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Planting a corner in fruiting shrubs will provide an area of cover for birds, and leaving leaf litter underneath will encourage insects and beetles and even wetas - all great bird food. Bob Munro of Moss Green Garden near Wellington has built a series of weta houses throughout the garden providing a cool, dark home for these fascinating New Zealand native insects.
Plant trees and shrubs with berries or flowers that are suitable for food and plant those that are suitable nest site. The tangled dense growth of New Zealand divaricating shrubs (Coprosma sp., Muehlenbeckia astonii, Plagianthus sp. and others) , introduced species, such as impenetrable pyracantha and the cover provided by viburnums, make good nest sites for fantails and larger birds. Many of these shrubs are attractive in their own right, and many are shrubs that are commonly planted in gardens anyway.
Most native plants are good for birds but some are clearly bird-friendly. Corokias are great for birds, the berries provide food and the tangled shape provides shelter and nesting sites. Think also about wine berry (Aristotelia serrata), kamahi (Weinmannia racemosa), pittopsorum and other natives for summer food and later berries.
Nectar feeders love kowhai, the sight of birds flocking to spring flowering kowhai is one of the marvels of a New Zealand spring. The flowers of the native flax (Phoromium tenax), Kakabeak (Clianthus puniceus) and Rewarewa (Knightia exclesa) provide a feast for bellbirds and tui, as will redhot and other pokers (Kniphofia sp.), grevillea, banksia and the Chilean Firebush (Embothrium coccineum).
Many birds are insect feeders, either taking insects from leaves and flowers or catching them on the wing. The fantail that dances about you as you walk is searching for all the tiny bugs that you disturb; other birds such as the grey warbler will perch on a branch and peck at insects. |
Daisies attract many insects
Pachystegia insignis |
Daisies (anthemis, leucanthemum, osteospermums), the umbellifers, Achillea, Monarda, bugbane (Cimifgua simplex) and many, many other flowers will draw insects and provide food for searching birds.
If you spray you will kill the insects and destroy the food supply, silvereyes and other birds will help to clear aphids and other pests and restore a natural balance. If you want to encourage birds you must tolerate more insects in your garden. If you do choose to spray, this reduces the food available to sustain birds. Ladybirds, praying mantis and other insect predators not only combat aphids but also provide food for species that take larger insects, such as the praying mantis, and larvae others will take predators.
Kingfishers and owls also eat lizards and small rodents. Leaving rocks and logs in a 'wild corner' of a larger garden provides a habitat for these food sources.
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Viburnums provide berries and shelter
Viburnum trilobum |
Cordyline flowers and berries are food sources
Cordyline banksii |
What You Can Do
Food and Shelter Bird friendly trees and shrubs will provide food and shelter. Flowers that attract insects are essential for many native birds
Leave them in Peace Nesting birds are shy and may abandon their young if disturbed. Never handle eggs or young. The fledglings had long left before we photographed these nests.
Water Provide water for drinking and bathing. The traditional birdbath is a big attraction winter and summer.
Cats Birds never get used to cats, with good reason. Give your cat a bell to at least give the birds a chance, or don't keep a cat at all as even well fed cats will still hunt.
Control pests Opossums and rats eat baby chicks and eggs. Bait stations, opossum traps, poison and other techniques are available so that we can all safely help to reduce the explosion in opossum numbers. You local council will have advice and can help
Don't spray Sprays eliminate insects and thus the food essential for birds.
Feeding & Bird Tables Most native birds don't take food from feeders. Silver eyes will take fat and bread, and sugar water (never honey water as this spread bee diseases) is taken by some nectar eating birds. Other seeds and bird feeds are for introduced species.
Nest Boxes Native birds don't use nest boxes. Introduced birds may use boxes. | |
Redhot pokers, a summer nectar source
Praying mantis and victim
both are bird food | |
