As nesting season gathers pace, it's natural to want to do more for the nesting birds in your garden. Building a nest, protecting the young and keeping everybody fed is a high energy task for garden birds and one that you can certainly make a little easier for them. If you want to help the nesting birds in your garden then we've put this guide together for you, with 5 ways you can help.
NUMBER 1.
A simple and somewhat obvious way to help nesting birds in your garden is by providing a nestbox. Different species have different requirements when looking for a nest site so research which birds you have in the garden before choosing your nestbox.
The Green&Blue range includes the Birdball birdhouse, which is perfect for small garden birds like Bluetits and Coal tits, and the SwiftBlock, which creates a safe nesting site for swifts - when they arrive.
NUMBER 2.
Another way to support nesting birds is by leaving nesting material in your garden, saving them a search. You can leave piles of dried twigs, leaves and grass around the garden or human and animal hair will be welcomed by many garden birds, just don't leave any hair too long.
The Green&Blue Belle feeder can make a great place to leave nesting materials out for garden birds, just replace your normal fat ball with hair and nesting scraps.
Beautiful image from the BirdFellows website.
NUMBER 3.
Water. Nesting birds need to stay hydrated, and cool. A well maintained Bird Bath with shallow water will be a welcome retreat for the nesting birds in your garden. Refill the water in your Bird Bath daily to keep it clean and make sure to give it a thorough wash at least once a week.
The Green&Blue Bird Bath is designed to provide a safe place for garden birds to drink and bathe, and a beautiful feature in your garden.
NUMBER 4.
The right kind of food. High energy foods like mealworms, suet balls, and peanuts will give the birds in your garden lots of energy as they nest. Make sure your bird feeders aren't placed too close to your nest boxes and make sure choking hazards like whole peanuts aren't put on Bird Tables.
The Green&Blue peanut feeder is a safe way to feed high energy food like peanuts to garden birds, powering them through the nesting season.
NUMBER 5.
Let it grow. If you can leave hedges and shrubs to grow a little wild at this time of year then do, there may well be birds nesting within the foliage and using the greenery for cover.
If you've had successful nesting in your garden then we'd love to hear from you. Which species have you seen? What nestboxes have you used? What's your top tip for somebody looking to do more for the birds in their garden? Leave us a message in the comments below.
6 comments
We have a small grey female and a grey red breasted male that decided our (supposedly) decorative bird house was just the home they were seeking. It’s on our front porch. I’m quite certain the eggs are laid because momma doesn’t leave except to feed. We are using our back door so we don’t disturb her. Is this necessary or would she adapt to our comings and goings? I’m really excited they are there and I want them to be happy and comfortable.
I have been using your birdball birdhouse, the belle feeder and the bee brick.
The birdhouse was probably used the last year as a shelter. I have just cleaned it from bird poo, no nest building material came out. It was its first season on the tree, facing north east.
I have not seen many tits in my garden recently which would be the ones to use it if I am right. Maybe because the robins are chasing them out of my garden (recorded on the wildcamera).
The robins like to nest in a wooden blackbird nesting box in ivy.
The bee brick is lying at the lane door lintel. It creates a useful drinking puddle for the birds.
So lovely to hear your tales of nesting birds – the best feeling when they choose to make a home in your garden.
We were given a small bird box as a moving in gift for our new house last year, I put it up purely as a decorative object but about a week ago my wife text me and said we had a (think) blue tit nesting, last few days I’ve heard the chicks chirping away and mummy has been back and forth at feeding times – I’m over the moon and never thought it would be used….. I’ve left out some goodies for her and the chicks and she has been pecking away at the suet ball and the seeds we have left out :-)
Yellow tits nesting.