Bird friendly gardens

Some simple measure you can make your garden more safe for birds

A garden can be a great place to attract birds, but you may be putting them in danger if certain steps are not taken. A range of relatively simple measures can be employed which help reduce the risks to garden birds, especially when food is being put out.

Dangers include cats and squirrels.

Cat Problems with Birds

Cats can be a real problem with birds, but there are some simple ways to help the birds.

Placing Bird Food

• Avoid putting food on the ground, but use a bird table where cats cannot reach it.
• Place feeders high off the ground but away from surfaces from which a cat could jump.

Protecting the Bird Table

• Place spiny plants or clippings, such as holly, or an uncomfortable surface around the base of the feeding station to prevent cats sitting underneath it.
• Place an upturned tin or cone underneath the table to prevent cats from climbing the post (squirrel baffles are already commercially available).
• A downward-opening cone or a biscuit tin fixed to the pole below the bird table to prevent cat climbing up it.
• Vaseline or other grease on a smooth pole will make the pole slippery.

Protecting the Garden Perimeter

If you don't own cats, you may want to stop your neighbours' cats entering your garden. Here's some tips...

• Surround an area with a fence, such as chicken wire, that leans in the direction of the cat approach. The cat will be unable to climb over such an angled fence.
• Use flimsy plastic roll-up fencing placed on top of a fence to prevent cats climbing over it.
• Taut wire or even string fitted 10-15 cm above the top of the fence makes it difficult for cats to balance on it.
• Specially designed strips of plastic spikes on top of a fence, shed roof and nestbox roof prevent cats from walking on them.
• Place half-full plastic bottles in borders. This is an old gamekeeper's trick, the light reflection deters cats.
• Use old CDs on threaded twine with knots in between to keep them apart. String these across flower beds or hang them from trees. The light reflections deter cats.

Providing Bird Cover

Plant wildlife-friendly vegetation, such as prickly bushes and thick climbers in the garden to provide secure cover for birds. These should be close enough to where birds feed to provide cover, but not so close that cats can use it to stalk birds. See RSPB leaflets on Feeding garden birds, Gardening with wildlife, and Planting gardens for birds for more information. This kind of planting may also provide food and nesting sites.

Nest Boxes and Cats

Nest boxes need to be made safe for birds and their off-spring.

• Position nest boxes where cats cannot reach them or sit close to them, which prevents the parent birds from getting to the box.
• Spiked tree collar to prevent climbing up a tree to the nest box.