Wondering why birds aren’t visiting your garden? Seeing wildlife in your garden can be so fulfilling and exciting, so it can leave you wondering why you don’t see any when the birds don’t show up. Creating a biodiverse garden even improves your wellbeing, as shown in a recent RHS wellbeing study, so if the birds aren’t flocking to your garden, here are our tips to help you encourage wildlife to your space.
Is it the cuisine?
The first thing is that birds need food. They eat berries from trees, hedgerows, shrubs, perennials and insects from the soil and anywhere else they can find them. They enjoy seeds from plants and love picking up worms from the compost. If your garden is short on plants, a lawn, shrubs and plants, there will be nothing for birds to eat. Plants are not only a food source but also attract insects that birds then feed on. Creating a biodiverse space will soon encourage them in. Supplementary food is also important so put up bird feeders with various food to attract different species.
Is it the sleeping arrangements?
Birds need to rest and shelter and build nests. If there isn’t anywhere for them to perch on for rest or to scout for a possible nesting site, then your garden won’t be of much interest to them at all.
- Plant native hedging, a mixture of evergreen and deciduous plus trees, even a small one will help in a small garden. If the trees also provide food, that's an added benefit for birds.
- Don’t forget to put up bird boxes for nesting sites away from where people will walk by, and remember they also need water. A birdbath can be a great attraction, and it's wonderful fun watching them splash around.
Are they worried about safety?
It can be a tough world out there for birds with the weather, and finding food, rearing fledglings and anything else that comes their way. They do have predators such as Sparrowhawks, so if you see one flying overhead frequently, you’ll notice there won’t be many birds around. This is another good reason why having safe spaces for birds to hide is important. Hedging, evergreen trees and nesting boxes will all be held to create a safe haven.
Are you green enough?
If you have paved over your garden, you don’t have a lawn, or you have an artificial lawn there will be fewer birds. Birds pull worms and insects from lawns for food, and there’s no chance of that with concrete! Greening up your space will definitely help to attract our feathered friends to the garden.
Find many plants, accessories and bird food suitable for all gardens at Merryhatton to attract birds or look online at https://www.merryhatton.co.uk/birds-wildlife.
