Do you have a garden and are you curious about which birds you can expect? Attracting birds depends on the environment, the available food and the hiding places. In this blog you will discover which garden birds you often see and how you can make your garden bird-friendly.
Common garden birds
The Netherlands and Belgium have a great variety of birds in the garden . Below we discuss the most common species.
1. Great Tit
The great tit is one of the most recognizable garden birds. With its black head and yellow belly it is a striking appearance. Great tits like to eat sunflower seeds, fat balls and insects .
2. Blue Tit
Slightly smaller than the great tit, but just as active. The blue tit can be recognized by its blue head and yellow belly. By hanging up a bird feeder with fat balls or peanuts , you attract these cheerful birds to your garden.
3. Blackbird
Blackbirds like berries, worms and fruit. They often come to a bird feeder on a pole or pick food from the ground. A well-maintained bird drinker in the garden ensures that blackbirds always have fresh water.
4. Robin
With its characteristic red breast, the robin is a beloved bird in many gardens. It likes to eat insects and fine bird seed. Especially in the winter it comes more often to a bird feeder .
5. Tick
Finches are often found on the ground, picking up fallen seeds. They enjoy a mix of sunflower seeds, mealworms and mixed bird food .
6. House sparrow
House sparrows are social birds that like to eat in groups. They are attracted to a bird feeder with a roof , so they can eat safely.
7. Starling
Starlings are notable for their shiny feathers and group behaviour. They eat berries, insects and fruit. In autumn you often see them flying in flocks.
How do you make your garden attractive to birds?
Want more birds in your garden ? Here are some tips:
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Hanging a bird feeder : Choose a wooden bird feeder, a bird feeder on a pole or a hanging bird feeder to attract different bird species.
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Various types of bird food : Provide a mix of seeds, peanuts, fat balls and mealworms .
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Bird Drinking Trough : A bird drinking trough on a pedestal or a hanging water trough offers birds a safe place to drink.
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Hanging nest boxes : Various birds, such as great tits and house sparrows, like to use nest boxes.
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Shelters and vegetation : Shrubs, hedges and trees provide shelter and make the garden more attractive to birds.
Which birds come to the garden each season?
The bird population in your garden changes with the seasons.
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Spring : Birds build nests and look for suitable places to breed. A nest box in the garden can help.
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Summer : Birds seek cooling and water. A drinking trough for birds is essential.
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Fall : Migratory birds come by and look for food. Offer seeds and berries .
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Winter : Birds need extra energy. Provide fat balls, peanuts and sunflower seeds in a bird feeder with a drinking trough .
Conclusion: Birdwatching in your garden
From the active great tit to the shy robin, there are many bird species that you can welcome into your garden. By placing the right bird feeders, bird food and a bird drinker , you create an ideal environment for garden birds. This way you can enjoy a lively garden full of birds all year round.
