Natural England works for people, places and nature to

conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife

in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas. We conserve and

enhance the natural environment for its intrinsic value, the

wellbeing and enjoyment of people, and the economic

prosperity it brings.

www.naturalengland.org.uk

© Natural England 2007

ISBN 978-1-84754-011-9

Catalogue code NE19

Written by Steve Berry. Designed by RR Donnelley

Front cover image: Robin on blackthorn blossom. Dave and Brian Bevan

Birds and your garden

www.naturalengland.org.uk

Birds come to gardens to feed, breed,nest and rest. If water is provided, theywill also visit to drink, bathe and preentheir feathers. For a relatively smallnumber of birds, gardens may supplymost of their requirements for most ofthe year. More commonly, however,gardens offer a stopping-off point –somewhere to spend part of the day ornight, or part of the year. Having agreater appreciation of what birdsneed from gardens (and when) willenable you to provide for them to agreater degree.

3

Blue tits on window feeders can be watched at close quarters. Chris Gomersall

Food

Although garden birds can be groupedartificially into broad categories suchas insect-eaters and seed-eaters, thereality is less simple. Insectivores such

Birds and your gardenYou probably enjoy watching the

birds that visit your garden. You

may already be making efforts to

entice them there. The money

spent on food for garden birds has

increased by 500 per cent in the

last 15 years while recent sales of

bird nest boxes and bird tables

have soared. But have you ever

thought seriously about what

brings birds to gardens or tried to

look at your garden through their

eyes? This leaflet is not a field

guide but will help you see your

garden from a bird’s perspective.

We hope it will inspire you to do

what you can to make your garden,

whatever its size, even more

attractive to birdlife.

Test the suggestions in this leafletand let us know what success youhave!

Make a note of all the bird speciesthat come to your garden and aseparate list of those that nest.

Put as many of the recommendationshere as you can into practice andrepeat the survey at yearly intervals.

Let us know what seems to haveworked and what has made nodifference. See page 37 for contactdetails.

as tits and woodpeckers also includevegetable food in their diet andblackcaps are also very partial towinter fruits and berries.Correspondingly, in the first week or soof their lives, the nestlings of mostseed-eating birds need the proteinprovided by insects and other

Like many birds, chaffinches switch from eatingmainly seeds to a diet of insects in the springand summer. Chris Gomersall

invertebrates, such as spiders. The ideal garden for birds shouldtherefore be able to supply bothanimal and vegetable food matterthroughout the year. This has a numberof practical implications.

2

54

The use of pesticides should be kept toa minimum or, better still, stoppedaltogether. Almost all invertebratesprovide food for some bird or otherand very few constitute much of athreat to garden plants. Some of thosethat can cause damage, such asaphids, are actually among the mostvaluable food sources for young birds.If you stop spraying blackfly, greenflyand other pest species, you will findthat, eventually, natural predators willkeep their numbers in check. Cuttingout pesticides saves you time andmoney and you have the added bonusof being able to enjoy the sight oflacewings and ladybirds, as well ashouse sparrows and blue tits, feastingon aphids.

The following is a list of other triedand tested ways of ensuring a plentifulsupply of invertebrate food for yourbirds:

• Maintain one or more compost heaps.

• Keep dead wood, perhaps in a log pile.

• Allow leaves to rot down naturally rather than bagging and removing them in the autumn.

• Plant a wide variety of trees and shrubs, especially native species such as willow, oak and birch which support many caterpillars.

• Choose annual and perennial plants attractive to nectar-feeding insects.

• Don’t be obsessive about tidying

away dead and dying perennials in the winter – these can shelter many useful hibernating creatures and can be left until the weather warms up again.

• Try developing at least part of your lawn as a wildflower meadow – these areas will be attractive to many small insects.

Most birds eat some vegetable matterand much is known about thepreferred foods of individual species.

Goldfinches love the seeds of teasel,lavender and sunflower. Alder andsilver birch trees may attract commonredpolls if they are in the vicinity.

Starlings are fond of rowan berries andcherries, but will also eat the smallblack berries of Virginia creeper whenreally hungry. Bullfinches like the budsof forsythia and the seeds of forget-me-not.

Mistle thrushes don’t just go for theberries of mistletoe from which theytake their name: they will try and takepossession of any fruiting holly orrowan tree and defend it fiercely fromcompetitors.

Robins eat the attractive dual-colouredberries of the spindle tree, while ivyberries are a vital food source forblackcaps, blackbirds and woodpigeons, especially late in the yearwhen there may be little else available. Every gardener should try and makeroom for some apple trees: membersof the thrush family, including winter

visitors like redwing and fieldfare, willmake short work of any windfalls, andblackcaps like them too. If you arelucky enough to have a garden suitablefor large trees, then many birds may bedrawn in by species such as oaks (jays,nuthatches, woodpeckers andwoodpigeons) Scots pine (coal tits and

goldcrests) and beech (chaffinches). Ifyou live near a beech wood you mayeven see bramblings visiting yourgarden. Smaller gardens can still be madeappealing to birds by planting shrubs,for example exotics like cotoneasters

Members of the thrush family enjoy apples,especially in harsh weather. Top: blackbird. Mike Lane/Natural Image Above: Fieldfare. Robert Dickson/Natural Image

Top: Redwings are among the many birds thateat hawthorn berries. Chris GomersallCentre: Woodpigeons go to great lengths to getat ivy berries! Chris GomersallAbove: Up to two million bramblings mayoverwinter in Britain. In gardens, they go forpremium seed and peanut granules. Paul Keene/Avico Ltd

76

(but not cotoneaster Conspicuaxconspicus ‘Decorus’ – birds ignore theberries for some reason), pyracanthaand berberis, or natives like wild privet,guelder rose and dogwood. The berriesof some ornamental plants likeamelanchier and leycesteria are soattractive to thrushes that they may bestripped as soon as they are ripe.Lawns, whether traditionally close-mown and weedfree or those in whichclovers, dandelions and other ‘weeds’are more tolerated, are ideal huntinggrounds for blackbirds, robins andstarlings. You might also see songthrushes in search of earthworms andleatherjackets; pied wagtails lookingfor small flies and, in more rural areas,green woodpeckers seeking ants (theirfavourite food).

