There’s nothing quite like relaxing in your garden, enjoying the peace of your own outdoor oasis. One of the best bonuses? The joy of birdlife visiting your space. Creating a bird-friendly garden is easier than you think, and with a few simple tweaks, you can turn your garden into a welcoming haven for local wildlife.
The number one way to get birdlife to visit your space is to supply them with water. Birds will use the water not only for drinking but for bathing as well. A large open yet shallow bowl is perfect as birds will be able to easily wash and drink. A small lip around the edge of the bowl will be the ideal landing spot for a bird. If you are concerned about still water breeding mosquitos the addition of a small low voltage pump will keep the water moving the whole time preventing pesky flying insects from laying their larvae in the water.
The location of your water bowl is important too, birds want to feel safe so out in the open won’t be conducive to them using the water for longer periods. I have a large bubbling urn water feature tucked under a pergola at the end of a long dining table. The coverage from a wisteria above gives a feeling of safety but the arrival of birds whilst we dine alfresco is a real joy.
Supplying food for birds is another great way to get them to visit the garden time after time and you can attract the ones you want to see the most by simply planting the species they eat; a little research will go a long way.
Smaller birds such as the beautiful blue coloured finches love the seeds from grasses and some great native food sources include ornamental species such as Poa, Kangaroo grass or Wallaby grass. Planted on-mass they will add a flowing movement to your garden and supply your winged friends with plenty of food. Grasses love free draining soil but also benefit from compost during the planting process. If using grasses for bird food it’s important not to cut them down too early in the season, wait until the end of winter. When you start to see new growth shoot from the base, you can then remove all the spent foliage as the seeds will have been consumed.
Native shrubs such as Grevillia, Callistemon and Banksia are a great food source for many different native birds from the brightly coloured Lorikeets, through to wattle birds and of course the larger cockatoos. Being selective with where you plant these is key to getting the best view of the birds but remember to plant for maturity. Larger plants like Banksia can be destructive to garden structures and walls so plant appropriately. If planting for birdlife refrain from pruning the plants as this is normally done after flowering only removing what is unsightly and poor shape.
If you don’t have room for more plants or perhaps live in an apartment a bird feeder that you can stock with food will surely bring some feathered friends to your space, feeding birds like this should be taken on with caution as you don’t want your birds to become too depend on you and leaving seeds out can attract vermin.
When trying to attract birdlife to your garden you need to consider removing or reducing your garden lighting. Lighting that shines directly into the canopy of trees will disturb your birds and won’t encourage them to nest in new trees. When lighting a garden shine lights onto paths and other areas of high traffic from the side or using spikes that elevate the lights just above the surface, as this will reduce light wash away from the nesting areas.
