Birds are a key part of our UK ecosystem, whether we care for them in our gardens or out in nature; studies have shown that seeing and hearing birds can have a positive impact on our mental wellbeing.
What is the significance of birds in garden ecosystems?
Birds are an important part of the “eat and be eaten” food chain. They consume insects, effectively regulating the potential damage caused by species such as aphids or caterpillars in a natural way.
Birds also serve as “indicators” of landscape changes and the diversity of other species as they can fly into many different habitats. Thanks to birds, we have been able to recognise the decline of various habitats (fewer structurally rich hedges for breeding and hiding, increase of impermeable surfaces like asphalt) based on the decreasing number of and diversity of bird species. On the other hand, a loss of insect diversity and quantity becomes visible (i.e. less food for birds in both quantity and quality, meaning less for survival and for raising young).
Garden birds need our help. What can we do?
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Offer year-round feeding
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Provide food during the winter for birds that will hibernate
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Provide food during the summer to compensate for the lower supply of insects
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Avoid pesticides for pest control in the garden as birds will consume the insects and be harmed by the toxins
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Promote insect diversity as a natural food source for birds by planting insect-friendly plants on balconies and gardens
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Create structurally rich areas for breeding and hiding (hedges, climbing plants, trees)
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Install nesting boxes
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Set up a bird bath to provide year-round drinking and bathing
Birds at the feeding station include:
Blackbirds, robins, great tits, blue tits, jays, woodpeckers, etc.
Seed eaters like robins, finches and sparrows like sunflower seeds, cereal grains or chopped peanuts and hazelnuts. Blackbirds and thrushes are soft-feed eaters and enjoy hanging apples.
Birds that breed in nesting boxes include:
Nuthatches, wrens, great tits, blue tits, robins, sparrows, wagtails, starlings, etc.
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Image Source: Nennieinszweidrei / pixabay
Bildquelle: garten-gg/ pixabay
