The Birdgarden is an outdoor space designed to attract and welcome birds and other wild animals.
Table of Contents
There is nothing more beautiful than a green space populated by cute and colorful birds.
Transforming your garden (but also a terrace, a balcony or even a window sill) into a real bird garden is not difficult,
just follow some simple precautions and have a little patience.
The bird garden can give you great emotions by allowing you to observe up close many species of birds,
insects and small mammals, following their day-to-day life.
Birds are a fundamental component of ecosystems. About 10,000 species, distributed in every corner of the Earth,
are able to offer incredible performances, such as migration, which sometimes involves movements of thousands of kilometers.
Each species is unique, behavior, ecology, habits and peculiar characteristics.
Birds are surprisingly indicators of the surrounding environment, in particular of its health,
promptly signaling us if there are drastic changes going on, a symptom that the environment is suffering,
overused or simply not respected. Birds are therefore an enormous heritage that we should know, respect and protect more and more.
Since ancient times, man has always found curiosity in all creatures that fly, when he is also shown by many historical finds and paintings,
dating back to different eras.
Our relationship with birds probably binds us to the world of nature, to its well-being wherever we live,
even if we were in the city there will always be birds that will live next to us,
almost in symbiosis ready to alarm us if something natural does not work as it should.
Many animals manage to arouse a sense of wonder and curiosity in us. Of course,
birds certainly cannot miss our eyes ready to delight our eyes with magnificent flights or give our terrific
songs the hearing simply by chirping.
And how not to move knowing that our wool sweater has become the nest of a winged friend of ours on the tree in the garden.
The flight of a flock of ducks makes us imagine great journeys and distant places.
Observing birds is like listening to the extraordinary symphony of nature.
By observing them we reflect on us, on our life, on everything that surrounds us and on how everything works in reality;
we are aware of how much work he does to create his nest, perhaps trying to escape the clutches of a feline by
teaching us how life is full of difficulties that must be faced without ever giving up, just like they do.
Nature teaches us to face even the most difficult and difficult aspects of life, as birds seem to do every day.
Birdwatching is the main passion of bird lovers and consists of observing birds in their natural environment.
There are different types of birdwatchers: the expert who can make arduous journeys to meet rare species or the simple
enthusiast who spends every moment of his free time to immerse himself in nature near his home, in a park or in the nearest oasis.
Whatever the reason you do birdwatching, know that observing birds closely will soon make you feel deeply connected to
the environment in which you live, you will discover the invisible thread that binds you to the nature that surrounds you and this is the first,
fundamental step to start protecting it.
We love birds because they tell us about the world we live in, because every day they remind us of how our life could be,
peaceful, serene, beautiful. Who loves birds loves our planet.
Fortunately, you can recreate the most perfect environment possible right at our home, without leaving us, therefore … of course,
a nice piece of land is what you need with small tricks, so you will see the perfect nature every morning when you wake up.
The United States have a great fortune, or perhaps more than one .. it is certain that it is an immense territory with a
multitude of natural environments all characteristic and different from each other and if we add its geographical position,
you will obviously get a myriad of fauna of animal species, especially birds, who gladly live here and in some cases just take their holidays!
There is a large variety of endemic bird species that can only be found in the United States of America.
The best known or noteworthy are definitely:
1.) Killdeer.
2.) Yellow warbler Bird;
3.) Purple Martin;
4.) Dark Eyed Junco;
5.) American Robin;
6.) European Starling;
7.) Mallard;
8.) Chipping Sparrow;
9.) Vireo With Red Eyes;
10.) Blue Jay;
11.) Carolina Wren;
12.) House Sparrow;
13.) House Finch;
14.) American Goldfinch;
15.) Ruby-Throated Hummingbird;
16.) Northern Cardinal;
17.) Baltimore Oriole;
18.) Black-Capped Chickadee;
1.) The “Killdeer” feed on insects, larvae, worms, and an assortment of small invertebrates, look for their prey with sight.
Generally they prefer humid environments such as swamps, rivers, beaches, and the banks of lakes and rivers , but they can fit anywhere.
