A bird's-eye view

Winter is a bleak time for birds, yet ideal to attract them to your garden, by putting food out for them and plenty of fresh water.

This season is notoriously difficult for birds. With survival obviously foremost on their minds, birds can easily be attracted to your garden, giving them a safe place to stay. Many summer visitors leave during Autumn each year, but a surprising number of bird species stay put. The shiny colours and cheerful calls of the sun birds and sugar birds can allow for interest to a drab winter.

The cold months of winter create the opportunity to beg these wonderful little creatures to your own delight and their well-being. The first step is to understand their needs and behaviour patterns. The bird friendly garden starts with a good foundation. As an artist may approach a painting, or a builder of a project, the basics need to be in place.

Once the foundation is created, one can easily make the finer adjustments needed to complete the picture. Birds have three important needs, as most creatures do. All of these are difficult to come by during the harsh winter months. These of course meaning, food, water and shelter. When preparing your garden, these essentials need to be the priority.

Think of the food requirements of the birds that frequent your area. The selection of trees and shrubs should be able to provide a natural food source. This menu can be supplemented by creating feeding areas, using some of the vast ideas available. Using Google should provide a mammoth of ideas. Pet shops sell a wide variety of feeding products. Not only will a carefully selection of trees and shrubs offer the needy birds fruit, berries and flowers.. They will also add colour to your winter garden.

The more we can offer, the more successful we will be. Complete the picture by including the warm winter flowers like aloe, strelitzia, daises, the Red Hot Poker and other varieties that will make your garden warm and inviting. Besides the food we provide usually, create a feeding station with over ripe fruit even a little bit of cheese. Suet and other meat based options attract certain meat or insect - eating birds. Breadcrumbs and meat scraps are ideal for these birds. Worms can be found in compost heaps.

Water features are essential. Beside drinking water, birds love to splash and bath. These features should be placed high up the food as well to protect them from marauders. Little wooden houses, also available at your pet shop can give the birds warmth and shelter.

Try it! The birds will love you. You will give and sustain health, knowing that you can sleep better, as these creatures have all they need.

Sources : Wikipedia, Star Newspaper including garden and home, Google Images, Pixabay