Page 37 - World of Animals - Issue #33
P. 37
A beginner’s guide to birdwatching
How to attract birds to your garden
You can start birdwatching just by looking out of the window. Many birds
visit gardens, and you can affect their number and variety in several ways
Plant native A water source
You can put out food for the birds, but it’s even Don’t neglect to put out water; the birds will use it
better to do so indirectly by planting bird-friendly both for drinking and bathing. It has been shown
shrubs and trees. Try to plant native species, that birds with clean feathers are better able
because your visitors are adapted to these. Some to escape predators, so bathing is surprisingly
shrubs are good for insects, others for shelter, important. Make sure you keep changing the
others provide berries – variety helps. water as often as possible.
Nest box Feeding time
There is nothing quite like seeing a bird raise If you feed them, they will come. From mid-winter
a brood in a nest site that you have provided to early spring, you will be saving lives, and in the
yourself and what’s more, it’s easy to do. Avoid summer, extra feeding will help birds prepare for
elaborate designs, just a simple box with a hole breeding and keep in good shape. Put up several
(for a tit) or open front (for a robin) will do. Fix to feeding stations in different places, fill them with a
a tree, and avoid facing it due south. range of food and clean them once a fortnight.
6. Superb lyrebird
Southeast Australia
This Australian icon is
famous as much for its
remarkable song as for its
appearance – although the
opulent lyre-shaped tail
transforms this otherwise
brown, ground-hugging Hedgerow home A tasty refuge
bird. It can imitate dozens Not all birds use artificial boxes to nest in. Many Planting climbers like dog rose on your garden
of birds and sometimes prefer hedges – the thicker the better for keeping walls not only provides another refuge for birds
throws in babies, chainsaws out cats and other predators. Don’t be afraid of a to rest in, but climbing plants like this also attract
and dogs. It’s quite easy to little untidiness; a few overgrown and neglected aphids which are another food source for a wide
see in forests near Sydney nooks and crannies may well provide nesting and variety of birds. Plants like honeysuckle and ivy
and Melbourne. roosting places for garden visitors. are also recommended by the RSPB.
37