Song thrushes are great garden alliesas they eat large numbers of snails,first smashing their shells to get at theanimal inside. To help them, make sureyour garden has a suitable ‘anvil’ in aplace where thrushes have areasonable chance of seeing anapproaching cat. A paving slab or rockplaced in the centre of a lawn is ideal.

Lawns are perfect hunting areas for blackbirds.Mike Lane/Natural Image

A flat stone on a lawn makes an ideal anvil for asong thrush. Mike Lane/Natural Image

CatsMany gardens are visited by catsand it is important to help guardyour birds against theirunwelcome attention. Positionbird feeders and tables awayfrom the low cover in which catsmay hide and also provideperches nearby – vantage pointsfrom where birds can detect anapproaching cat. Anecdotalevidence suggests that the morebirds that visit a garden, the lowerthe chances of a cat being able tocatch any one individual –probably because there are morepairs of eyes looking out forpotential threats. Sonic catdeterrents can work well butshould be moved around thegarden on a regular basis so thatthe cats don’t learn how to avoidthe triggers. If you are a catowner, consider attaching a bellor sonic bleeper to your cat towarn the local wildlife of itsapproach.

How many species? Even very small gardens may bevisited by 10 to 20 different speciesof bird during a year. In an ordinarysuburban garden, 40 or 50 specieswould not be uncommon and eventhis number can include a fewsurprises, especially in hard weatherwhen birds like kingfishers may turnup in search of unfrozen water, orperhaps woodcock or snipe lookingfor soft ground for foraging. Forgardens near a coast or a prime birdhabitat or those on a migration route,sightings of 80 species or more arepossible, although many of these willsimply be passing over and you

would have to be fairlyknowledgeable to identify them all.The exciting thing is that almost anyspecies may turn up in a gardensometime, somewhere. The red kitehas been reintroduced in some partsof the country and is now regularlyseen in gardens along the M4corridor and the Thames Valley; heresome birds have been known to stealclothes from washing lines todecorate their nests! In January 2006,one was seen in a garden in innerLondon, a sight certain to becomemore common if the expansion ofthe red kite population continues.

Cats look innocent but kill around 50 million garden birds each year. Those with bells or sonic deviceskill 40% fewer birds than those without. Dave and Brian Bevan

9

Food supplements

However you manage your garden andwhatever its size, there will be timeswhen the naturally available food itnormally provides is scarce or absent.Under these circumstances, birds willmove on to feed elsewhere if they can.Small birds, especially, need to spendmost of their waking lives either insearch of food or actually feeding (90per cent of the time in the case of thecoal tit and effectively 100 per cent inthe case of goldcrest). Weaknesscaused by hunger comes upon smallbirds very rapidly and prolonged foodshortages, particularly those in hardweather, can often prove fatal.

You can increase the survival chancesof birds by feeding them. If youchoose to do this, try to ensure thatyou provide food regularly andreliably. ‘Your’ birds may come todepend on your generosity and maysuffer if this is only intermittent. It isalso important to provide appropriatefood. Some leftovers can be verynutritious, including cooked potatoes(other than chips), pastry, suet andeven brown bread.

Other household foods like driedfruits, cheese (preferably grated)porridge, apples, half coconuts andcrushed unsalted nuts will also bewelcomed.

From top: Red kites are now seen over somegardens in the Chilterns and elsewhere and aresteadily extending their range. Chris Gomersall

Redstarts may visit some gardens on migration.Mike Lane/Natural Image

Coots can turn up in gardens if there is waternearby. Paul Lacey/Natural England

The chiffchaff makes its presence known in thespring by its persistent and repetitive song. Paul Keene/Avico Ltd

A huge range of bird seed mixtures iscommercially available these days, allof which have some value. However,many consist largely of grains of barleyor wheat and are not very suitable forsmall birds like finches or tits.

Top: Chaffinches, greenfinches and coal tits areamong the species that will come readily to birdtables. Dave and Brian Bevan Above: Goldfinches love nyjer seeds. Chris Gomersall

Top: Great tits are fond of coconuts. Dave and Brian Bevan Above: Long-tailed tits have now started comingto peanut feeders. Chris Gomersall

8

11

Generally speaking, the moreexpensive foods are the best. Manycompanies will deliver bulk supplies bymail order and buying this way canhelp keep down the cost. If you havegoldfinches in your area, then a specialseed feeder filled with nyjer seed (tiny,but rich in oil) will bring them to yourgarden eventually, although they may

sometimes take a while to find thistreat. Sunflower hearts and blacksunflower seeds are favoured by manyseed-eating birds and can be fed tothem year-round.

Keep it clean!

Bird tables need to be cleanedregularly. Uneaten food should not beleft to go mouldy or rot. One of thebest ways to avoid this happening is toprovide no more than the birds will eatin one day, brushing your bird tabledown each evening and putting outnew food the next morning. Specialleaflets on feeding garden birds andhygiene and disease are available freefrom the British Trust for Ornithology(BTO), see Contacts, page 37.

