Attracting Birds to Your Garden.

Become a backyard birder.

You know how much we at Homemakers love Mzansi – The people, the weather, the culture, the Bokke…But wait, there’s more! We are also blessed with more wildlife than most countries and our birdlife in particular is diverse and worth a bit of celebration.

Birdscaping is the new landscaping

Butterflies and bees get all the attention, but we shouldn’t forget about birds. Many species of birds are great pollinators, and remember, the more pollinators your garden attracts, the better it will look in the long run. Birdscaping is the art of landscaping so as to attract birds to your garden and hopefully settle down there. Birds boost biodiversity and biodiversity is key to good, sustainable gardening. Birds are also great at pest control and will even keep weeds on your lawn at bay.

Your garden deserves a tweet.

Attracting birds to your garden is easier than it sounds and one of the best ways to improve your backyard biodiversity. Here are some basic tips for birdscaping your backyard.

Birds need fresh water to thrive.

• Most bird species will be happy with standing water as long as the birdbath/bowl is clean and the water level not too low. If, however, you want to give your feathered friends a treat, a fountain or bubbling water feature is the last word in bird luxury. Add multiple sources of water to allow different species to have their own space.

Feed them.

• Offer a wide range of feeders and place them in different parts of your garden. This will ensure that different species of birds can feed together, and more aggressive/larger birds won’t chase away smaller birds. Different birds also eat different things, so offer a variety of feed. Suet balls, mixed seeds and nuts, freshly cut fruits and vegetables and specialized feeders (like hummingbird feeders) will ensure that your garden is a feast for a variety of birds. “Eating like a bird” is a misnomer as most birds can really wolf it down when there is enough fresh food. Be sure to replenish feeders regularly to keep the birds coming back.

Shelter them.

• While most birds will insist on building or weaving your own nests, this doesn’t mean you can’t help them. Trees are essential for birdscaping, but if your trees are still a bit on the small side, installing a few perches, or even hanging bird houses is a great way to keep birds safe. Owl boxes, and sisal woodpecker logs also create diversity in your garden.

Keep the predators at bay.

• Cats are a scourge to residential birds and some of them will hunt simply for the act of killing/out of boredom. One of the best ways to ensure that birds feel safe in your backyard is keeping cats out of it. Bird will only settle down in your garden if they can safely nest there. If you already have a cat, consider making them an indoor cat. This is also a great way to keep your cat out of mischief and keep it from contracting diseases like FIV (feline-immunodeficiency-virus).

Add colour to your garden

• Birds see colour better than humans so create a feast for their little birdy eeys by planting vibrant flowers and fruit bearing trees. Birds love a good berry, so focus on plants that mature into berries as the season changes. This will keep non-migratory birds fed throughout the colder months and add colour to your autumn and winter garden. Waterberry trees, Mulberry trees and Wild Plums add colour and food to your birdscaped garden.

If you aren’t ready to commit to birdscaping, there are a few things you can at least do to avoid chasing off any birdy visitors.

• Remove any reflective ornaments or other shiny, noisy things like metal wind-chimes and sun-catchers.
• Keep your cats, snakes and agile dogs indoors. (or make them wear bells)
• Never ever use poison as pest control. Rat and mouse poison as well as snail bait can all kill of a bird population in no time.

Also read our article on how to find peace in nature.