An increasing number of us are starting to realise the benefits of attracting birds into our outdoor environment and are using various techniques to try and achieve this aim.  To attract birds into your garden in larger numbers you’re going to have to make your garden bird friendly and one of the many tricks available to do so is to place bird tables in suitable locations throughout your garden.

Bird tables are perhaps the most popular way to get birds to visit your garden although you could try other methods such as planting specific trees which they like or setting aside a quite area in the garden where they can be left to go about their business. In addition, try cutting back or eliminating the use of pesticides in your garden, doing so will increase  the number of insects in the area which will encourage birds to come to find a meal in your piece of land.

Bird tables offer shelter and food and once they get to know that the table is there you will find that many birds will return on a regular basis to use the sanctuary it provides. This is especially important during the Winter months when many birds would fail to survive if it wasn’t for the kindness of those who provide this essential service.

Robin On A Bird Table

Bird tables are particularly  popular with species of birds that prefer feeding from a roof, table or the ground such as robins, wrens, dunnocks and blackbirds. So look out for these species when you have your bird table installed in our garden, you are bound to see them making good use of the new feeding area once they find it.

Firstly you’ll have to decide if you are going to hang your bird table or sit it on a post. Of course if your bird table was supplied attached to a post then the decision has already been made for you. Metal poles are generally the best option as the prevent cats and squirrels from being able to climb up on to the table. However wooden poles seem to be more popular and are certainly easier for those of us who are going to attach the table ourself or how might even be building our own bird feeder.

If you’ve for whatever reason got a wooden pole you can either buy yourself a squirrel baffle which if a metal devise which clamps round the pole, acting as a barrier to unwanted guests.

The great thing about having a bird table on a pole is that it is so easy to situate it wherever is most suitable for the wildlife and also most suitable to allow for easy viewing by you and the family.

If your garden is particularly small then you may want to hang a bird feeder from a tree. This is a simple process that shouldn’t take long which allows anyone with a small area of land to attract birds into the garden. Problems may arise here if the local cats use the tree as a pathway to the feeder but there are ways around this.

Most importantly when considering where to position a bird table is to think about the safety of the birds. Generally a more open space is better as it allows birds to keep a look out for predators while they eat. Most neighborhoods will have a large number of roaming cats which see your new garden furniture as a free meal, so take care to put tables away from their reach. Make sure you don’t have any shrubs of hedges too close by where hungry felines can hide out.

The beauty of a bird table on a stand is that you can move them around the garden to most the most of the prevailing weather conditions. You might want to find a spot that gets direct sunlight in the winter to keep them as dry as possible but at the same time away from any strong winds. In summer you can choose a cooler part of the garden to give birds some relief from the heat.

When you have the birds safety sorted out you can decide if it is possible to get the feeder positioned to allow you to bird watch from the comfort of your home. After all, much of the advantage of attracting birds into your garden is the pleasure we get from viewing their behavior and listening to their song.

Many people who are new to feeding garden birds don’t know where to start when choosing bird feed apart from a vague idea about nuts and seeds being something that they might like. Doing a little research into the best foods for specific species of bird and what to feed them at specific times of the year will improve results both from your point of view and from the birds.

Having said that their are so many companies out there today who provide mixtures suitable for your bird table that you could quite easily just take someone else’s word on what you should be using. Its much more satisfying however to do your own research and study up on such an interesting subject.

Seeds Mixes

Supply your garden birds with a constant supply of good quality seed and they will reward you by visiting your garden on a regular basis. As with any product on the market there will be a wide variation in the quality, usually dependent on the price you pay for your seed mix.

You will find seed mix composition varies according to how you are going to use it. Mixes which are specifically for bird tables will sometimes have larger flakes which are unsuitable for use in feeders while bird feeder seed mix will consist of smaller seeds to allow for free flowing access to the food. Look out for mixes which contain a large quantity of high quality grains and seeds such as flaked maize, sunflower and peanuts.

Suet and Fatballs

Fat balls, suet and other high-fat food bars are a perfect foodstuff for your birds during the Winter months and also gives a great energy boost during the breeding season. Suitable high-fat bird treats are available from all good suppliers although you can make your own. If you do purchase fatballs ready made, make sure you remove the nylon bag before putting the fat ball out to prevent possible injury to the birds.

Live foods

If you want to give your birds only the best food possible then take a look at getting live bird food from one of the many suppliers out there. Although these foods can quickly get expensive it really is the way to supply the nutrition our bird need. Research being carried out by the British Trust for Ornithology to find out the advantages of live foods over seeds is expected to show that birds fed on live foods are healthier and lay more eggs.

You can buy a range of live worms to feed your birds Online or if you are exceptionally keen and want to save some money you can learn to breed them yourself.

Conventional Pet Food

Many people advice that its fine to food cat or dog food to birds. I personally like to stick to foods that my birds would eat in the wild and not knowing what does into pet food makes me wary of using it. In addition, I not sure about the animal welfare techniques that are practiced by companies who produce these meats so I prefer to stay away from them.

At the same time many birds seem to like it so if you have some spare meat lying around the house and nothing else suitable for bird feed then you might want to give it a try. You can even use pet biscuits but just make sure you soak them first so the birds don’t choke on them.

Thankfully feeding birds is a very popular activity in the UK so there is no shortage of people going their bit but the more the merrier so if you haven’t started yet learn a bit about the best way to go about it and join in. You’ll be amazed at how the extra bird activity in your garden adds a new dimension to your outdoor living space. The added colour and interesting behaviors of your garden birds will not only be of interest to you but are a great way to get children interested in wildlife.

Taking the time to understand the best way to feed birds will allow you to make the most of your garden in terms of your own enjoyment of the space and also ensure that you do the best for the birds. Take the necessary steps to ensure that you carry out responsible and safe bird feeding. By doing so you will help the birds to survive periods when there might be a shortage of food in the wild, when the climate takes a turn for the worse and help them be in excellent condition when the weather picks up again in spring.

Tips For Successfully Feeding Garden Birds

- Put out only an amount of food that can be consumed in a couple of days. This will help to keep bird food fresh and also help you keep bird feeding areas clean and tidy.

- Move bird tables and feeders around the garden periodically to avoid droppings building up in any one place.

- Have clean water available for bathing and drinking purposes.

- Use only natural, uncooked foods with no additives to help keep your birds as healthy as possible. Sunflower seeds and peanuts are great, just make sure you chop up the peanuts during nesting season as small chicks can choke on them.

- Regularly clean feeders, tables and water receptacles with disinfectant.

- Providing a variety of food in different locations throughout your garden to provide and varied diet and attract a wider range of species.

- Put bird tables and feeders away from any objects or shrubs that may be used by the local neighborhood cats to propel themselves on the table. Also, buy bird tables with taller poles may help minimise this possibility.