Left top: If you live near woodland, nuthatchesare much more likely to visit your garden. Paul Keene/Avico Left: Bird tables can be turned into attractivefeatures by imaginative planting. Dave and Brian Bevan Above: Remove uneaten food from bird tableseach evening and keep them clean. Dave and Brian Bevan

10

Food and feeding preferences of 50 of the species mostcommonly seen in gardens

Species Food Feeding method

Blackbird Berries, apples, raisins, mealworms, Ground feederpeanut granules, breadcrumbs, grated cheese, etc. Earthworms; other invertebrates.

Blackcap Apples, bread, cheese. Invertebrates, Ground feederberries.

Black-headed Scraps. Invertebrates, plant material. Ground feedergull

Bullfinch Sunflower hearts, black sunflower seed, Hanging feederseed blends. Ash, elm and other tree seeds; flower buds of fruit trees; seeds of nettle, dock, dog’s mercury, fleshy fruits; insects.

Blue tit Peanuts, fatty treats, blue tit seed mix, Hanging feedersunflower hearts, black sunflower seed. Caterpillars, aphids.

Brambling Peanut granules, seed mixes. Tree seeds, Ground/hanging esp. beech mast and conifer seed; fruit. feeder

Chaffinch Seed blends, sunflower hearts, peanut Bird table/ground granules. Caterpillars, flies, a wide feedervariety of seeds.

Carrion crow Scraps. Grain, carrion, eggs and young Ground feederbirds, invertebrates.

Chiffchaff Mainly insects, some fruit. Trees, ground feeder

Coal tit Peanuts, fatty treats, seed blends, Hanging feedersunflower hearts, black sunflower seed. Tree seeds, caterpillars.

Collared dove Seeds, bread, fruit. Cereal grain, insects. Bird table/ground feeder

12 13

Species Food Feeding method

Dunnock Nyjer seeds, peanut granules and seed Ground feederblends, grated cheese. Invertebrates, small seeds.

Feral pigeon Omnivorous; grains. Ground feeder/bird table

Fieldfare Apples, berries, earthworms, insects. Tree and ground feeder

Goldfinch Nyjer seeds, sunflower hearts, peanuts. Hanging feederSmall seeds, eg those of alder, birch, dandelion, ragwort, groundsel.

Goldcrest Cheese, bread, peanut cake. Tree seeds, Bird tablesinvertebrates.

Great spotted Peanuts, meaty scraps. Moth larvae and Hanging feeder, treeswoodpecker other invertebrates, seeds, eggs and

young birds.

Great tit Peanuts, fatty treats, seed blends, Hanging feedersunflower hearts. Caterpillars, acorns, beech mast.

Green Mealworms, fruit, ants. Ground feederwoodpecker

Greenfinch Sunflower hearts, black sunflower seed. Hanging feederLarge seeds, eg those of rosehips, elm. Also, seeds of dog’s mercury and those of crucifers, daisy family.

House martin Small flying insects including aphids. Aerial feeder

House sparrow Sunflower hearts, mealworms. Seeds, Bird tableinvertebrates.

Jackdaw Scraps, fruit. Moth larvae, flies, carrion, Bird table/groundseeds.

Jay Peanuts, scraps, bread. Invertebrates, Bird table/ground/acorns and other seeds, nestlings and eggs. hanging feeder

Species Food Feeding method

Kingfisher Scraps (when desperate!). Small fish, Bird tables; normally amphibians, aquatic invertebrates. feeds in shallow water

Long-tailed tit Peanuts and peanut cake, grated cheese, Hanging feeder/fat balls. Spiders and other small bird tableinvertebrates.

Magpie Scraps. Invertebrates, young birds and Ground feedereggs, small mammals, fruit, seeds, berries, carrion.

Marsh tit Nuts. Insects, spiders, seeds, berries and Hanging feeder/fruit. bird table

Mistle thrush Berries, eg those of holly, mistletoe, Tree and ground feeder cotoneaster etc. Insects.

Nuthatch Peanuts. Insects, spiders, acorns, beech Hanging feeder/treesmast, hazel nuts.

Pheasant Seed mixes with cereals. Berries, seeds, Ground feeder/bird insects. table

Pied wagtail Fat, seeds, bread, nyjer seed. Midges and Bird tables/groundother flying insects. feeder/aerial feeder

Redwing Apples, fresh or dried fruit, berries, Tree and ground feederinsects.

Reed bunting Seeds, insects. Ground feeder

Ring-necked Seeds, peanuts. Fruit and other plant Bird table/hangingparakeet material. feeder

Robin Mealworms, peanut granules, sunflower Ground feeder/bird hearts, grated cheese, breadcrumbs, tablefat balls. Earthworms, larvae, other invertebrates.

Rook Scraps. Earthworms, larvae, beetles, grain. Ground feeder

Siskin Peanuts. Seeds of alder, birch, evergreen conifers. Hanging feeder

1514

Breeding and nesting

Not all the birds visiting your gardenduring the year will view it as apossible nesting place. Many speciesmay nest in gardens, however, and inthe case of some birds, gardens nowsupport a significant percentage oftheir total population.

Some species are far more fussy aboutwhere they nest than others. Blue titsand great tits are the most likely to usenest boxes. The increasingly scarcespotted flycatcher may also adopt anopen-fronted nest box as home, asmay robins and pied wagtails. Thereare now specialist boxes available forspecies like tawny owls but don’t

spend money on them if such speciesare unlikely to come to your garden. Beespecially wary of nest boxesadvertised as being suitable fortreecreepers as current designs seemineffective. Avoid nest boxes attachedto bird feeders. These are normallyuseless as birds will not nest anywheresubject to constant disturbance. Thesafest course of action is to buy onlythose nest boxes approved by a birdconservation organisation like the BTOor the RSPB (see Contacts, page 37).Boxes should not face strong sunlightand should also be positioned awayfrom the prevailing wind. North-facingentrances may be best.

