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When you are out in the garden, take a look at the birds there, for they are there, whatever the season.
Gardens are critical to maintaining bird populations. New Zealand once had extensive areas of native forest, now much of the countryside is covered by farms and cities and the native trees that provided food sources, nest sites and shelter have diminished and the numbers of birds with them.
Cities and towns are an artificial environment and few birds are naturally equipped to live there. House sparrows, starlings and pigeons adapt most readily to a city environment. Older suburbs, where mature trees and gardens exist can support up to 20 species of birds, native and introduced, as permanent residents or visitors. Inner city and suburban gardens are becoming smaller, fewer trees are planted and the available bird habitats reduced.
You can easily incorporate a back garden bird habitat into your own garden. Meet a bird's basic needs with food, water, shelter and a nesting place; they'll reward you with hours of entertainment and fewer insect pests!
When shelter, food and water are provided in a garden, birds can become used to your presence and will be more readily seen- although they never get used to cats. If you live near an area of native bush then tui, pigeon and bellbirds may be found in your garden.
In cities where large areas of bush have been preserved the numbers and varieties of bird life increase markedly. A census of birds in the Dunedin Botanic Gardens, which includes an area of native bush, has shown that one-hectare can support over 25 birds with the chief species being song thrush, blackbirds and the native silver eye.
If you live near an area of native bush you may see kereru (wood pigeons), tui and bellbirds. All of these birds enjoy visiting the native kowhai (Sophora microphylla) in spring, but will also strip, the introduced tree, laburnum of its flowers just as happily. We can plant other shrubs that these and other native birds will enjoy.
Plants that attract insects and trees and shrubs with berries or flowers for food, plus those that are suitable as nest sites are the essential basis for a good bird habitat.
Nests are often concealed in inaccessible places, to protect the young from predators, but most New Zealand native species will not use a nest box. These are suitable for starlings, and some other introduced birds. Trees with lots of twigs provide cover for the parent birds and their fledglings. Twiggy, thinner growths can also make it difficult for cats, rats and opossums to raid the nest for eggs and chicks. |
Fantails build a new nest for each brood |
Some birds raise more than one brood each summer. Fantails raise up to five broods each summer and build a new nest for each, often commencing work on a new nest before the current brood have become independent.
How to Attract Birds into your Garden
We can encourage birds into the garden by growing the right plants, providing shelter, food and water.
Variety in planting and using fruiting shrubs and trees provides birds with food throughout the season, as well as nesting sites and shelter. Planting mixed hedges around your home, or shelterbelts on a larger property, farm or school, instead of single species hedges, especially the ubiquitous pine hedge, will provide a variety of food sources and nest sites.
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Gardens are critical to maintaining bird populations
...as native bush habitats disappear
Near an area of native bush you may see kereru (wood pigeons) |
What They Eat
Native birds
Bellbird insects and larvae, nectar, fruit, soft berries in late summer/autumn. Takes sugar water from feeders
Tui nectar, fruit and insects, especially large insects, and fruit in autumn
Silver eye (Wax eye) nectar, fruit and insects. Can peck at soft fruits such as grapes and figs, aphids and other pests. Takes seeds, fat and bread from bird tables.
Fantail insects, caught on the wing, sometime entering houses in search of prey
Kereru mainly fruit (berries) but they eat leaves, flowers and insects
Grey Warbler insects taken from leaves and branches high in the trees
Kaka insects and larvae, seeds and succulent berries and fruit
Kingfisher insects (cicadas, wetas, stick insects, wasps, dragonflies and bettles), spiders, small crabs, tadpoles, freshwater crayfish, lizards, mice and small birds, and occasionally small fish (including goldfish).
Morepork insects, especially wetas, flying insects attracted to light, spiders, lizards, small birds, rats and mice.
Pukeko seeds, shoots, rhizomes and corms of grasses and marsh plants. Some small fish and mammals, will eat carrion.
Shining Cuckoo insects and larvae
Introduced birds
Blackbirdwild and cultivated fruits, invertebrates
Chaffinch seeds, insects, aphids, white butterfly caterpillars and grain
Goldfinch seeds such as thistles and other tall weeds, seeds in short pasture or lawns, occasionally small insects
Thrush earthworm, snails and insects, sometimes fruits
Yellowhammer seeds (newly sown seeds are targeted), insects, caterpillars, spiders and flies | |
Kowhai, a spring feast for kereru, tui and bellbird
| For some more ideas on attracting wildlife to your garden, WildlifeGardener contains over 50 articles all written by a team of experts with new articles frequently being added.
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