Jobs for summer
SUMMER marks a change in our approach to helping garden birds. The focus shifts from nesting birds to successful breeders, with the aim of helping to sustain adults and protect recently fledged young. The weather becomes warmer and drier, so we need to change how we cater for the species in our gardens.
Plant some leafy bushes such as raspberries, shrubs or laurels, as these afford good habitats in which butterflies can lay their eggs – the resulting caterpillars are a staple in garden birds’ diets. These plants can all be potted, and so are suitable for smaller gardens or even balconies.
A reliable source of water is vitally important during the summer months as natural resources dry up in the heat.
You don’t need to invest in a bird bath – an old washing-up bowl filled with water will do just as well. Different sized dishes are especially useful. Larger species such as Common Starling, Woodpigeon and Jackdaws will be able to bathe in and drink from deeper dishes, while small passerines like House Sparrow, Blue Tit and Blackbird will use the smaller ones. If you don’t have space for both, use a large one and add some stones at one side for the smaller species to climb in and out. Remember to keep the bowls topped up and clean them regularly.
You may have already observed this behaviour: some birds – House Sparrows in particular – love to dust bathe. Add a tray of soft-play sand to your garden for them to use. This practice helps birds to remove mites from their feathers, while giving them a bit of a clean their feathers.
As the numbers of species and individuals visiting your feeders continue to grow, consider signing up to some citizenscience projects. A good one to take part in is the British Trust for Ornithology’s (BTO) Garden BirdWatch (bit.ly/3sPOMQ1).
This year-round scheme involves keeping a simple list and letting the BTO know which species visit each week.
As you get to know the regular species in your garden, report anything unusual to your local country recorder (bit. ly/2Pnh9Y7); you can also add them to the BirdGuides.com sightings pages (www.birdguides. com/sightings), with all reports automatically fed into the BTO’s BirdTrack scheme.
I’ve been loving finding out the different species that come to my own garden, but I’m still waiting for that Common Redstart! Dan Rouse