Bird feeders may attract sparrowhawks as well as song birds. Dave and Brian Bevan

Species Food Feeding method

Song thrush Fruit, raisins, mealworms. Caterpillars, earthworms, snails, slugs. Ground feeder

Sparrowhawk Birds up to the size of wood pigeons. Bird table (!), ground

Spotted Insects, woodlice, snails, fruit. Aerial feeder, treesflycatcher

Starling Seed blends, fatty treats, peanut cake. Bird table/ground Earthworms, leatherjackets, seeds. feeder/hanging feeder

Swallow Flying insects. Aerial feeder

Swift Flying insects, airborne spiders. Aerial feeder

Tawny owl Small mammals, earthworms, frogs, Ground feeder beetles.

Treecreeper Fat balls, suet. Insects, spiders, tree Trees; bird tablesseeds.

Tree sparrow Millet seed, fat, peanuts. Wide variety Ground feeder/bird of seeds, insects. table/hanging feeder

Whitethroat Insects, fruits. Shrubs and trees

Willow tit Invertebrates, seeds. Hanging feeder/bird table

Woodpigeon Bread, seed mixes with cereal grains. Ground feederWide range of plant material including seeds and berries.

Yellowhammer Seeds of grasses and cereals. Ground feeder

Wren Grated cheese, mealworms, peanut Ground feedergranules, fatty treats. Small beetles, spiders, moth larvae and other invertebrates.

1716

Nest boxes need to be cleaned. Do thisonly between 1 August and 31 Januaryto keep strictly within the law. Cleaningold nests out of nest boxes encouragesbirds to use them again the followingyear. As well as removing old nestingmaterial it will also be helpful to dousethe inside of boxes with boiling waterto kill bird parasites and their eggs. Virtually all British house martins now

nest on houses, the only exceptionsbeing a few colonies on cliffs andunder some bridges. Artificial nestsmay attract them but a local source ofmud, their essential nesting material,may be more important. Like house martins and swallows,

swifts eat only flying insects and havecome to depend on humans for nestsites. Whereas house martins buildtheir cup-shaped structures of driedmud under the eaves of houses, swiftsneed access to roof spaces for theirvery basic nests. The design of manymodern houses, however, oftenexcludes swifts and the numbers ofthese astonishing and most aerial of allbirds are falling in many areas. It’sbeen estimated that UK population ofswifts has fallen by a third in the last 12years! You can help reverse thisprocess by erecting special swift nestboxes or, if you have an older house,

making sure that in the course ofmodernising it, you don’t depriveswifts of access. For information aboutswift nest boxes contact ‘Concern forSwifts’ or ‘London’s Swifts’ (seeContacts, page 37).

Many species appreciate dense coverfor nesting since this provides shelterand some protection from predators.

Among native shrubs not previouslymentioned, hawthorn, blackthorn,gorse and juniper offer both. Thick ivyis especially favoured by wrens fortheir small, domed nests and is alsosuitable for treecreepers.

From time to time, some birds willchoose to nest in apparently veryunsuitable places which are subject tocontinuous, if accidental, harassmentby humans. Despite this, a few willoccasionally succeed in rearing at leastsome of their brood. However, far morefrequently, a lack of disturbance is thecritical factor in nesting success. If youcan manage your garden with at leastone quiet corner, perhaps overgrownwith elder or nettles, then you may berewarded by a nesting dunnock,chaffinch or even one of the warblerssuch as a blackcap, whitethroat orchiffchaff.

Home-made nest boxes are perfectly fine if theyare well designed. Top left: Box for nuthatch withmud entrance. Dave and Brian BevanTop right: Open-fronted box for robins andspotted flycatchers. Dave and Brian Bevan Above: Boxes for hole-nesting species like tits.Dave and Brian Bevan

House martins need mud to make their own nests(top) but may sometimes be attracted by aprefabricated version (above). Bob Gibbons/Natural Image

Swallows also appreciate our help with nestconstruction. Dave and Brian Bevan

Ivy provides nest sites as well as late-season foodfor birds and insects. Dave and Brian Bevan

1918

If you have no room for trees or bushyshrubs, but have a garden wall or afence, then try combining this with atrellis to provide nesting opportunities.Erect a trellis – supported by thickstakes on either side – about 20 cm (8inches) away from the wall. Plant fast-growing, vigorous climbers likehoneysuckle, clematis or wild rose andthese will soon form a structure thickenough to support nests of species likegoldfinch or blackbird. Cut them back

hard each year to encourage renewedsturdy growth. The addition of ivyHedera helix will benefit a whole rangeof invertebrates and provide extracover and shelter for birds.

To form an even denser gardenboundary, with still better nestingpotential, plant a hedge. Hawthornshould be the main species but mixthis with other berry-bearing shrubsand climbers. Very young plants –whips – can be cheaply obtained andwill establish themselves quickly.

Ideally, plant them out in the autumnallowing at least half a metre betweeneach shrub. Plan for the hedge to be atleast one metre thick although if youhave the space, a wider hedge will beeven more valuable. The followingspring, cut them back severely toencourage growth near the base. It maybe hard to bring yourself to do this, butwhen you see the results you will beglad you had the courage! In two tothree years, your originally spindlyplants will be bushing out nicely. Infive years you will have a thick hedgeand in six or seven you may need anelectric trimmer to keep its growth

within reasonable bounds! Cut thehedge back each year in early Februarybefore birds have started to nest.

Much maligned evergreen species,including the notorious leylandii,make excellent roosting places andmay also be used as nest sites forgreenfinches, robins, dunnocks, wrens

Spotted flycatcher. Howard Lacey/Avico Ltd andwren (below) Dave Bevan/Avico. Both arespecies that may nest in dense ivy. Wrens canalso choose very unconventional nesting sites!

