They eat pests by the pound.
A garden without birds would be incomplete and very gloomy. Their singing makes being outdoors more pleasant and observing their habits is very entertaining
A garden without birds would be incomplete and very gloomy. With their singing, they make being outside more pleasant and observing their habits is very fun – not only for the little ones. More importantly, birds are gardeners’ natural allies in the fight against pests. Create favorable conditions for them and they will get rid of intruders by the kilo during the season.
Meet the bird allies of gardeners.
Natural enemies of pests
In relation to useful creatures in the garden, you can hear a lot of good things about hedgehogs or ladybugs. This time, however, we will focus on the winged helpers of gardeners, who will naturally support the fight against pests. Here the help is priceless, because the ubiquitous insects or molluscs can multiply quickly and destroy ornamental flowers and crops with astonishing speed.
In such a situation, it often seems that the only option is to reach for chemical preparations. They are effective, but not without a negative impact on the environment. Their frequent use can make intruders resistant to their composition, which in turn leads to a vicious circle in which you gradually increase the amount and frequency of chemical agents.
In the meantime, it is much better to use the help of natural enemies of pests. This term can be applied to many species of birds that do not avoid gardens.
Nuisance insects are tasty morsels for birds.
The tit as a senior worker in the garden
Don’t let its small size fool you. The inconspicuous great tit can eat as many insects, pupae and larvae as its own weight in one day. The number of pests eaten can reach up to 200. Birds have the biggest appetites, especially during the breeding season. For the tit, this usually falls between May and July.
They are not idle. They lay a large number of eggs, from six to fourteen. Such a large bird family requires a large supply of food. It has been calculated that during the whole summer, adults and their offspring can reduce the pest population in gardens by a number corresponding to 70 kilograms. After the end of summer, birds continue to support us. They help keep trees in good condition by searching their branches and trunks for larvae and pest eggs.
After the end of summer, birds continue to support us. They help keep trees in good condition by searching their branches and trunks for larvae and pest eggs.
Look at the Common starling more favorably
Starlings can be problematic because they are attracted to shrubs and fruit trees like a magnet. Birds eat them without asking, but it pays to protect the plants with special nets and welcome Commo starlings in gardens with open arms.
This is because they feed on pests that other bird species avoid. The starlings’ menu includes hairy caterpillars, armadillos and snails.
The common swift as chasers of mosquitoes
This is another example of a bird that is small but big in natural garden pest control. It is estimated that one individual is able to eat up to 20,000 small insects per day. The common swift is known as a killer of mosquitoes and gnats, intruders that can make life very unpleasant. They also feed on bugs and flies.
How to attract useful birds to the garden?
The list of winged allies can be really long. Thrushes have a similar appetite to titmice. You should also welcome:
- house sparrows (Passer domesticus),
- wood nuthatch (Sitta europaea),
- red-breasted flycatcher (Ficedula parva),
- white wagtail (Motacilla alba),
- tree sparrows (Passer montanus).
However, in order for them to want to visit our area as often as possible, they need to create suitable conditions. A good idea is to build nest boxes. In the garden, it is good to find space for planting trees and bushes in which the birds can build secluded shelters – this is where thorny and heavily thickened bushes lead.
However, in order for them to want to visit our area as often as possible, they need to create suitable conditions.
Consider planting plants that will provide an additional food source for beneficial birds. These include wild rose, gorse, bird’s-eye, chokeberry and hawthorn. Especially during hot weather, place a watering can in the garden so that the birds can quench their thirst.