They are famous because they can pretend they have a broken wing to distract predators and other threats to their nests.
2.) The “Yellow Warbler Bird” is a very nice wad of yellowish-colored feathers with shades generally tending towards red;
they devour many insect pests during the breeding season. The plumage and song of the breeding males have been described
as “beautiful” and “musical”, encouraging ecotourism.
3.) “Purple Martin” is the largest swallow in North America, despite the name, its plumage is not “Purple”!
Birds are agile hunters and eat a variety of winged insects by catching them in the air, rarely, they will come ashore to eat insects.
They usually fly relatively high, therefore, mosquitoes do not make up a large part of their diet. It feeds on invasive fire ants.
4.) The “Dark Eyed Junco” are a genus of small grayish American sparrows. Their nesting habitat is conifers forest or mixed areas
throughout North America. In optimal conditions, otherwise other habitats are also used.
Many populations are Permanent residents or high altitude migrants are also frequently found around cities.
5.) The “American Robin” is a beautiful specimen characterized by a chest with reddish plumage.
It is active mostly during the day and assembles in large flocks during the night.
His diet consists of invertebrates (such as beetle larvae, earthworms, and caterpillars), fruit and berries.
Its nest is made up of coarse grass, twigs, paper and pens, and is smeared with mud and often cushioned with grass or other soft materials.
It is one of the first birds to sing at dawn.
6.) The “European Starling” is a fantastic bird also known as a common starling, it is one of the most common wild birds in North America.
Although not sold in pet stores, orphaned wild birds adopted by humans can make surprisingly good animals that are dedicated to
humans and capable of learning to speak.
The European starling is a species of softbill that typically eats soft foods such as insects, flowers and buds.
7.) The “Mallard” is the main ancestor of most domesticated duck breeds. They have fantastic purple-blue wings, edged in white.
The mallard inhabits a wide range of habitats and climates, from the Arctic tundra to subtropical regions.
It is found in both freshwater and saltwater wetlands, including parks, small ponds, rivers, lakes and estuaries,
as well as shallow inlets and the open sea with a view to the coast.
8.) The “Chipping Sparrow” is a type of sparrow very common especially in the Eastern United States as well as in Canada.
The typical habitat of this bird is a bushy country with shrubs and meadows.
The nest is a glass construction built on the ground and hidden under a bush or tuft of grass.
The birds forage on the ground or in low vegetation, feeding mainly seeds and insects.
8.) The “Vireo With Red Eyes” are one of the most prolific singers in the bird world.
I usually sing high in trees for long periods of time in a rhythm of questions and answers.
This species holds the record for most of the songs rendered in a single day among bird species, with more than 20,000 songs in a single day.
They eat insects from the foliage of trees and also berries.
10.) “Blue Jay” is a type of sparrow that lives in most of the United States, central and eastern, and in southern Canada.
It nests both in deciduous and coniferous woods; however, it is also very common in inhabited areas.
Blue Jay feeds mainly on nuts and seeds, such as acorns and berries; of arthropods and, only occasionally, of small vertebrates.
Food is sought on trees, shrubs and on the ground; sometimes it catches insects on the fly.
He builds a cupped nest between the branches of a tree and both sexes participate in it with equal commitment.
11.) Very small and nice specimens that these birds are largely resident, they adapt to any habitat, the preferred ones are lowland woods,
brushy edges, swamps, overgrown farmlands, and suburban construction sites with abundant thick shrubs and trees, and parks.
12.) The “House Sparrow” is always next to human settlements, and can live in urban or rural environments.
It is found in widely varied habitats and climates but tries to avoid typically extensive woods,
meadows and deserts distant from human development.
It feeds mainly on cereal seeds and weeds, but is an opportunistic eater and commonly feeds on insects and many other foods.
13.) The “House Finch” are mainly permanent residents across their range; some northern and eastern birds migrate south.
Their nesting habitat is urban and suburban areas throughout North America.
