Create a bird-friendly garden and balcony

In addition to bird food, there are many other ways you can help birds survive in your garden or on your balcony. Below you will find out how you can transform your garden into a true paradise for the feathered garden inhabitants.

Home gardens are an important habitat for a variety of bird species. In our increasingly monotonous and intensified landscape, wild birds are finding less and less food and living space and are therefore increasingly fleeing to cities and settlements. But not all gardens are equally popular, because unnatural structures such as gravel areas and English lawns have no ecological value and provide no habitat for birds, insects or others Garden visitors. How to maximize the potential of your garden and how to create one with just a few tricks We would like to help you design a bird-friendly garden using ten selected tips introduce.

Tip 1: Plant native shrubs and trees

Although exotic ornamental plants are often beautiful to look at, they do not enrich the world of our garden birds. On the other hand, native shrubs and trees, such as the dog rose, the viburnum or the rowan, provide food as well as shelter and nesting opportunities for a variety of bird species. It is important to note that densely grown vegetation offers more protection from predators and thinning the plants too much is therefore not an advantage. And if invasive gardening work is necessary, it should definitely be carried out outside of the breeding season.

We also offer bird-friendly shrubs in our Plantura online shop. There you can find a variety of things Buy bird food plants – both individually and as a set.

Tip 2: Create an insect paradise

If insect friendly flowers, herbs or perennials – a blooming garden not only attracts insects but also birds. Because most bird species are at least partially dependent on insects as a source of food and some, such as the Swifts or the Black redstart, have specialized exclusively in animal prey. A insect friendly garden is therefore always bird-friendly.

You should avoid using chemical sprays in your garden as much as possible These not only harm the insect supply, but can also poison birds through the food chain.

A notice: Seed-bearing perennials and wild herbs not only provide habitat for insects, but also provide habitat bird-friendly food plants for grain-eating wild birds - such as the goldfinch or that Chaffinch.

Tip 3: Offer bird food

A feeding station in the garden can be a great support for our local wild birds, especially in the barren winter period. Whether you are a Build your own feed house or not, it makes no difference. However, it is important that the feeding station is placed out of the reach of domestic cats and other predators and that the food itself is protected from moisture and other contamination. Ours, for example, are particularly natural and nutrient-rich support for many garden birds Plantura fat balls made from insect fat and valuable nuts, berries and seeds.

A notice: The fat balls are not only suitable for the garden, but are also suitable for feeding Birds on the balcony excellently suited.

Tip 4: Create a watering hole

It doesn't necessarily have to be a pond or a stream - a simple one Birdbath can be made from a flat bowl or a trivet. A small watering hole is a big help for garden birds, especially on hot summer days. Whether in the garden or on the balcony – the birds can quench their thirst or take a refreshing bath in the cool water. However, it is important that the water points are cleaned regularly, otherwise they will quickly become a breeding ground for Bird diseases and parasites can develop.

Tip 5: Go with the seasons

If you are aiming for year-round feeding, you should make sure that you choose yours depending on the season Feed birds properly, because greasy winter food with large grains is poorly suited during the breeding season. The small young birds tolerate fatty food poorly and instead need proteins for their growth. And whole sunflower seeds or similarly sized components can lead to digestive problems and blocked stomachs. If you want to pamper your garden birds all year round, you should choose food suitable for young birds. Our Plantura all-season food for example, was developed specifically for this purpose. It only contains beak-friendly and nutrient-rich ingredients as well as an extra load of protein-rich mealworms and feed lime for egg production.

Tip 6: Secure glass surfaces

Windows, balcony doors or free-standing glass panes for wind protection can pose a serious problem for birds. Every year in Germany around 18 million birds die from a window hit. If you want to make your windows bird-proof, you should use adhesive strips that make windows and doors visible to birds. However, the classic black bird silhouettes have not proven successful in studies. You can find out which patterns and colors ensure effective protection and what to do if you find a bird that has suffered a window strike in our special article on the topic “Bird protection on the window“.

Tip 7: Allow a touch of wilderness

A completely tidy garden often offers little living space and biodiversity. Short-cropped lawns, for example, provide much less food than a vibrant meadow with wild herbs and flowers. Robotic lawn mowers, which are intended to ensure additional order, are also a danger to young flightless birds and other garden animals. It is therefore better to mow yourself and not so often. And you should only remove old trees with partially broken or dead branches if absolutely necessary, as they represent important habitats for rare bird species and insects. The same applies to holes and caves in walls and facades of older buildings. It's better to think twice about whether you really have to close them, because there are also nesting opportunities for many species of wild birds here.

Tip 8: Offer nesting aids and nesting material

Where there is a lack of natural nesting places, you can help with nesting aids. Cave nesters in particular often have a difficult time when there are no old trees or buildings, because holes and caves are generally not present in modern houses and young gardens. Nesting boxes offer a good alternative that is accepted by many bird species. It is important to note that different species prefer different sized entry openings and that the right one is the right one Cleaning the nest box is carried out. You can find out which nesting box is suitable for which type of bird and what else you should consider in our special article on the topic “Build your own nesting box“.

Nesting material can also be provided for free breeders and other bird species that do not accept nesting boxes. You can offer brushwood and small branches left over from trimming the hedge in a small pile. And a small bowl of clay also provides excellent nesting material for House martins and Barn Swallows.

Tip 9: Deal with cats properly

The relationships between bird and cat have always been tense. Due to their large numbers in cities and settlements, domestic cats cause great damage to our native wild bird populations every year. You can find out how you can protect your garden birds and what you should consider as a cat owner in our special article.

Tip 10: Learn from the birds

Once your garden is filled with birdsong, you should enjoy it instead of just looking after the birds. The beauty of a bird garden is not just the added value for the birds themselves, but also the great learning opportunities it offers. Anyone who carefully observes birds can learn a lot about their lives and their requirements and will soon be able to see for themselves what the feathered garden visitors like and what they don't like. This way you can design your garden according to the needs of your individual garden birds. Participatory activities such as the “Garden bird hour“ also make it possible to engage even more intensively with the diversity of the bird world in your own garden.

If you are now interested in theBird watching packed, take a look at our special article. There we give helpful tips on how to get started in the world of hobby ornithology.