7 Ways to Attract Songbirds to Your Garden
See how to create a bird-friendly haven with these simple garden design tips
A decline in natural wildlife habitats in the UK means our gardens now play a crucial role in wildlife preservation. This is especially important when it comes to native songbirds – robins, chaffinches, blackbirds and more – who are facing a rapid decline in numbers.
If you want to attract songbirds to your garden, you need to create a space that offers food, shelter and water year-round. Here’s how to add those elements to create a beautiful garden that makes space for wildlife and homeowners alike.
If you want to attract songbirds to your garden, you need to create a space that offers food, shelter and water year-round. Here’s how to add those elements to create a beautiful garden that makes space for wildlife and homeowners alike.
2. Offer supplementary food
As well as providing natural food sources, also leave out bird feeders to offer a regular source of supplementary food to get birds through any ‘hunger gaps’ or cold snaps.
The key with bird feeders is to be consistent and put out food at regular times. Different birds will need different types of food, so do a bit of research first. The RSPB offers advice on how to start feeding birds.
Place bird feeders out in the open, away from cover that could be used by predators to hide and pounce while birds are feeding, and frequently clean them out to stop diseases from spreading. Sweep up any spilt food from underneath to avoid attracting rats and mice.
As well as providing natural food sources, also leave out bird feeders to offer a regular source of supplementary food to get birds through any ‘hunger gaps’ or cold snaps.
The key with bird feeders is to be consistent and put out food at regular times. Different birds will need different types of food, so do a bit of research first. The RSPB offers advice on how to start feeding birds.
Place bird feeders out in the open, away from cover that could be used by predators to hide and pounce while birds are feeding, and frequently clean them out to stop diseases from spreading. Sweep up any spilt food from underneath to avoid attracting rats and mice.
3. Leave out fresh water for birds to drink
In the summer months, it’s essential to provide a cool water source for birds. As well as requiring fresh drinking water, birds also need access to clean water to bathe and preen their feathers to stay healthy.
If you don’t have a bird bath, a shallow dish will do. Just make sure to refresh the water frequently to keep it clean. Top up the water throughout the colder months, too, and check it daily to ensure it remains ice-free.
Discover why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software.
In the summer months, it’s essential to provide a cool water source for birds. As well as requiring fresh drinking water, birds also need access to clean water to bathe and preen their feathers to stay healthy.
If you don’t have a bird bath, a shallow dish will do. Just make sure to refresh the water frequently to keep it clean. Top up the water throughout the colder months, too, and check it daily to ensure it remains ice-free.
Discover why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software.
4. Provide sheltered areas for nest-building
Trees and hedges are a great place for birds to nest, so providing these habitats will increase your chances of attracting birds to your garden. If you do have hedging, be careful not to cut it back in the summer, as you’ll run the risk of disturbing nesting birds.
Adding a few nesting boxes will also help to attract birds. Different species have different requirements for nest building. Robins, for example, prefer an open-front nest box, while other birds need a closed-front box with a small entrance hole. Do some research into the birds in your area and try to provide a selection of boxes to cater for different needs.
Nesting boxes can also offer a welcome resting spot for birds in the winter, so if you take them down to clean them after the nesting season, make sure to put them back up again for autumn and winter.
Trees and hedges are a great place for birds to nest, so providing these habitats will increase your chances of attracting birds to your garden. If you do have hedging, be careful not to cut it back in the summer, as you’ll run the risk of disturbing nesting birds.
Adding a few nesting boxes will also help to attract birds. Different species have different requirements for nest building. Robins, for example, prefer an open-front nest box, while other birds need a closed-front box with a small entrance hole. Do some research into the birds in your area and try to provide a selection of boxes to cater for different needs.
Nesting boxes can also offer a welcome resting spot for birds in the winter, so if you take them down to clean them after the nesting season, make sure to put them back up again for autumn and winter.
5. Create pockets of safety and cover for birds to weave between while foraging
To make your garden a safe space for songbirds, you’ll need to ensure there’s adequate protection from predators. Creating pockets of cover allows birds to safely forage and take shelter when needed.
In the summer, this can take the form of ground cover plants, while in the winter, dense evergreen shrubs and hedges can provide shelter and safety.
Don’t be too keen to chop everything back neatly, either; leaving some native evergreens, such as ivy, to grow a little more ‘wild’ than usual can provide essential shelter, as well as food, for birds in the colder months.
More: How to Create a Wildlife-friendly Garden in Winter
To make your garden a safe space for songbirds, you’ll need to ensure there’s adequate protection from predators. Creating pockets of cover allows birds to safely forage and take shelter when needed.
In the summer, this can take the form of ground cover plants, while in the winter, dense evergreen shrubs and hedges can provide shelter and safety.
Don’t be too keen to chop everything back neatly, either; leaving some native evergreens, such as ivy, to grow a little more ‘wild’ than usual can provide essential shelter, as well as food, for birds in the colder months.
More: How to Create a Wildlife-friendly Garden in Winter
6. Stay out of sight as much as possible
If you want to spend time outside without scaring off any visiting birds, see if you can create a partially hidden space where you can sit and watch the wildlife without disrupting it.
A bird hide like this one seen at the Chelsea Flower Show this year would be ideal, but any kind of hidden or screened-in seating spot would serve the same purpose.
Alternatively, create a bird-watching spot indoors near a window and position your bird feeders close by, so you can enjoy them daily.
If you want to spend time outside without scaring off any visiting birds, see if you can create a partially hidden space where you can sit and watch the wildlife without disrupting it.
A bird hide like this one seen at the Chelsea Flower Show this year would be ideal, but any kind of hidden or screened-in seating spot would serve the same purpose.
Alternatively, create a bird-watching spot indoors near a window and position your bird feeders close by, so you can enjoy them daily.
7. Be patient
If you’ve followed all the steps, but aren’t seeing many songbirds yet, be patient. It can take time for wildlife to get into the habit of visiting your garden, but be consistent with what you’re offering and, with any luck, they should arrive.
You could try moving your bird feeders around to different spots to see if that makes a difference, and check you’ve positioned your nesting boxes correctly. But as long as you’ve provided food, water and shelter, they should come. Then all you have to do is enjoy them.
Tell us…
Have you created a wildlife-friendly garden? Share your tips with us in the Comments.
If you’ve followed all the steps, but aren’t seeing many songbirds yet, be patient. It can take time for wildlife to get into the habit of visiting your garden, but be consistent with what you’re offering and, with any luck, they should arrive.
You could try moving your bird feeders around to different spots to see if that makes a difference, and check you’ve positioned your nesting boxes correctly. But as long as you’ve provided food, water and shelter, they should come. Then all you have to do is enjoy them.
Tell us…
Have you created a wildlife-friendly garden? Share your tips with us in the Comments.
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The first step in attracting songbirds to your garden is to choose plants that offer food and shelter throughout the year. Native trees and shrubs that produce berries, fruit, hips and nuts are crucial for birds and will instantly make your garden more enticing to them.
Seeds are another high-value food for birds in the colder months, so try not to prune back all the dead stems and seedheads in your garden at the end of the flowering season, and instead leave them for the birds to enjoy in the autumn and winter. Many seedheads are beautifully decorative, too, and will add structure and interest to your garden over the colder months.
If you need help planning a wildlife-friendly planting scheme, look on Houzz to find a garden designer in your area.