They primarily eat cereals, seeds and berries, being the voracious consumers of weed seeds, such as nettle and dandelion;
Included are small accessory insects such as aphids
14.) The “American Goldfinch” is often found in residential areas, attracted by bird feeders that increase its survival rate,
is a granivore and adapted for the consumption of seedheads,
with a conical beak to remove seeds and feet agile to grasp the stems of seedheads while breastfeeding
15.) Very small “Ruby-Throated Hummingbird”, they are active all day and they eat all day, they have a very fast heart beat,
and during the cold they eat and eat food which they have very often on the banks of the Mississippi.
16.) The “Northern Cardinals” are medium-small sized birds characterized by squat appearance,
conical and robust beak, long rectangular tail and a characteristic erectile crest on the head, present in both sexes:
in all species there is a clear sexual dimorphism, as the females lack the extensive red coloration of the males,
although they have little red areas on the body.
17.) The “Baltimore Oriole” is the state bird of Maryland, ‘also the inspiration for the Baltimore Orioles baseball team;
received its name from the resemblance of the colors of the male to those on the coat of arms of Lord Baltimore.
They are often found high in large deciduous trees, but generally do not reside in deep forests.
18.) The “Black-Capped Chickadee” is well known for its ability to lower body temperature during cold winter nights
as well as its good spatial memory of transferring caches to grocery stores, and its near-human audacity (sometimes feeding from the hand).
Characterized by a black garment, as if wearing a cap.
Are you definitely thinking, all of these? Well, in reality these are only a very small part of all the species of
birds that populate the American skies over the year … what about if you can create a nice bird garden
and find yourself immersed in hundreds and hundreds of small and different specimens of our feathered friends to
keep us company with their most varied songs, giving us a true sense of freedom and joy … a true paradise on earth … maybe you will
call it “Eden”, the name is quite appropriate!
But now let’s see how to give us this beautiful dream and make sure that it is not a simple dream but a splendid reality.
The first step to recreate their beloved habitat is to try to enter into symbiosis with them … so said it seems
absurd and difficult … but in reality it is not … never heard of animal psychology … it exists,
you have to be a good observer and understand what they are asking for,
but it is very simple to enter into their life perspective and ask yourself small questions;
if I were a bird where would I like to be? how should the surrounding place be? what would i need ??
These are questions that we are all able to answer by reflecting even just 5 minutes … having done this we have already
taken a big step towards our small project ..
Thinking, designing, building a green space dedicated to birdlife to create a garden full of life and rich in biodiversity,
one of the most beautiful and fascinating variations of the traditional concept of garden conceived in perfect harmony with nature.
We therefore see how to bring birds to nest and settle on the branches of shrubs and bushes chosen to recall them.
Although many consider the garden a place where the ‘interference’ caused by wildlife spoils the search for ‘aesthetic perfection”,
it is possible to blend beauty and naturalness together.
The masters of the genre are probably the British. Forerunners of a naturalistic culture applied to the management
of public and private green areas that began to spread already in the early nineteenth century with Squire Charles Waterton,
author of the first ‘Garden for birds’‘.
After the British, Americans and Canadians have been able to do the same, also thanks to the biodiversity that characterize these nations.
There are many questions that the enthusiast asks himself, who for the first time approaches birdgardening and who works hard to
set up a biological garden or terrace suitable for recreating a natural habitat,
where wild birds can live in complete freedom and safe from city dangers.
In the first phase, the initial phase, the attentions and efforts are essentially aimed at the preparation of our garden or terrace.
Each species of wild bird has its own habits both in terms of feeding and in nesting and therefore not all varieties of birds who
attend our birdgardening will take advantage of the mangers made available or will choose the artificial nests as a place to grow their offspring.
A Birdgarden is an outdoor space specially created, or adapted, to attract birds and welcome them to the fullest.
Together with them they can also coexist with other wild animals that have habits compatible with their own.
In fact, creating a bird garden means recreating the habitats and transitions necessary for the development of biodiversity.
Doing so to favor the allocation of the local fauna. This implies simulating the transition between trees, shrubs,
meadows and wetlands, with their respective spaces and intermediate habitats.
In this way, birds and other living organisms are allowed to coexist and gradually move from one environment to another.
