Birdfeeders & Birdhouses

Some of you have huge ‘backyards’ with trees and grass, ponds and streams, others (like me), just have a few square feet of paving with planters or an urban balcony with window boxes. Nevertheless, we can all do something to help birds out by feeding them and providing nest-boxes and habitat. Even my 10-metre-by-10-metre urban ‘postage stamp’ has room for pots with native plants bearing berries and an old shed I can nail a bird box to. I have half a dozen feeders with food for many different species. In the UK at least, our gardens are an increasingly important resource to birds in the days of chemical farming and over urbanisation.

There has been a lot of debate recently as to whether feeding birds at any time of the year is a good or bad thing. On the plus side, obviously it’s a source of food for many birds, particularly in urban settings, and it’s terrific for armchair birders to be able to look out of their window and appreciate the bird life.

However, on the negative side, bird feeders have definitely been, and sometimes continue to be, a vector for various diseases. In the UK, Greenfinches and Chaffinches in particular have suffered a great decline through a particular disease, and it’s known that this disease is carried by the birds to the feeders and via the feeders to other birds. Trichomonosis is a disease caused by the protozoan parasite Trichomonas gallinae. Even the responsible, regular sterilisation of feeders is not a solution. However, the cleanliness regime should be followed and stopping feeding when there are outbreaks is a must. Its not only finches that are vulnerable, dove species were where it first appeared and it can even effect predators like Pergrines and Merlin that eat infected birds.   (See ‘useful information ‘for advice)

Furthermore, over the last several years, bird flu has become an increasing problem. And it’s not just domestic fowl or birds in the wild that are suffering. Bird flu outbreaks continue to happen up and down the country and across the world. Encouraging birds to accumulate in one area can obviously make this problem worse. While we may look out at our feeders and see a couple of blue tits and a few sparrows, what is not immediately obvious is that in the course of the day that could be tens or even hundreds of different individual birds. And there are at least ten common bird species coming into almost every garden.

Waxwings on Berries Muffet, CC BY 2.0  via Wikimedia Commons

More and more birders who have the space and ability are making their gardens not only more organic, but filled with native plants. For example, planting sunflowers that, as the seeds stay on the plant through the autumn into the winter, can be a great source of natural food. Planting teasle is almost certain to attract goldfinches into your garden. Berry laden plants look good and feed birds. Do not think of ivy as a weed, but as a vital food source in late autumn and winter.

Of course, not all of us have the space to plant native species, and the debate is far from over as to whether, on balance, feeding using feeders is a good or bad thing. I suspect it will eventually be resolved that there are upsides and downsides, and given good and frequent consideration to hygiene, well-spaced bird feeders around a garden and stopping for periods when outbreaks are noticed is probably likely to counteract much of the harm that might be caused. However, the jury is still out… so keep up to date with advice from the national ornithology organisations.

Providing nestboxes is another thing many of us do for birds. For some species it has become crucial, because natural nest sights are scarce and human dwellings less likely to provide nest sites unless deliberate actions are taken. In the UK, providing boxes for House Martins and more recently Common Swifts is definitely helping numbers from dwindling due to lack of nesting opportunities.

Ambitious birding gardeners might also want to share their good luck or good planning by installing a webcam pointed at their busy bird table or even inside a nestbox. There are times for all of us when we can’t get out into the field to indulge in our hobby, but if we can see out of a window on to a patch of our own, we need never suffer withdrawal symptoms! I recently received a letter from a disabled birder living in a flat in a town in Scotland. Despite her disability confining her she will manages to watch birds although having no garden she attracts birds with a window feeder.

[NB I cannot endorse products but am always happy to give an honest review anything to inform Fatbirder readers.]

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