Top: Wren’s nest in garlic. Howard Lacey/Avico LtdAbove: Wren’s nest in coat pocket. Howard Lacey/Avico Ltd

Gardens can offer a huge range of feeding andnesting opportunities for birds. Paul Keene/Avico Ltd

and goldfinches. Examine your gardenwith a critical eye and use referencebooks (see Further information, page38) to decide which species may bemost likely to nest in your garden –then try to create conditions suitablefor them. It’s best to be very realistic.Only the birds that you commonly seein your garden, or neighbouring ones,are likely to nest.

Have your ever wondered whatgoes on in your nest boxes? It’snow possible to find out, withboxes fitted with cameras.Although relatively expensive(basic black and white camera kitsstart at around £90) they can giveyou a fascinating insight into thecomings and goings of parentbirds and the growth of theirchicks, all relayed into your frontroom.

Rest and shelter

Although advice traditionallyconcentrates on the provision ofnesting sites for birds, good roostingsites are just as important for a bird’ssurvival. Few birds actually buildthemselves a structure for the night butnest boxes are often used as nocturnalshelters. Boxes will give life-savingprotection from the weather to smallbirds like wrens and great tits butcannot accommodate larger species. Inreally cold weather, many small birdsmay squeeze into nest boxes together

Drinking and bathing

All birds need to drink. They alsoneed water to help keep theirfeathers in good condition.Relatively few gardens offer birdssafe drinking and bathing facilitiesso whatever you can do will help. Ifyou can, dig a pond. Even verysmall water bodies can be excellentfor wildlife but the pond shouldhave shallow edges so that birdscan get to the water easily. Fordetails, consult the Natural Englandbooklet Garden ponds and boggyareas: havens for wildlife (seeFurther information, page 38).

Bird baths are the next best thing.They can be small or large, but ashallow dish shape is what’srequired – with a thin layer ofgravel at the bottom if the materialis liable to be slippery. The waterneeds to be at least 2.5 cm (1 inch)deep but ideally the containershould be large enough to offer arange of depths up to 10 cm (4inches) to meet the needs ofdifferently sized birds. Place thebath in the open, away from coverwhere a cat might hide. Clean thebath regularly to remove any algaeor bird droppings. Keep it unfrozenin cold weather. There are variousways of doing this including solar-powered water heaters (see theRSPB website www.rspb.org.uk forsuggestions) but never use salt oranti-freeze.

21

to keep warm. One box is recorded ashaving held no fewer than 61 wrens!

Climbing plants growing on gardenwalls or houses are very usefulroosting and nesting sites. Walls oftenoffer protection from prevailing windsand may retain heat from the sun. Ifyou have an established hedge, whynot encourage wild hops to scrambleover it? When the hop leaves die backin winter, the bare stems will form a

mesh around the hedge, providing asafe retreat for house sparrows whenthey are threatened by the localsparrowhawk.

Many birds roost communally,including sparrows, pied wagtails,starlings, blackbirds and even pigeons,crows and, in a few parts of southernEngland, ring-necked parakeets. Long-tailed tits (normally part of anextended family) actually huddletogether closely on one perch.

While other species don’t generally dothis, mere close proximity in a bush orhedge may help to reduce heat loss,especially for those at the centre of theroost. Roosts may also act as centresfor information exchange in ways thatwe do not fully understand.

Trees are important as observation andsong posts, too, so try and provide atleast one somewhere in the garden.

Small birds may use nest boxes like this forshelter in cold weather. Dave and Brian Bevan

Top: Ponds are a magnet for birds and even asparrowhawk may turn up for a dip. Chris Gomersall Middle: Juvenile greenfinch drinking. Dave and Brian Bevan Even a simple elevated bird bath (above left) can bringin visitors like this jay and also add interest to a garden.Dave and Brian Bevan

Dunnocks feed on the ground but sing from a prominent perch. Mike Lane/Natural Image

20

Clearly, this does not happen. Theharsh reality is that most young birdswill die within their first year, fallingvictim either to hunger, cold or to apredator, whether cat or bird.Surprisingly, none of this predationseems to have an effect on overall birdpopulations despite the fact that catstake an estimated 50 million birds ayear in British gardens.

Predators and prey

The number of young produced bysongbirds takes account of the factthat most will not last long. A pair ofblue tits, for example, might rear asmany as 10 chicks in a season. If allthese were to survive and breed thenext year and if all their offspring didthe same, the original two birds wouldbe the great-grandparents of morethan 1,000!

2322

These eggs could in theory give rise to 1,000 bluetits in a few seasons! Dave and Brian Bevan

Blackbirds can lose eggs or whole broods topredation from birds such as magpies but theiroverall numbers are unaffected. Dave and Brian Bevan

Structures like this can help to protect birdtables from cats. Bob Gibbons/Natural Image

Young birds like this juvenile great tit should beleft alone if found in your garden. Paul Keene/Avico Ltd

Ten ways to help birds in yourgarden

• Grow more trees and shrubs to provide food, nesting areas andshelter; develop a meadow area in the lawn.

• Provide water – ideally a pond – and ensure there is mud for nesting material in spring.

• Put up nest boxes – but of the right kind and in the right places. These may also be used for shelter in hard weather.

• Keep a corner of your garden undisturbed if possible.

• Consider the needs of nesting birds like swifts, starlings and house sparrows before installing uPVC bargeboards and soffits.

• Fit your cat with a bell or sonic collar.

• Allow plants to go to seed to provide food for finches and sparrows.

• Install a variety of hanging bird feeders and a bird table, safe from cats and squirrels; ensure they are regularly filled and cleaned.