What you have to imagine is a green space, full of plants and perfumes, and inhabited by many animals that find refreshment here
and a space where to rest and rest, mate, perhaps, and live.
The good thing is that it is not necessary to have a garden with who knows what characteristics,
to create a bird garden, a minimum space that can also be a terrace or a balcony is enough.
You need patience, that yes, because the birds do not arrive on command, they must feel they can trust and feel at ease.
On a practical level, there are few steps.
When you have your birdgarden, alive and lived, you will be able to realize with your own eyes and ears the great joys that derive from it.
You will see many species of birds passing by and you will be able to observe them closely,
without disturbing them, and together with them will also arrive pretty insects and small mammals.
You will be allowed to study their daily life, to learn their habits and to enjoy the little magic that those
who do not have a bird garden cannot know, cannot have the opportunity to perceive.
We start from ABC, just because anyone can build a bird garden, it is not necessary to be an ornithologist, a botanist, or a gardener.
However, there are essential elements to be respected to meet the needs of these animals starting from food and water,
but also protection and tranquility.
It is not enough that they are on a full stomach to feel at home: almost all birds, at least those that we are now understanding,
harmless and peaceful, have predators from which they must hide every day.
Cats, other birds, other mammals that see them as an excellent dinner.
It is not necessary to build bastions or tree houses, much more simply in our birdgarden we have to foresee the presence of trees
and shrubs but also rock walls.
During the winter, evergreen hedges or stacks of dry branches and leaves, piles of rocks or trunks can also provide shelter.
In choosing plants for our special garden, we must guide less from aesthetics and more from practice.
There must be several bands of vegetation divided by height, the lowest in front, the other behind.
The most popular are berry shrubs and spontaneous herbaceous plants.
Beyond the extension of your garden, even if it is a corner of greenery that survives between the buildings,
do not give up: you can build your bird garden and welcome the birds passing through or in the area.
Let’s start by adding a hedge, if there isn’t one already.
They are very useful for birds, they are a perfect shelter where to settle with the nest and in any case to keep away predators like cats.
In addition to the hedge, it also takes a little lawn that you have to let grow naturally.
If we begin to shave it frequently and to deprive it of weeds,
it loses meaning for the birds that instead must be able to find food and material to build the nest.
Let’s not forget that the meadow, a beautiful natural meadow full of flowers and herbs,
also attracts butterflies that are welcome in a bird garden.
For now we have thought about having a garden, even if small, but if the space available to us is that of a courtyard, no problem.
We can equip ourselves with potted plants (hawthorn, cherry, lavender, honeysuckle, wild apple tree, etc.)
and complete the work with some mangers, especially for the winter.
Garden or courtyard, water must never be missing. Where there is no water, there are no birds that seek it to quench their
thirst and also to bathe. Many of them are very attentive to hygiene.
Do not imagine a fountain in great style, auction a tub of water exposed to the sun with some stones where the birds can lean more comfortably.
Of course if your space is more than just a garden or courtyard, if you intend to make beautiful fountains,
they will certainly not say no … indeed they could talk to you know how many thanks you would get …
Are we on the fifth floor of an apartment building and want to become a birdgarden manager?
Let’s roll up our sleeves, because it can be done. As just said, we begin to guarantee water to our feathered friends,
and then we furnish our balcony with plants and small potted shrubs and aromatic herbs.
Remember to warn them of the presence of a glass, that of our windows, with curtains or adhesive collision-proof shapes.
If instead we have a much more ambitious place, then we can really give rise to our imagination and build a real natural
terrestrial paradise for us and for our friends …. obviously starting always with plants and vegetation,
not never forgetting the water factor … obviously indispensable …
The design of the garden must take into due consideration both those that are the requests of the wild species and those
that are possibly our needs. In this sense, the main ones
features we need to consider are:
– Presence and arrangement of tall trees.
– Presence and arrangement of shrubs and hedges.
– Creation of a pond, small pond or drinking trough.
– Choice of areas of greater visibility.
By analyzing your garden it is possible to identify which elements are already present and which ones should be modified, improved or added.
