The benefits of attracting birds to your garden

We all love to watch and listen to the birds, and they are a constant source of interest and can add much more beauty to your garden. What you might not have realised is that birds offer many more benefits than this. These avian visitors could potentially save you time and money. Here we explore some of the secret benefits of attracting more birds to your garden.

Great for your mental wellbeing

The first benefit has little to do with your garden and a lot to do with you. We live in a busy world that is often unpredictable. Keeping calm and grounded is challenging, and our feathered friends can be a valuable source of respite. Stopping and watching the birds fly in and fly out is therapeutic. Equally, the sound of birdsong can be soothing too.

They are also a lure for getting you outside and soaking up some of the sunshine. Being out in nature is a top tip for anyone struggling with the stresses and strains of life.

Birds control pests

Where there are many birds, there are fewer pests to damage your plants and flowers. They come to your garden because it is a rich source of insects, grubs and weeds that offer an easy meal. Sparrows and finches love nothing more than eating your unwanted weeds! Rather than wasting money on insecticides and fertilisers, you might be better off investing in a bird table. If you don’t have room for a table, plant seed-bearing flowers for birds, which offer a natural food source.

Alternatively, you could go one step further and keep chickens in your garden. Chickens create a lot of poop, which is great when spread over your lawn. They also eat worms and slugs, and other creepies that might end up damaging your plants. As a bonus, they are great pets, and they lay an egg or two for your breakfast.

Help the idea environment

Birds are part of an ecosystem that thrives on biodiversity. When birds control nectar, the flowers will provide a more colourful display. Birds such as orioles and hummingbirds are pollinators of garden flowers, as while sipping at the nectar, the pollen sticks to their feet and feathers.

You will also attract more birds if you plant native plants, which will demand less water. This improves our environments, as there is less water shortage. Native plants are also more resistant to diseases and so make a better contribution to a local ecosystem – saving you a lot of maintenance issues at the same time.

Educational

Getting kids interested in the outdoors is an essential life lesson. It is too easy to look to media and gaming for engagement when there is a lot to see and do out in the world. Therefore, setting up a bird table and observing the birds is an introduction to a world out there that is full of so much life. You can help children learn about seasonal plumage changes, migrations, nesting and courtship behaviours.

It makes your home seem more welcoming

A garden that is landscaped with native plants and carefully left wild areas is also appealing to those who look on at your home. The kerb appeal of your home will increase as the birds come and go, and so increase the value of your property. This might feel like a stretch, but the outside of your home offers the first impression to a potential buyer or even a visitor. If these people walk through a well-maintained garden with nature coming and going, they are going to believe you maintain all areas of your home.

How do you get birds to visit?

So, you are sold on the benefits of birds in your garden. How do you attract them now? The first is to plant native plants that are core to the diet of the bird or the pests the bird feeds on. Second, you should provide a source of water and food. You might want to plant fruit trees where the berries can be a food source in the colder months. In general, planting trees provides shelter and food for your birdy visitors.