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Water
Birds need water for drinking and bathing. A traditional birdbath, a shallow bowl or a pool are all good sources of water. Birdbaths make great focal points in any garden design, at the end of a vista or path or as a centrepiece. Remember though that birdbaths placed in the middle of a lawn are scary places for small birds, and place you bird bath near some shrubby cover - but not under a tree where a cat may hide.
Birdbaths must be cleaned out and kept free of debris, fallen leaves and the like. Topping up with fresh water is important on hot summer days and in winter or at any time when fresh, clean water is scarce. Some birds are attracted to lawn sprinklers and can be seen taking a shower under the spray. The friendly native fantail is one bird that likes a shower.
Bird Tables and Nest Boxes
Most native birds don't take food from bird tables or feeders and the advice often seen in overseas publications doesn't apply to our birds. There are exceptions, Silver eyes (Waxeyes in some parts of the country) will take fat and bread and can be helped through the winter months by feeding. Sugar water (never honey water as this spread bee diseases) will be taken by some nectar eating birds such as bellbirds.
We also often see the cutest possible nest boxes to put up in your garden as sheltered nest sites. Introduced birds such as the Starling, commonly regarded a pest, will use boxes and there is a record of a Morepork using a nest box. But our native birds don't use nest boxes so planting shrubs to provide protected nest sites is crucial. |
| Gardens are key to the survival of many of our native birds, so when you are out and about in the garden this spring, take a long hard look at the birds and explore the many easy ways to provide a better bird habitat in your backyard. You could enjoy the sight of birds building nests and getting serious about families. |
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Bird tables must be safe from cats
Plants to Attract Birds
Other Trees and Shrubs that Attract Birds
Ageratum flowers spring until autumn
Banksia sp. flowers summer
Embothrium coccineum Chilean Firebush
Grevillea sp. flowers summer
Laburnum Flowers early summer
Pyracantha sp. Berries in autumn/winter
Sorbus sp. (rowans) berries late summer/autumn
Viburnum sp. Berries in autumn
Herbaceous plants
Achillea
Alliums
Astrantia Masterwort
Cimifgua simplex Bugbane
Daisies e.g. anthemis, leucanthemum, osteospermums
Echinacea
Kniphofia (Red hot and other pokers) Varieties flower all summer
Monarda or Bergamont, Beebalm
Sedum | | |
Tecomanthe speciosa |
Rowans for berries
Sorbus hupehensis |
Birdhouses are not for kiwi birds |
Banksias are good nectar sources
Silver eyes will take fat from a feeder |
Plants to Attract Birds
Native plants
Alectryon excelsus (Titoki)
Aristotelia serrata (Wineberry) Flowers summer followed by berries
Carpodetus serratus (Putaputaweta) berries in autumn
Clianthus puniceus (Kakabeak) Flowers late winter
Coprosma sp. Fruits in autumn
Corokia sp. Flower summer, fruits in autumn
Cordyline sp. (Cabbage trees) Flowers early summer, berries late summer/autumn
Fuchsia excorticata (Kotukutuku) flowers in spring
Knightia excelsa (Rewarewa) flowers spring to autumn
Macropiper excelsum (Kawakawa) fruits in late summer
Metrosideros excelsa (Pohutukawa ) flowers summer
Metrosideros umbellata (Southern rata) for large garden, flowers summer
Phormium sp. (Native flax) Flowers summer, seeds autumn
Pittosporum sp. Fruits in winter, P. euginoides (lemonwood) draws many insects and birds to its spring flowers.
Podocarpus totara (Totara) Fruits in autumn
Pseudopanax sp. (Five Finger, lancewwod) flowers spring, berries in winter
Sophora sp. (Kowhai) different species and cultivars flower from late winter to spring
Tecomanthe speciosa flowers in winter (tender climber)
Vitex lucens (Puriri) for large gardens only, fruit late summer
Weinmannia racemosa (Kamahi) Flowers summer | |
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