So, for example, having a rather small garden or terrace,
it is obviously not advisable to create a pond but you can opt for a small drinking trough for birds that will still be very welcome.
Always considering the available spaces and distances, it will be possible to evaluate the choice of tree species,
ranging from tall trees in case of good availability or preferring shrubs and hedges otherwise creating a right mixture of both.
A tall tree is very useful for many species: it can be an excellent nesting site,
offer protection or even just an excellent roost for singing and observing the territory, or even
it can be a source of food not only for birds but also for small mammals (think, for example, of an apple or cherry tree,
the fruits of which are very pleasing to different species).
If we plant a few shrubs and hedges around two or more tall trees we will be able to create a micro environment that
will be able to accommodate numerous species.
With a few tricks we will be able to make our garden more suitable for wild life without distorting or neglecting it.
Naturalness in a sense also means spontaneity, but this
it does not mean that we must abandon our garden or terrace to ourselves, leaving it at the mercy of weeds and brambles.
A bird garden can be natural and wild but at the same time welcoming and satisfying to the eye.
It s certainly a very fundamental role ,in this project, the choice of plants as an integral part of the ecosystem and
therefore also of the life of our feathered friends.
We must try to choose the types of plants and tree species best suited to the local climate and fauna.
It will therefore be preferable to select indigenous varieties .. although it is also possible to successfully insert exotic species.
Some already mature plants such as European oak have a very high biological value and are therefore more suitable for hosting
a naturalistic heritage rich in birds, insects and other living organisms.
In choosing plants, it will also be necessary to keep in mind both the practical and the aesthetic value.
The beauty (and the difficulty) is to do it without sacrificing one in favor of the other.
An old dead trunk or a very old plant, for example, may not be very convenient from an ornamental point of view.
On the other hand, they could be extremely valuable as bird shelters.
In these cases it will be advisable to grow a beautiful climber or a flowering shrub next to you.
It is therefore essential to know and select native species.
But it is also possible to insert some exotic plants with cunning that recall birds and insects.
A few examples? For example, buddleia davidii is an extraordinary Asian plant in attracting daytime butterflies.
Shrubs belonging to the cotoneaster genus offer a quantity of multicolored berries highly appreciated by birds in autumn and winter.
The same goes for climbing plants. For example, hedera, which in addition to providing an excellent ornamental
contribution to the aesthetics of the garden, are also the favorite refuge of many animals.
A thorny shrub typical of our flora, particularly useful and versatile in the Bird Garden perspective is hawthorn.
Dense thorny vegetation attracts many birds to build a safe nest. It also provides them with autumn berries, which are very tasty and nutritious.
Leafs and flowers instead attract insects such as bees, butterflies and beetles.
Furthermore, hawthorn is a plant very resistant to pest attacks which tends to grow luxuriantly without the need for special care:
the perfect mix for any self-respecting natural garden!
The other plants useful for the creation of a Bird Garden are the dog rose, the blackthorn, the rowan, the blackberry,
the currant, the blueberry. The fruits of these species attract blackcaps, wren, robins, finches.
Not only that, they are also appreciated by small mammals.
Elderberry and bay leaf are especially appreciated by blackbirds, while figs feed birds before autumn migration.
Some fruit trees, such as loquat, apple and pear trees are very welcome for insectivorous birds such as blue tit and rulers,
greedy for the very small aphids found on the leaves.
Then there are the grassy species such as dandelion, plantain, thistle.
They are the joy of all passerines who love to feed directly from the plant or from the soil, and then there are the aromatic herbs,
which attract many insects.
Let’s not forget that to make the garden particularly attractive for a large variety of birds it will be important to
leave space for wild and uncultivated plants too.
The almost total absence of pesticides, chemical and synthetic products and anti-cryptogams is at the basis of the bird garden concept.
Pruning must take place in late spring-early summer.
They must be limited to the most leafy peaks to avoid disturbance of the nests during the mating season.
Also avoiding excessive cleaning of the lawn from leaves, spoons and branches.
They are all elements that enrich the biological heritage of the green space and environmental variability.