• Don’t forget the needs of ground-feeding birds like dunnocks, robins and wrens.

• Put up trellises next to walls and fences, or plant a hedge for shelter and food.

Baby birds

If you find young birds anywhere inyour garden calling for food, the bestadvice is to leave them alone. Theirparents are likely to be close by andwill take care of them far better thanyou can.

Six of the best

Six species frequently seen in gardensare blue tit, collared dove, housesparrow, robin, starling and blackbird.

Blue tit

The acrobatic blue tit is a favouritewith many people. There are around3.3 million pairs in Britain. Like manyother garden species, its original homewas woodland and that is where mostblue tits still live. They need holes tonest in and in the absence of naturalcavities will use whatever artificialones they can find, in walls, pipes, oldflowerpots or even letter boxes. The

25

nest is lined with hair, down or moss.Up to 16 eggs can be laid, althoughblue tit pairs in gardens rarelyproduce clutches of more than eight.The peak feeding activity is in Maywhen these birds have to searchalmost ceaselessly for insect food fortheir young. Caterpillars are preferredbut spiders, aphids and otherinvertebrates will also be taken,including butterflies.

Collared dove

The now very familiar collared dove isprimarily a seed-eater and comesreadily to bird tables. Like many othermembers of the pigeon family, itmakes only a very flimsy nest,consisting of a platform of sticks,sometimes grass-lined. Nests are madein trees or buildings, usually fourmetres or more above the ground.

Originating in India, collared doveshave been extending their range forcenturies. They were no further westthan Hungary in the 1930s and unseenin Britain before 1952. The very first pairto nest here did so in a Norfolk gardenin 1955. Now, there are about 250,000pairs in Britain. Breeding has beenrecorded in almost every month of theyear but is most common in spring.

House sparrow

No single factor is likely to beresponsible for the dramatic decline inhouse sparrow numbers but the starkfacts are undeniable. In 30 years, thebreeding population has plummetedfrom 12 million to around half of thatnumber, and the bird is now altogetherabsent from some of its former urbanstrongholds, even including parts ofLondon. Happily, house sparrows arestill familiar garden birds in many partsof the country but we can’t assumethey will be so for ever. Although theyare natural seed-eaters, housesparrows will take all sorts of foodincluding kitchen scraps. Insects arevital food for young sparrows. Unlikemany small birds which are quitepromiscuous, established sparrowpairs may remain together for life –although it has to be said that the lifeof any bird this size tends to be rathershort! All sorts of dense vegetation

including hedges and climbers may beused as communal roosting sites.

Robin

The robin is consistently voted Britain’smost popular bird, perhaps becausewe enjoy its oddly endearing habit ofnesting in strange places likediscarded cans or abandoned cars.There is even a record of a robinstarting a nest in an unmade bed,while its recent occupant was havingbreakfast! More conventionally, nestsare made in banks or depressions,from ground-level up to three metreshigh. Robins lay clutches of aroundfive eggs but may rear three broodsduring the course of a long breedingseason that can stretch from March toJuly or later still. They are fiercelyterritorial birds and will even attackother species they see as competitors,including dunnocks. Very occasionallya fight between robins will result in

The collared dove has gone from rare vagrant tofamiliar garden bird in 50 years. Bob Gibbons/Natural Image

Young blue tits eat vast numbers of caterpillars.Dave and Brian Bevan

A house sparrow living up to its name. Chris Gomersall

24

2726

the death of one of the combatants.Robins love mealworms and will eatthem from your hand if you aresufficiently patient.

Starling

Like house sparrows, starlings arefaring rather badly, with numbershaving fallen by 75 per cent since thelate 1960s. Those who can still watchlarge parties descend on their lawn orbird table and clean up all the availablefood in seconds may find thissurprising, but the collapse in thepopulation is now causing concernamong conservation bodies. Incomplete contrast to the solitary andaggressive robin, starlings are verysociable birds throughout the year,nesting in colonies and sometimesroosting in huge concentrations. They

nest in holes in trees or in gaps andspaces in manmade structures.

Blackbird

Like robins, blackbirds can be fearlessclose to people and may take driedfruit from your hand. If you can feedthem at the same time each day, they

will come to expect – and evendemand! – their ration. Blackbirds canbe very intolerant of the presence ofother species in gardens when they arefeeding, sometimes being so intent ondepriving others of the chance to eatthat they miss out themselves. Gardensare hugely important for blackbirds,with perhaps one quarter of thepopulation living close to humansettlements. The cup-shaped nest canbe made in a bush, in ivy against awall, on buildings or in trees. Its grasslining normally distinguishes it fromthe mud-lined nest of a song thrush.

Ups and downs

The population and distribution ofbirds is changing constantly, withsome species flourishing and othersshowing steep declines. While some ofthese fluctuations are perfectlynatural, many can be linked, in oneway or another, to environmentalchanges caused by human activity.

Above: Robins may nest in very odd places. Howard Lacey/Avico Ltd Right: Although young birds lack the red breast of theadults, they are still somehow recognisable as robins. Jill Pakenham/Avico

The male starling in breeding plumage is a veryhandsome bird. Mike Hammett/Natural England

Female blackbird with cherries. Mike Lane/Natural Image

Great spotted woodpeckers are flourishing inBritain at the moment. Chris Gomersall

Going up...

Greatspotted woodpecker

This handsome starling-sized bird isone of those currently enjoying a bigexpansion in range and numbersacross Britain. It now breeds even inthe heart of London. It is fond of seedsand peanuts and has begun to visitbird tables far more frequently thanbefore. Its taste for the eggs and chicksof smaller species, like blue tit, isperhaps less well-known but all birdshave to eat! More usually, youngwoodpeckers are fed on moth larvaeand other invertebrates.

