Notes accompanying Howard Drury’s Presentation ‘Encouraging Birds Into Your Garden
Feeding Stations
Choose protected sites
Away from large glass areas
Plenty of nearby cover from predators
Birds
Cats
Suspended tube feeders
High level bird table
Ground level feeding area
Avoid other problems rats and mice, other birds
New Feeders
Correct feeder for food type
Squirrel proof
Sufficient height for safety
Clean container
Only partially fill container and then gradually increase amount put into feeder each time
Ensure food is dry and clean
Replenish regularly
Feeding Habits
Most species vary diet according to time of year
Insect eaters like Robins will eat seeds
Most have own feeding positions within
their own territory, few are social
Prefer natural food but will take artificial types
Clean water is important
Why Birds in Your Garden?
Countryside habitat is disappearing
90% of our birds are dependent on our gardens
In return, some birds eat some insect pests
We need to offer the widest range of plants in various seasons possible
Aims of Bird Garden
To provide habitats for widest range of birds
To provide a range of food over a full year
To offer breeding facilities
Provide suitable feeding areas for different species of birds
To combine natural and supplemented feeding
Not a wild or organic extreme design garden
Provide resting and hiding areas
Water Features for Bird Garden
Access
Quality
Depth
Mud
Habitat for insects for food source
Habitat for plants providing seeds
Nesting material
Still or moving water
Elements of a Bird Garden
Bulbs
Herbaceous
Shrubs
Trees
Wall Shrubs
Lawn
Water
Wildflower garden
Pruning in the Bird Garden
Avoid pruning from mid-March until late Aug
Do not prune away protective habitats
Avoid pruning away weather protection
Leave seed and berries rather than pruning
Leave seeds on grasses
Consider leaving prunings on the ground
Leave old dead branches and stumps
The Lawn
Not cut short
Wide range of weeds
All allowed to flower and seed
Thatch is allowed to build up
Source of worms and other soil insects
No chemical weedkillers, pesticides fungicides
Use organic fertilizers if needed
The Herbaceous Border
All plants chosen must have a purpose
Extend the season wherever possible
Use twiggy supports rather than metal
Avoid use of sterile hybrids and doubles
Save sunflower heads for use in winter
Do not prune down, leave for birds
Use selections of native plants
Supplement with overseas introduction
Thorny shrubs
Berberis
Crataegus
Gooseberry
Ilex (Holly)
Mahonia
Pyracantha
Rosa
Rubus
Flowers in the Bird Garden
Over a long season
Nectar for birds and insects
Seeds for birds
Harbour insects
Important in raising of young
Berrying Evergreens
Arbutus unedo
Aucuba
Berberis darwinii
Cotoneaster many Inc C. × suecicus 'Coral Beauty’
cranberry 'Pilgrim'
Ilex (Holly) many Inc. Ilex × altaclerensis 'Golden King'
Mahonia
Pyracantha Saphyr Rouge ('Cadrou')
Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis
Skimmia
Viburnum davidii
Deciduous Shrubs for the Birds
Long season of flowering
Often followed by valuable fruits
May also offer protection from predators
Easier to fit in the garden than larger trees
Extend fruiting season with different cultivars
Leave fruits for sugar levels to rise
Let windfall fruits lay on the ground
Deciduous Shrubs with Berries
Hypericum × inodorum Magical Universe ('Kolmuni') (PBR)
Callicarpa bodinieri var. giraldii 'Profusion’
Chaenomeles speciosa 'Geisha Girl’
Chaenomeles (Quince)'Serbian Gold'
Euonymus europaeus 'Red Cascade’
Euonymus phellomanus
Hypericum × inodorum Magical Universe ('Kolmuni’)
Symphoricarpos Magical Galaxy ('Kolmgala')
Trees in the Bird Garden
Provide Shelter during inclement weather
Nesting habitat
Source of nectar
May provide seeds or berries or fruits
Host for insect food source (greenfly)
Sorbus 'Joseph Rock’
Sorbus pseudohupehensis 'Pink Pagoda'
Good Climbers and Wall Shrubs
Lonicera (Honeysuckle)
Hedera (Ivy)
Garrya elliptica 'James Roof' AGM
Clematis montana types habitat
Climbing roses
Summer flowering Jasmine
Cotoneaster horizontalis*
Lonicera pericylmenum ‘Graham Thomas’
Pyracantha Saphyr Orange (‘Cadange’)
Nectar and Pollen Rich Plants
Agastache
Anemone nemerosa
Echium
Eranthus hymenalis
Honeysuckle
Marigolds
Oneothera
Primulas and Primroses
Sedum spectable
Taraxicum (including ornamental forms of wild dandelion
Set Up A Nectar Hotel Bar
Choose a sheltered sunny spot
Place each plant in groups or drifts so that the colour and scent are easy to detect
Prolong the flowering season – select plants so that you have a show of flowers from early spring to late autumn
Choose flowers with a simple (often flat) structure, like old cottage varieties, as they are the easiest for insects to feed from
Remember to provide a night-time feast for moths. Plant some night-scented flowers.
Add herbs to the mix as they are highly attractive to insects, or design a dedicated herb garden
Bare Soil Areas
Avoid naturally wet areas
Dust bathing keep soil loose in dry weather
Soil borne insects for food
Nest making material
Native weeds and seeds
Cover with fallen leaves and leave to rot
Loosen soil in spring and summer
Composting
Natural style
No plastic bins
Access for birds foraging
Leave larger material in heaps to decompose
Raking leaves onto borders for insect food
Regularly mulch areas to expose insects
Avoid the use of Growmore
Diets (1)
Goldfinches will eat the following plus others
Teasel
Lavender
Sunflower
Red Polls look for food on the following
Alder
Silver Birch
Diets (2)
Bullfinches will eat the following and more
Seeds of Myosotis
Forsythia buds
Starlings
Rowan berries
Cherries
Virginia creeper berries
Diets (3)
Thrush family will generally feed on the following:-
Windfall apples
Cotoneaster berries
Diets (4)
Blackbirds specifically will eat:-
Primarily ground feeder
Rowan berries
Windfall apples
Lawns
Fallen leaves
Soil invertebrates
Raisins, mealworms, Peanut granules, grated cheese,
I will add images and more information as and when time permits
The information given in this fact sheet is provided in good faith. It is however of necessity general information and advice on the topic Howard Drury shall be under any liability in respect of the provision of such advice and information, and you are strongly advised to seek independent advice on any particular gardening problems or queries you may have, preferably from experts who can (when appropriate) inspect the problem before providing advice.
© 2024. This material has been produced by Howard Drury and must not be reproduced in part or full without the written consent of Howard Drury 8 Bagnell Road, Kings Heath, Birmingham B13 0SJ
JHD/9/10/2024