Like all natural gardens, the bird garden must also be poorly maintained. In fact, it must provide real “uncultivated” corners.
That is, we must maintain portions of uncut lawn, hedges and good intricate and thorny vegetation that provides shelter
and nourishment for birdlife.
It will also be important to set up water sources or artificial drinking troughs for birds.
Some feeders scattered in the corners of the garden are also useful
Winter for our little winged friends is always a difficult challenge since we humans can cover ourselves,
while they can only count on their plumage which swells to protect them. Unfortunately, often it is not enough.
However, cold is not the only pitfall of winter, their high enemy is the difficult availability of food.
The Birdgarden has several advantages because if you help the birds by supplying them with some food and shelter,
they will help you by eating the harmful parasites that live among your plants.
Furthermore, you can enjoy the satisfaction of observing closely the life of these animals which,
if they are comfortable, they will lay eggs in your houses.
Another important step is the feeders.
It happens that especially in winter there are not many alternatives to feed and therefore placing
feeders there are useful throughout the year is certainly an idea to be taken into consideration …
I repeat especially in winter it is of perfect use.
They should be positioned on high branches, so that they can be seen from our home window so that, among other things,
they can be observed without disturbing them in their routine.
There are different types of feeders to be able to choose the best … for the most enterprising and artists,
you can create it from nothing in a simple way … they can be simple perches to hang on tree branches or more
sophisticated houses with roofs in wood or plastic … or even other material,
those that are very appreciated seem to be those with a net where the food is contained in a metal or plastic net,
where the food comes out only gradually as it is consumed by the birds.
If our birdgarten can be fenced or prevent predators from entering, such as cats, snakes, martens and others,
it is undoubtedly better … with their absence they will feel very protected and will easily decide allocation in our garden ….
if this is not possible, but even if it is, it is highly advisable to place a cat deterrent along the structure to which the manger is attached.
This is easily accomplished by tying a plastic structure in the shape of an inverted bell along the trunk,
this will send cats to climb to reach the manger, this rather homey but very effective method,
is able to keep away the rodents that obviously are attracted by the food contained in the manger itself.
The feeders obviously must always be well-stocked, especially in the winter and furthermore,
to attract birds we can sprinkle some food on the roof of the closed feeders, or in any case around …
a little at a time so that several friends come to make us a visit and maybe they decide to settle with us ….
not only man loves comfort !! …
If we want to avoid deterioration and rot it is good to fill the manger with the food necessary for the day …
the ideal is obviously to do it early in the morning … trying not to disturb if there is a nest too close to the manger .. .
in the spring it would be far better to stop feeding so that the young who are born in the meantime can become
self-sufficient by learning to feed on nature, what it offers and what the little ones must learn to know how to procure;
if the little ones always find the food ready in the manger, they will not learn much to get by themselves.
Once the manger has been placed, it remains to know what to fill it with ….
the birds of the garden can be divided into 3 main groups, each of which obviously has its own food and nutritional needs;
A.) Frugivores: they eat fruit, apples, nuts, coconut, pears, peaches … which we will cut in half or even better into small pieces …
or berries, which of course we have already planted in the garden ….
B.) Granivores: grains and seeds their meal … sunflower, hemp, millet, canary seed, but also appreciated oats and cereal flakes,
not to mention the dried fruit such as nuts, hazelnuts and peanuts.
C.) Insectivores: insects and small invertebrates their meal … so earthworms, snails, spiders …
then you can also administer small pieces of cheese or ham to them … so maybe one day they come to the table with us … who knows!
Let’s not forget, that some obvious foods, even if they are not part of their normal diet, can easily be given to them …
and I assure you that they will appreciate it. For example, baked goods such as cake, biscuit or breadcrumbs,
preferably unsalted … very important that these are rather dry in order to avoid fermentation by intestinal libellus ..
they can be found on the market, at all the specialized stores, ready-made food packages which helps us to give the right meal to our friends ,
and therefore containing an assortment of seeds, dried fruit and various grains
sometimes integrated with dry insects and balls of fat …. excellent alternative, but wanting the recovery of seeds,
dried fruit and grains is not so impossible in any family ..
