Attracting a wider range of wild birds to your garden
Variety is key to increasing the range of different types of birds in your garden. One of the biggest mistakes that people make is putting out a ‘one size fits all’ feed all year round. But, our feathered friends each have their individual preferences with some liking larger seeds, while others opt for something smaller. Birds even have different beak strengths and feed at different heights, so mixing things up really does make a big difference when it comes to attracting garden visitors.
Seed blends are a great way to introduce avian variety in the garden, here’s how:
Make sure you offer seed mixes with different sized seeds as different birds are built for different seeds.
• Small seeds such as millet are perfect for house sparrows, dunnocks and collard doves.
• Sunflower hearts are loved by robins, chaffinches, greenfinches and tits.
• Larger seeds such as whole sunflower and peanuts are great for woodpeckers, nuthatches and great tits.
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Add Nyjer seed
Tiny and packed full of oil, this seed is a big hit with finches, attracting goldfinch, siskins, redpolls. Use with a nyjer feeder with small ports.
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Avoid blends with cheap fillers
Many cheap mixes are bulked out with wheat, barley and split peas. These often get left behind and are not helpful at attracting a wider range of wild bird species. Instead, you might end up giving an open invitation to rodents.
Provide food at different heights
Even the best seed blend isn’t going to increase variety if it’s all in one feeder.
Tube feeders are great for tits and finches.
Ground feeders are perfect for robins, dunnocks and blackbirds.
Hanging peanut feeders are ideal of woodpeckers and nuthatches.
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Combine seeds and supplementary food with habitat
Seeds attract the birds, but bushes and shrubs keep them. Ensure there is a water source and leave some areas a little less tidy. Birds feel much safer when there is cover nearby.