How to encourage native birds in your garden

When you think about the kind of garden landscaping you could undertake, you may not always think about the effect it will have on local wildlife.

However, there are a few things you can keep in mind to encourage native birds into your garden, and provide them with food, water and safety from threats.

Planting

One great way to go about 'birdscaping' includes planting plenty of Australian native plants that produce a wide variety of pollen, nectar, fruit and seeds.

The choice of plants may also depend on your exact location, as those native to the area are more likely to flourish as well as encourage bird life to visit. Native shrubs, bushes and trees will easily adapt to the conditions in the area.

Avoid hybrids where you can. Despite having larger flowers, these plants do not produce as much pollen, if any. This can be troublesome for birds looking for food.

It is essential to provide a diversity of heights as well as a range of nesting material and shelter from the elements, such as wind. Make sure your garden provides plenty of leaf litter and mulched areas so these can be used for foraging.

The Australian Wildlife Organisation advises planting dense shrubs and trees as well as spiky-leaved plants. These are able to give small birds plenty of shelter.

You may also want to consider having a range of plants that flower throughout the year. Nectar-feeders like lorikeets and honeyeaters are attracted by these flowers, while smaller birds such as fairy-wrens will enjoy taking shade in the thickets that can provide protection from predators, according to Birds in Queensland.

Flowering plants also attract insects, which then encourage insect-eating birds. This is a great way to control pests in your garden, without the need for harsh chemicals.

Native grasses could be another element to include in your garden. These provide the seeds that birds like finches will be searching for.

Water

Another must-do to create the perfect space for birds in your garden is to provide them with water. They need to feel safe when drinking or cleaning themselves in this, however, so make sure your bird bath or water feature is located in an area where birds will not feel threatened by predators.

If you are installing a bird bath into your garden, make sure the water is kept clean and that it is shallow enough for small birds to bathe without drowning.

It needs to be elevated to reduce the risk that neighbourhood cats will attack birds when they are vulnerable - when they are drinking or bathing.