As for our berry plants that there are better and they are absolutely not missing,
we must take into account the favorites that in addition to the Hawthorn, Elderberry,
Rosa Canina and Edera we find many other species, remembering that the birds prefer the berries characterized by
vivid colors and intense especially red and intense orange; for example,
the sparrow is attracted considerably by the red berries of the euonymus while the blackbirds are very attracted by the elderberries..
the privet is a very strong attraction for turtle doves and blackcaps.In the choice of these plants,
those who fruit they ripen in autumn and winter.
Almost all birds are then used to building their own nest, many times with the help of the many materials
made available to them by nature itself: twigs, leaves, pieces of moss and much more …
but in your opinion they could never refuse a nest already ready for use ??
I don’t think so, especially during breeding periods … there are a myriad of different shapes and materials on the market,
each one suitable for the type of bird we would like to welcome … certainly if you are ingenious you could create them yourself …
just know first how they are made in detail … then go with your creativity ….
There are made of plastic but they are highly discouraged for obvious reasons ….
they are also with little breathability and are not suitable for the environment …
they must be positioned before the breeding season or in any case highly recommended at this time of year .. so in full winter;
in this way he will leave the birds a few weeks to get used to their presence, as well as inspect them and then decide to settle there.
The fixing can be done with wire, with nails and screws, possibly by orienting the main entrance hole in a south east direction.
If they are not already there, a couple of holes must be drilled in the bottom of the box to facilitate drainage,
moreover the artificial nest should be slightly inclined in order to facilitate the flow of water from these holes.
Some other small tips, in the success of this great beautiful dream, already mentioned in part but very important in not forgetting
sibo and water are fundamental needs for birds, sheltered places where to hide and quiet places where you can raise are equally
important elements the little ones.
Birds need places to hide from predators (even a simple cat can be a serious danger) or find shelter from adverse weather conditions.
Trees, shrubs but also rock walls can provide these shelters.
In winter, evergreen trees and hedges could be useful for this purpose and should be at a safe distance from the
feeders in order to allow birds to take refuge quickly in case of danger.
If there are no spontaneous shelters in your garden, you can create a pile of dry branches and leaves or a pile of rocks or trunks.
A.) Create different vegetation bands divided by height by cultivating the lowest plant essences in front of
the highest ones separated by small spaces to facilitate maintenance, create small windbreak barriers with fences and / or wooden racks
on which the vines will grow.
B.) When choosing plants, you prefer those at the top of the hit-parade of liking: that is, berry shrubs and spontaneous herbaceous plants.
C.) Avoid pruning during spring-summer and especially pesticide treatments and chemical fertilizers. To feed the plants use natural mulch,
otherwise no guest will approach.
By following these tips, even a small balcony full of aromatic plants, colorful flowers and climbing plants,
can become a precious treasure trove of biodiversity.
In the garden, on the other hand, it is very useful: “forgetting” a pile of dry branches,
a pile of dead leaves, a few thick bushes, growing a dense hedge, planting fruit trees, creating dry stone walls and borders with stones.
To complete your little oasis of biodiversity, you can think of enhancing it even more by creating a tin with a container
or a watertight vase or a sheet of non-toxic and UV-resistant PVC.
Plants for the aquatic garden have different characteristics and functions: floating plants are very important because,
with their cover, they shade the water and help reduce the presence of algae. Submerged or “oxygenating” plants, on the other hand,
are able to enrich the water with this indispensable element; marsh plants also defined as marginal or from shore
which with their robust rhizomes absorb waste and pollutants.
We now know practically everything we need to do to create a perfect great earthly paradise for our little friends who will thank us,
both they and nature … because both live in symbiosis and both serve us to fully live our lives.
We must always remember that they are wild animals and as such we cannot pretend to treat them differently,
when the right time comes for them, they will find themselves and trust us a little more ..
certainly not all but some of them will ..over time..
The creation of the biergarden requires a lot of effort and always a bit of constancy but everything will be rewarded for the effort given …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnMPhpIBCP4
