feeding birds in your garden then a bird table is likely to be the most important thing you have. A bird table will encourage birds to return again and again to feast off the food you put on the table and the bits that drop on the ground. A bird table will be the most popular during the winter months when natural food such as insects and berries may be in short supply. There a few things you should think about when choosing a bird table for your garden.

Make sure the bird table is big enough – if it is too small you are likely to see more fighting than feeding. Check that the bird table has a lip to prevent too much food falling off and drainage holes so food does not sit in water if it rains. You could consider getting a bird table with a roof which will keep both the food and the birds dry.

Traditional bird tables are made of wood, often with a rustic feel to them. They may have a thatched roof which the birds may “borrow” to build their nests in the spring time. However, you can now get bird tables made of other materials such as metal, plastic and even glass. These are easier to clean than a wooden bird table and can look better in more modern or urban gardens.    (more…)

For many bird lovers cats can be seen as a major pest and are one of the reasons cited for the decline of garden birds in theUK. It is estimated that cats kill up to 55 million birds a year of which the most commonly caught are house sparrows, bluetits and black birds.

However, there is no evidence that cats are affecting the bird populations as many more millions die naturally each year through starvation or disease or are killed by other predators. As cats tend to prey on weak birds it is likely that the birds they kill would have died before the next breeding season anyway.

Each breeding pair of birds only needs to bring up two chicks to maturity for the species to remain constant and millions of baby birds die each year; again this is quite natural. (more…)

Solar powered bird baths at British Bird Lovers.”>Birds are attracted to water so having a bird bath with a fountain will encourage them to return to your garden again and again. Use solar panels to circulate the water and you are being eco-friendly.

Another of the benefits of using solar panels rather than electricity is that you can be more flexible where you position your bird bath.

Solar powered bird baths often contain a heating element which prevents the water from freezing in the winter.

The solar panels are either integrated in the bird bath or there is a separate panel that you place a short distance away. The solar panels soak energy during the day and use it to pump the fountain or store it in a battery pack for later use. (more…)

With just a little effort it is possible to turn your garden into a haven for wild birds. Things to think about are accessories such as bird tables, bird baths and bird feeders, plants, providing food and shelter for birds and keeping predators away.

A well stocked bird table should be the focal point of any bird friendly garden. You can buy bird tables in many different designs so you should be able to find one to suit your garden. Traditionally bird tables were made of wood but they now come in other materials such as metal, plastic and even glass which are easier to clean and will last longer.

Make sure your bird table is positioned somewhere quiet so the birds are not disturbed when they are feeding and site it away from bushes and shrubs where predators like cats and squirrels can lurk.

You can put all sorts of food out on bird tables such as kitchen scraps like animal fats, cheese, fruit, rice, bread and peanuts. You can also buy ready made bird food mixes some of which are designed to attract a particular species of birds. (more…)