Increase the garden bird population | A feeding system for every bird & garden
Thursday, January 28, 2021
The number of bird species is still declining drastically. To help them in the right way and to attract more diverse species of birds to the garden, supplementary feeding with one or more (appropriate) feeding systems is of great importance. Our feeding systems meet the needs of a specific or certain group of birds. Each bird eats in a different way.
Of course, citygardens or balconies also require different solutions than large gardens with a lawn and trees. From specific systems to an all-in-one solution, our extensive range offers something for every garden and bird.
Water Bowls
The most important "food" of all is water. Due to urbanization, many birds have difficulty finding ponds to drink from or bathe in. Therefore, place a birdbath or water dish in a place where they can quickly flee in case of danger, but can still keep an eye on everything. And you on them of course.
Change the water weekly and there's a good change that birds will keep coming back. By varying the heights of the layers of water in the bath, you will quickly attract the attention of different sizes of birds. Some of our drinking and bathing bowls have two compartments in which you can alternate with food or different heights of water. Always make sure there is not too much water in it, with too deep water birds are more likely to stay away.
Place a bird bath on the ground or as low to the ground as possible. This feels the most natural to birds and makes it an attractive place to be. If there is a cat or other predator in the area, a raised or hanging bath is a safer choice.
Feeding tables and houses
Groundhoppers such as the house sparrow, robin, blackbird, wren and starling prefer to consume mixes of seed on the ground or a stable (elevated) surface. Feeding tables and bird feeders attract many different types of birds, which makes the products very popular with consumers.
Feeding in winter weather? First clear the feeding area of snow. Birds don't like to peck from the snow. With the ground feeding table with mesh bottom, water and snow are easily discharged, while the food remains on it. For the really shy birds such as the wren and the hedge sparrow, it is wise to place the mixed seeds and/or insects near a bush or shrub.
If you hang a feeding house, it will attract acrobatic birds such as the great tit, blue tit and long-tailed tit. Curious birds such as robins will dare to come a little closer if you stay put, just like great tits and blue tits. So do not hesitate to attach a feeder to the window. Do you have less room in your garden for a large bird feeder? Then take a look at our multi-functional pole-feeding system where you can also easily put in a bird bath or a silo.
Also clean the feeders regularly with a scraper to prevent mold and diseases.
Feeding silos and hanging feeders
Hanging feeding silos are easier to reach and use by acrobatic birds, as they can dangle on all sides. There is a whole variety of feeding silos for various types of food. You can fill them with seed mixes, peanuts, dried mealworms, but suet balls as well! This provides a diversity of birds and also helps to reduce plastic waste from nets.
Do you live in a wooded area or have a tree with dry branches in the garden? If so, you have a chance that a woodpecker will come and hang out in your garden. It is a glutton that loves many types of food, but in winter the pied woodpecker just loves a little fat (ball).
A selective feeding silo with basket or a protective cage better protects all small birds from birds of prey. Tits and greenfinches in particular benefit from this.
Curious about what feed you can sell with the feeding systems? Read more about it on the inspiration page "Which bird eats what".
The Garden Birdwatch counting sheet
This makes counting easy!
The National Garden Bird Watch. A fun activity for the whole family to attend. With our Garden Birdwatch counting sheet, you can easily peat the number of birds you see during a half hour. How many birds do your customers count in their gardens? Share the counting card on your own channels now! To print out or to digitally draw on.
Rules of the game:
1. Count the birds in your garden or on your balcony once for half an hour during the weekend of the Garden Bird Count. Don't count the overflying birds.
2. Write down the highest number of birds seen of each species, but do not add them together (to avoid a double count). So if you see 3 sparrows first, but 5 at the same time later on (within the half hour), write down 5.
3. Send in your notated birds to the Gardenbird watch organisation in your country.
A good preperation is everything. Read about the game rules of the Garden Bird Watch here.