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going wild for a beautiful world
As a nation of bird lovers, nothing is more delightful than these arbiters of song, colour and bustle in their full and beautiful variety splashing furiously in the bird bath or watching them to-ing and fro-ing from their
Treadlight suggests...
Attracting birds to your garden involves re-creating their natural habitat, providing food, water, shelter and protection.
Did you know that the previously common house sparrow, song thrush and starling have been nominated as a priority species by the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, all having declined by more than half over the last 25 years?
The sparrow feeds primarily on seed heads, the song thrushes worms and snails and starlings, mainly insects and some fruit, cereals and seed. Leave grasses long, do not dead head flowers at the end of the season and provide food and clean water to help them along.
perches. With the added bonus of their consumption of vast quantities of garden pests, especially over winter, they are particularly welcome.
The downside, some stripping of fruit and berried crops in summer is a small price to pay. A generous host may find these visitors may not only remain over winter but return for several years to come. Just remember to keep the pet moggy away!
In winter particularly, clean water for bathing and drinking is essential and as wild foods are scarce then, supplementary provisions of sunflower seeds, peanuts and fatballs will be much appreciated and encourage successful over wintering.
A more established,shady, woodland type garden with its trees, shrubs and wild hedges, would suit best, together with some open grassland and wildflowers for a larder of worm and insects.This would provide the ideal haven for our feathered friends.
