What other resources can you provide?
Turtledoves (introduced species) feeding on groundPhoto: R Major © Australian Museum
Koel and Rainbow Lorikeet at feeding trayPhoto: SG Lane Collection © Australian Museum
Bird baths can be places of high activity.Photo: R. Major © Australian Museum
Eastern Whipbird at bird bath.Photo: Richard Major © Australian Museum
Eastern Yellow Robin at birdbath.Photo: R. Major © Australian Museum
Apart from putting in and maintaining plants in your garden, you may be able to provide birds with additional sources of food, shelter and water. Find out about the pros and cons of feeding birds, how to build a nest box and where to put a bird bath in your garden.
Feeding birds
Many people enjoy feeding birds in their garden, on their balcony or even at their window sill, but this creates many unseen problems such as malnutrition, disease, and imbalanced populations of some species. Find out how to minimise these problems or, even better, avoid them altogether by providing more natural food resources for birds in your garden
Malnutrition and disease
Feeding birds too much artificial food may not provide adequate nutrition which can lead to health problems. An example is the feeding of steak to Kookaburras. This might seem like a treat but it lacks nutrients that they would normally obtain from their natural diet of insects and the fur and bone of small mammals. Steak is also very high in protein, so a little will go a long way for a Kookaburra, and malnutrition could result. Diseases can also be spread inadvertently at feeding areas so, if you must feed birds, ensure that you keep the area where they are fed very clean and well scrubbed.
Imbalanced populations
Those species that are commonly fed are the omnivorous (eat anything) opportunists such as Currawongs, Kookaburras and Magpies. Increased numbers of these larger, more aggressive birds in many urban areas can be attributed to artificial feeding. For example, Pied Currawongs and Magpies have increased dramatically in numbers over time, forcing out smaller species from many areas. Currawongs eat the eggs and chicks of small birds. The quantity of food available also helps those being artificially fed to become very successful breeders, increasing their numbers further, which puts even more pressure on the smaller birds.
Is feeding birds good for people?
Yes, many people really enjoy the contact they have with the birds and regard them as friends. Often it is the only contact they have with wild animals and it helps them to feel more connected to the world.
So what is the best answer?
Birds in Backyards recommends that you don't feed birds artificially but preferably plant for birds, as it is much healthier for birds to glean natural food from your garden. Use our plant and garden information to help you choose a range of bird-attracting plants suitable for your garden.
People who insist on providing extra food must keep the feeding area very clean and should avoid feeding the large, meat-eating birds which may prey upon or chase out the smaller ones. You should also use only a balanced and prescribed bird food, for example parrot seed from the vet or supermarket for Lorikeets.
Nest boxes
What is a nest box?
A nest box (or nestbox) is a box built especially for animals to nest in. Nest boxes are usually built for particular species of birds, but some mammals (e.g. possums) may also use them. A nest box is sometimes called a 'birdhouse', but this is not quite right - birds only use them to make their nests in during breeding season, not as a more permanent shelter or home.
Will I attract many birds by putting up a nest box?
All birds have very particular requirements when it comes to nesting and breeding, so just putting up a nest box to attract birds to nest in your garden, probably won't work. Also, the small number of birds that usually nest in tree hollows will be the only species that successfully nest in a nest box. Most other little birds build their own nests in thickets of shrubs and dense understorey plants.
Are nest boxes really necessary?
If you want to provide a nest box for a particular species, it is best to check with the Environmental Officer of your Local Government Authority that this species needs your assistance, before you put in your bird box. For example, there are many Rainbow Lorikeets living in the Sydney region and, although they are beautiful and fun-loving birds, too many of them create problems for other birds. So, rather than providing these already abundant birds with a nest box, it would be better to attract other less fortunate birds by planting thickets for them to nest in.
Nest boxes need to be planned carefully
Nest boxes require care and vigilance. Having a nest box isn't just about putting up a box and forgetting about it. Sometimes other species can move in, such as bees, Common Starlings or Common Mynas, which need to be evicted. There are designs available that can exclude some of these unwanted intruders.
So, if you do want to provide a suitable nest box for the right bird species, make sure you do some research first!
Reference
Jim Grant (comp.) 1997. The Nest Box Book. Gould League. Victoria.
Providing water
Birds need fresh water, but they are vulnerable when they are drinking or bathing and need to feel safe. Here are some tips to help you provide birds with a safe, clean birdbath or pond.
Bird baths
- Place your birdbath so birds can perch nearby to observe the surrounding areas before bathing
- Place your birdbath beyond the reach of cats - hang it from a tree.
- Keep the water cool. Birds prefer birdbaths that are placed in dappled shade.
- Replace the water regularly so it is always clean.
- Clean the birdbath regularly but don't use cleaning agents. Scrub and rise with clean water.
- Going away? Ask a neighbour to add water, so your birds don't lose their water supply.
Ponds
- Ponds should be large enough for birds to drink or bath outside the reach of cats or other threats. Place an old branch in the water or have a large rock as an island, which they can stand on safely while drinking.
- Provide different water levels; small birds prefer shallower water than larger birds.
- As with birdbaths, it is best if ponds have shrubs and plantings near by for birds to observe from, or escape to.