Blackcap

Easily-recognised, the blackcap isanother recent arrival in many gardenswhere it searches out winter berries,

29

especially the red ones of firethorn,cotoneaster and berberis. Like otherwarblers, blackcaps migrate here in thespring from Africa, returning fromSeptember onwards. At the same time,however, ringing studies have shownthat other blackcaps from centralEurope are arriving in Britain to takeadvantage of our milder winters – aswell as the generous hand-outs ofhouseholders. When the berry supplyhas gone, blackcaps show a fondnessfor cheese and other fatty foods. They

will also feed on apples left on trees,especially those damaged by insects,and on windfalls.

Magpie

If magpies were rare, we wouldprobably prize them for their greatbeauty. As it is, they are unpopularwith many householders because oftheir nest-robbing habits. Magpieshave adapted very successfully tourban environments and, following areduction in persecution, have in the

last 50 years colonised even thecentres of large cities. They will eatalmost anything includinginvertebrates, grain, fruits and carrion –as well as small mammals and the eggsand chicks of songbirds. However,there is no evidence that they havecontributed to the declines in thenumbers of other species. Togetherwith species such as coal tit, nuthatchand jay, magpies share the habit ofhoarding food, in their case buryingitems in the ground in a hole excavatedfor the purpose.

In the balance...

Sparrowhawk Sparrowhawks were almost extinct in

southern and eastern England beforescientists discovered that pesticidessuch as DDT were responsible for theirdecline. Persistent toxic chemicalscaused adult birds to die and alsoresulted in breeding failure througheggshell thinning. These poisons werethen banned and the subsequentrecovery of sparrowhawk numbers isone of the great success stories forpost-war nature conservation. Inrecent years, however, numbers havebegun to decline again – a worryingtrend. Sparrowhawks predate on manysmall birds but their absence fromgardens for 20 or so years did not leadto an increase in songbirds; in fact insome cases they actually declinedmarkedly over this period. The current

Blackcaps may nest in mature gardens with enough cover. Peter Wilson/Natural Image

Magpies are another current garden success story. Dave Bevan/Avico Ltd

28

31

population of sparrowhawks cannot,therefore, be affecting songbirdnumbers. Female sparrowhawks aretwice the size of males and can takebirds as large as wood pigeons.

Going down...

Song thrush

Although song thrushes are still foundin many gardens, their numbers havedropped by nearly 60 per cent in some

30 years. The reason for their declineon farmland is fairly clear: a reducedfood supply linked to theintensification of agriculture. There hasbeen a similar decline in gardens but itis not clear whether this may beindirectly linked to the use of slugpellets and lawn treatments whichreduce the supply of molluscs andworms available for young birds.

Bullfinch

Bullfinches once had a price on theirheads, with a penny awarded for everyone killed, because of the damage theywere alleged to cause to fruit crops.Now, however, they have becomescarce in some parts of the country,probably because of the huge loss ofhedgerows. However, numbers comingto gardens seem to be increasing andthey are showing a newly-developedtaste for sunflower seeds.

Tree sparrow

The number of tree sparrows has beenunstable for a very long time. It’s notyet clear whether the current crash inthe population – down 87 per cent inthe 24 years to 1996 – is part of anormal cycle or, as is thought morelikely, an anomaly that should be acause of great concern. Tree sparrows,close relatives of the more familiarhouse sparrow, still come to some ruralgardens and may nest in roof cavitiesor other holes, but in many parts of thecountry they have become greatrarities.

Male sparrowhawk on the roof of a bird table.Vic Parsons/Avico Ltd

The decline of the song thrush may be linkedwith the use of slug pellets. Chris Gomersall

More bullfinches are now coming to gardens.The male is shown top. Jill Pakenham/Avico Ltd

30

Tree sparrows are now a rarity in many areas.Tommy Holden/BTO

Waxwing – a regular exotic visitorto look out for

Every few years, there is a hugeautumn or winter influx of thesebeautiful birds from the conifer forestsof northern Europe. When thishappens, waxwings are as likely to turnup in gardens as anywhere else in theirsearch for berries. In the south ofEngland at least, they sometimes preferthose of the guelder rose but rowan arealso favoured. Early in 2005, waxwingsarrived in thousands on the north andnorthwest coasts and filtered south.This was unusual as they normallyreach the east coast first and thenmove west. Birds were still present aslate as May in some areas.

Everyone hopes to get a waxwing in their gardenone day! Paul Keene/Avico Ltd

33

Watching and recording gardenbirds

Britain’s birds are as well studied asthose of anywhere in the world butnew discoveries are being maderegularly. Birds are extremelyadaptable creatures and theirbehaviour changes to meet newchallenges or take advantage of newopportunities. All this means there isalways something to look out for. Bluetits learned how to drill holes in milkbottles to reach the cream in the 1950s.Siskins had never been recordedfeeding in gardens until 1963, but 40years later were visiting one garden inevery 10, favouring peanuts in orange-coloured string bags.

Ring-necked parakeets escaped fromaviaries to breed in tiny numbers in the1970s. Now, their numbers are countedin thousands and they have becomeregular visitors to gardens in parts ofsouth-east England. Chiffchaffs wereonce rarities in gardens but now, likeblackcaps, are frequently seen there inwinter. For whatever reason (the mostlikely is food shortages in thecountryside caused by intensivefarming) even more species are nowbeing seen at feeders, including long-tailed tit and brambling, while otherslike willow tit and reed bunting areturning up in gardens in greaternumbers or on a more regular basis.

