Transform Your Garden into a Bird Haven This Autumn

Autumn is a splendid time to welcome birds into your garden. As the days shorten and food becomes harder to come by, it’s the perfect chance to turn your garden into a real bird sanctuary. But how can you encourage more birds to visit, and what can you do to attract them? This guide provides seven useful tips for drawing in birds and creating a truly bird-friendly garden.

1. Offer a Range of Foods

One of the best ways to lure birds to your garden is by providing food. But is it alright to feed birds in your garden? Absolutely, especially during the colder months when they find it harder to locate enough food. Make sure to offer the right types of food. Different birds have different preferences. For instance, sunflower seeds are popular with birds like blue tits and great tits, while sparrows favour mixed seeds.

In autumn, you might also hang up fat balls or peanut feeders. These high-energy foods are vital for birds to stay warm. Place the food at different heights and spots around your garden to cater to both ground-feeding birds and those that prefer feeding higher up.

2. Provide Shelter and Nesting Spots

Birds feel more secure in gardens where they can find shelter. How can you attract birds to your garden? By planting shrubs and trees that offer both food and cover. Birds use these areas not just to escape predators but also to rest and build nests.

Dense shrubs like holly or privet are great for smaller birds. Installing birdhouses can also help bring more birds to your garden. Ensure the birdhouses are placed in safe locations, away from predators like cats.

3. Water is Essential

Water is crucial for birds, both for drinking and for keeping their feathers clean. A simple birdbath or small pond can significantly increase the number of birds visiting your garden. Make sure the water stays clean and doesn’t freeze in winter.

By adding a shallow pond or birdbath, you create an inviting space for various bird species. Especially in autumn and winter, when natural water sources might be frozen, it’s important that birds in your garden have access to fresh 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 very attractive to birds as they provide food or shelter. Consider planting berry bushes such as pyracantha, rowan, or hawthorn. These bushes not only attract birds with their berries but also provide excellent nesting sites.

Additionally, sunflowers and thistles offer a natural food source. These plants produce seeds that birds enjoy eating during autumn.

5. Create a Bird-Friendly Environment

It’s essential to create a peaceful and safe environment for birds. Avoid using chemical pesticides in your garden as they can be harmful to both birds and insects. Birds eat many insects, so maintaining a healthy insect population provides a natural food source.

Moreover, aim to cultivate a natural garden. For instance, 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 like robins.

6. Which Birds Visit Your Garden?

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

By creating a diverse garden with different types of food and cover, you can attract a greater variety of birds. Keep track of the most frequent visitors; this information can be useful for activities like the National Garden Birdwatch.

7. Count the Birds in Your Garden

A fun way to support bird research is by joining the National Garden Birdwatch. Every 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 straightforward: record the highest number of birds you see at once for each species.

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

Attract More Birds to Your Garden

Attracting birds to your garden not only benefits the birds but also brings great joy to you as a gardener or nature enthusiast. By providing a range 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 turn your garden into a true bird sanctuary.

Don’t forget to join the National Garden Birdwatch every January. It’s the perfect opportunity to see how many birds visit your garden and which species make themselves at home.