How to entice birds into garden?

ceewash

Has anyone suggestions for getting birds into the garden. My dad who is 87 really enjoys his garden but since he has moved he cannot encourage any birds to come. It is a small garden with lawn, plants and small shrubs but it is surrounded by fences on all sides which we think is the problem. He has tried different bird seed etc but nothing has worked. Any suggestions?

Grenage

Birds like cover, so are the small shrubs 50cm or less?

My garden is full of birds, but they are always around the Jasmine, Salix tree, or running around leaf litter.

andrewf75

no reason why you shouldn't get birds in any garden. You could grow some more shrubs, small trees or climbers on the fence to improve the habitat, but maybe he just needs to be patient? When did he move? It hasn't been that cold yet this year so birds find enough natural food.

sheramber

If birds did not come to the garden previously it will take time to encourage them back.

Are there cats in the neighbourhood which could frighten the birds away?

Maybe the previous people had a cat.

Put feeders in places where the birds will be safe from predators so not on fences but out in the open. Some cover nearby in the form of shrubs or small trees will provide places for the birds to check out the garden.

Put out a feeder and wait. If it isn't eaten ensure it doesn't get soggy or stale.

Also provide a water dish as that may help to attract them.

ceewash

Maybe it's the cat thing. They have been in this house a few years and have lots of flowers and shrubs. He thinks its the high fencing that's keeping them away. Can you recommend the best bird food to entice them?

Grenage

Wilco sell a cheap mix, it's popular with the sparrows. I also use their fat balls, which are popular with sparrows. Mealworms are good for robins and blackbirds.

andrewf75

ceewash wrote: »

Maybe it's the cat thing. They have been in this house a few years and have lots of flowers and shrubs. He thinks its the high fencing that's keeping them away. Can you recommend the best bird food to entice them?

I can't imagine birds would be put off by high fencing

Try RSPB or Ark wildlife for the best quality foods, but not sure how different the stuff they sell is from wilkos or Robert Dyas

firefox1956

A lot of the cheap bird seed mixes are cheap for a reason.
They are full of cheap things like wheat.
I stopped buying them years ago as the birds in my garden just sort through the seed to get at the good stuff !!
I now buy sunflower hearts for the birds in my garden.
Cheap if you buy them in bulk........I use about 200kg a year.
Give them a try.
https://www.thecornmill.com/sunflower/sunflower-hearts-30kg-26

sheramber

we get mostly woodland birds.

We don't buy seed with lots of wheat in it as it is too big for the small birds although the pheasants and partridge eat it.

Our visitors don't like the small white seeds ( Dari?) you get in some mixtures either.

We buy from a local farm supply shop as it is the cheapest place and the birds like the mixture they sell.

or we buy from Pets at Home.

Try fat balls or mealworms to attract them and a shallow dish of fresh water. We use a flower pot saucer and the birds use it to bathe in even in winter.

Place feeders where they get the sun so the birds use less energy to keep warm after the cold night.

Put feeders in several places and see which they prefer.

If the birds already have a food supply they may not appear until the weather turns really cold and food is in short supply.

Put a small amount of seed out and have patience, He can put out more once they start coming.

They soon tell their friends where to go!

I am in the far north of Scotland and the birds have only arrived this week since the weather turned colder.

Our last garden had 6 foot fencing round it and plenty of birds came to our bird table.

Silvertabby

Sunflower hearts go down a treat here. Not the cheapest of bird foods, but every bit gets eaten so there's no mess or weeds underneath the feeder.

We've put a large wire mesh peanut feeder in a tree - and have attracted a pair of woodpeckers!

seanoctagan

Newly planted small neat looking shrubs do not really encourage birds - they prefer large hedges. With patience and using some of the feeding tips suggested here you should get feathered visitors as long as there are no potential predators lurking. Please let us know how you get on