Birds such as swallows, robins, blackbirds and hummingbirds are essential to a healthy garden. Whether as pollinators or as natural pest control, having birds among our plants is a sign that we take care of the biodiversity of our garden.
So how can you attract more birds?
There are three simple ones:
Offer them food: This is perhaps the most obvious step. The showy and pollen-rich fruits (Honeysuckle, Petunia, Echinacea, Violets, etc.) are attractive to birds. If you put feeders for them, you will see how they arrive in the blink of an eye. By following this link you can find some options to make DIY feeders.
Drinkers and baths: Birds need places to bathe and drink. If you live in a hot, dry climate where there are few places for birds to drink clean water, you should install water containers (you can recycle food containers that you no longer use). If you can, set up a small pond for them. Birds will be more attracted and explore the area.
Shelter: By offering them a place to nest, birds will stay close to your home. You can build their “houses” yourself, you only need recycled materials such as cardboard, and natural elements such as branches, grass, straw and a little imagination. You can hang your constructions from or on walls. If you have pets, make sure they cannot reach these nests.
Remember that birds, in addition to enriching your ecosystem, can help you feel more connected to your environment. Watching a bird, listening to it sing, takes you away, even momentarily, from the chaos of the city. Birds, gardens, and other natural aspects remind us that not everything is urgent, that there are cycles more important than those of our daily hustle and bustle.