The Benefits of Garden Birds: Why Encouraging Wildlife in Your Backyard is Good for You and the Environment

Garden birds are a wonderful part of mother nature and something that the UK certainly has no shortage of. In fact, we're one of the leading nations in the whole world for our bird population due, in no small part, to the fact that many people have at least one bird feeder in their garden.

Feeding garden birds is a great way to experience a whole range of benefits, both for you and for your garden. In this blog post we'll delve deeper into the importance of garden birds as part of our eco system, and share the benefits of attracting garden birds to your outside space.

Bird species

A number of different species can visit to bird feeders in your garden. These birds are typically quite small, around the size of a tennis ball or smaller, and are often brightly coloured and highly social.

The most popular example, perhaps, is the robin - a red-breasted bird that is often very happy to see other birds and humans, provided you aren't too aggressive. They will eat from bird tables very happily, commonly a blend of nuts and dried worms.

Bird feeders

Bird feeders are a great way to attract different species of bird and wildlife since they typically have different compartments for different food sources.

For instance, a bird feeder might have a seed tray designed for smaller birds like bluebirds, as well as a small cage for fat balls. Typically, slightly larger birds prefer fat balls, such as crows or pigeons.

Is it good to feed birds in your garden?

Attracting birds to your garden is great for the natural eco system around your local area. Plus provides a great activity for your whole family to get involved in as they can spend time outdoors together and spot more birds as they visit your garden.

Bird watching can give you a great way to feel like you're among nature, as well as a range of different things to learn about in your free time, along with some other benefits.

Bird feeding, more specifically, is particularly great for the birds which suffer during the winter months when food may be scarce. Birds will generally nest in a location that has a number of different food sources nearby - if your home is a good food source, then birds are likely to nest in trees nearby.

Is it good to have birds on the lawn?

Wild birds on a lawn, whether it's a form of native grass or not, will increase the overall biodiversity of your local area and gardens. In turn, this will improve the health of the soil, and everything that grows within it.

Bird populations might spend a little time digging into your lawn to unearth a worm or two, but that's simply a part of the circle of life.

Those small holes they're liable to dig can aerate the soil and improve overall drainage, leading to native plants thriving in your soil. Over time, increased biodiversity is truly great for every organism involved in an ecosystem.

Bird feeder

Bird Feeders are the best way to help bird populations. The reason for this is simple - if you build it, they will come. A bird habitat lives and dies by the amount of food that's available to the birds that are within that habitat, so feeding birds is a great way to boost the quality of the habitat itself and help support birds and larger animals year round.

Bird food can be quite varied, but when discussing birds you're likely to see in your garden, bird food is typically a combination of seeds and insects. These combinations can often be bought in large bags from local stores, and the birds in your garden will thank you by continually coming back for them.

What are the benefits of having birds around your house?

Having many birds around your house is a good thing as it makes your home a hotspot for the local ecosystem to thrive. We're going to talk about that a little more in a while, but for now, let's address one thing that's not related to the ecosystem - birds in your garden can have a notable positive effect on your mental health.

Feeding birds to attract birds is a great way to create a positive loop that will be beneficial for your brain chemistry.

Human brains are set up to release a positive emotion when something positive happens - spotting a new bird, or perhaps an old friend, in your bird bath can be a great way to stimulate this cycle. Over time, this interest can have a great boost to your mental health.

What are the spiritual benefits of feeding birds?

The answer lies in how in touch with nature backyard birds can make you feel.

Having birds visit to spend a little time with you can be a great way to help a small part of the world that sustains us all.

Birds in your garden might benefit from a range of native plants you planted out for them, and, in turn, you're likely to feel a spiritual benefit as you help birds eat their fill.

Mental health benefits of attracting birds

Having birds visiting can be a huge boon for your mental health, particularly in the long run. Birds migrate, of course, and it can be nice to see your favourite flock come back to spend time with you in the spring.

Once they've returned, you'll be able to experience the benefit of feeding and helping them further.

The local ecosystem

The local ecosystem is complex, and you can boost it by boosting one part of it. If you help birds to thrive with nesting boxes, for instance, you will also boost the population of different flowers, as the birds drop their seeds in new locations. Trees provide even more benefits to the local wildlife and attract different species, so the more trees you have in gardens, the better.

This will have a knock-on effect on the local wildlife, particularly pollinating insects, which will then boost the bird population once again as they provide a natural food source in the food chain for our feathered friends.

Reduction of bugs

Birds can act as a form of natural pest control near you, eating different bugs that might be causing you frustration in your garden.

Feeding birds can prevent your garden flowers from sustaining damage from hungry bugs, instead allowing you a little more freedom to plant as you please.

Wildflowers

Wildflowers are often also benefitted by birds. This is often because as birds eat local insects, and a balance is struck in your local area, the wildflowers can grow more freely. In turn, this provides natural habitat for a range of insects and small mammals, leading to a more complex and diverse local ecosystem.

We hope this short article has given you an idea of some of the great benefits that garden birds can have. They're truly wonderful creatures, and having a number of them near you can really help you sustain not only yourself but the wildlife around you!