Blue tits (left) were the first species to be seenfeeding from milk bottles but the habit was lateracquired by the great tit (above). Dave and Brian Bevan

Right: This male siskin may be about to ward offcompetitors! Dave and Brian Bevan

32

34

Let us know whether you have foundthis leaflet useful or how we canimprove it. If you have adopted any ofthe suggestions here, have more birds

Ring-necked parakeets may become a threat to native hole-nesting species. Mike Lane/Natural Image

Observations of garden birds by tens ofthousands of people give organisationslike the British Trust for Ornithology(BTO) invaluable information on trendsin bird populations. Only with thisknowledge can we work out plans toconserve our birds for the future. If youcan recognise the common gardenbirds you can help too.

Start recording birds and helpwith their conservation

The BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatch. Thisyear-round survey (sponsored by C JWildBird Foods) involves more than16,000 garden birdwatchers, allcollecting simple information on birdsand how they use gardens on aweekly basis. This information hasallowed researchers at the BTO to findout how birds use gardens and howthis use changes over time. GardenBirdWatch results have already

highlighted the increasing use madeof gardens by some species and havehelped researchers to understand thereasons behind the declines of others.A free enquiry pack is available bywriting to GBW (NE), BTO, TheNunnery, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 2PU,or by visiting www.bto.org/gbw.

The RSPB Big Garden BirdWatch. TheBig Garden BirdWatch takes placeonce a year during late winter. Itinvolves many thousands ofobservers recording the birds seen intheir gardens over the course of onehour. Although it does not give thesame level of detail as the BTO/CJGarden BirdWatch, it provides a veryuseful snapshot of the regionalvariation in garden bird populations.For details go to www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch, or contact the RSPB (seeContacts, page 37).

Top: Green woodpeckers often visit garden lawnsin search of ants. Paul Keene/Avico Ltd Above: The nest of the long-tailed tit is anamazingly elaborate structure and may contain2,000 feathers! Dave and Brian Bevan Right: There are few finer sights in the gardenthan a goldfinch in flight. Dave and Brian Bevan

come to your garden as a result? We’dlike to know what you think. Call 01273 407956 or e-mailsteve.berry@naturalengland.org.uk

35

37

Contacts

Natural England1 East Parade Sheffield, S1 2ETEnquiry Service: 0845 600 3078enquiries@naturalengland.org.ukwww.naturalengland.org.uk

British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) The NunneryThetford Norfolk, IP24 2PU Tel: 01842 750050 www.bto.org

Royal Society for the Protection ofBirds The Lodge Sandy, SG19 2DL Tel: 01767 680551 www.rspb.org.uk

Concern for Swifts5 Bury LaneHaddenhamElyCambs, CB6 3PRwww.concernforswifts.com

London’s Swiftswww.londons-swifts.org.uk

The Wildlife Trusts The Kiln Waterside Mather Road Newark, NG24 1WT Tel: 01636 677711 www.wildlifetrusts.org H

eron

s ar

e al

way

s gr

atef

ul fo

r an

eas

y m

eal.

Dav

e an

d B

rian

Bev

an

Bird food, nest boxes and otherbird products

There are now dozens of suppliers. Thecompanies on this list also supplycatalogues with helpful informationabout feeding birds.

C J WildBird Foods Ltd The ReaUpton MagnaShrewsbury, SY4 4UR Tel: 0800 731 2820 www.birdfood.co.uk

Jacobi Jayne & CoLiving with Birds Freepost 1155 Herne Bay, CT6 7BR Tel: 0800 0720130 www.livingwithbirds.com

Ernest Charles Freepost Copplestone Devon, EX17 2YZ Tel: 0800 7316 770 www.ernest-charles.com

Jamie Wood Products1 Green Street Old TownEastbourne, BN21 1QN Tel: 01323 727291 www.birdtables.com

36

38

Further information

This is one of a range of wildlifegardening booklets published byNatural England. For more details,contact the Natural England EnquiryService on 0845 600 3078 or e-mailenquiries@naturalengland.org.uk

Natural England also producesGardening with wildlife in mind, anillustrated wildlife reference. Originallyon CD but now also available online,Gardening with wildlife in mind hasdetailed information on 800 plantsand animal species often found in ourgardens, and shows how they areecologically linked. Seewww.plantpress.com

Other titlesThere is a huge selection of literatureon the subject of garden birds. Thefollowing list is therefore extremelyselective:

Baines, C. How to make a wildlifegarden. Frances Lincoln Ltd. 2000.

Couzens, D., & Partington, P. The secretlives of garden birds. Christopher Helm.2004.

Du Feu, C. The BTO nestbox guide.British Trust for Ornithology. 2003.

Golley, M., Moss, S., & Daly, D. Thecomplete garden bird book. NewHolland Publishers (UK) Ltd. 1996.

Jackman, L. The wild bird garden.Souvenir Press. 1992.

Johnson, H., & P. The birdwatcher’sgarden. Guild of Master CraftsmenPublications Ltd. 1999.

Dave and Brian Bevan, Loomes, B. Birdgardening. Dalesman PublishingCompany Ltd. 1993.

Mackenzie, D. Bird boxes and feeders forthe garden. Guild of Master CraftsmenPublications Ltd. 1997.

Matthews, N. Garden for birds. SchoolGrounds Company Books. 1992.

Moss, S., & Cottridge, D. Attracting birdsto your garden. New Holland Publishers(UK) Ltd. 1998.

Moss, S. The bird-friendly garden. HarperCollins. 2004.

Oddie, B. Bill Oddie’s introduction tobirdwatching. New Holland. 2001.

Soper, T. The bird table book. David &Charles. 2006.

Spedding, S., & G. The natural history ofa garden. Timber Press. 2003.

Stocker, L. The complete garden bird.Leopard Books. 1995.

Toms, M. The BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatchbook. Thetford: British Trust forOrnithology. 2003.

39