A garden is not only well—groomed plants, a neatly trimmed lawn and a well-thought-out space; it is a place when the environment is in balance thanks to the presence of birds. The garden would be quiet, empty and sad without them. Birds will be happy to fly into your garden, stay in it for a long time and, perhaps, even settle in it if you can provide three simple, but necessary conditions for their comfortable life:
- regular and reliable food;
- water for drinking;
- bathing and safe shelter.
Photo by Bonnie Kittle on Unsplash
Feeders should be located in open areas with a good view, but not far from a natural shelter (tree, shrub). This arrangement gives at least partial protection of more birds from prey and cats. Always keep the feeders clean. If you have started feeding birds, then you should provide fresh food regularly, especially in winter.
Image by Thomas from Pixabay
The different birdhouses can be bought ready-made or built with your own hands (a great activity with children!). Attach the birdhouses to the warm wall of the house or to the south side of the tree trunk to provide their feathered inhabitants with protection from rain and the scorching sun, as well as from hunters for eggs or chicks (cats, gray squirrels or birds of prey). It is necessary to clean the birdhouses once a year, preferably in autumn.
Feeding is one of the most useful things that you can do for birds in gardens, parks or in any other natural conditions, but it needs to be approached thoroughly.
Image by Eveline de Bruin from Pixabay
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the British Foundation for Ornithology BTO encourage people and write that if we talk about survival, it is important to feed birds all year round. In the spring, live, protein-rich foods, such as flour beetle larvae, will be a godsend for birds searching for food to feed their small chicks. Many people feed birds, but do not think about providing birds with pure water. Birds are in need of water for drinking and bathing. It is especially significant in cold days, when natural liquid resources can be frozen. Keeping a clean bird bath supports the prevention of different bird diseases.