Thanks for this - I've just taken down my bird feeders. Can you give us a little teaser on the crab apples? I'm just about to buy one. Are most cultivars equally good for birds or should I look for one in particular. I'm looking for something quite small
Hi Louise, I need to think about recommendations a bit more before giving them (and check in with some garden owners) but I’ve mentioned some of my faves here: https://www.wildway.info/p/crab-apples-asters-fuchsia-and-fungi In terms of tree size it comes down to the rootstock- so be sure to check that before ordering.
Really useful article, thanks Jack. I feel like printing it out and putting it through the letterboxes of everyone on our street in London! I have never seen such sterile gardens with so few insects. So depressing.
In terms of other plants, birds seem to love our field maples - they are slow growing but I'm not sure their final size. Still beautiful trees I think.
Oh yes that’s a good shout with field maple. I feel your pain, my gardener friends and I found it so depressing what so many people were doing in London gardens. There are some like you though, keeping it all alive.
Excellent. Thank you. It’s good to have confirmation that between my practices, growing and what grows wild around about us is encouraging a thriving eco-system that supports insects and birds. I gave up feeding 2 years ago.
Super interesting! i have an old wild cherry that is getting covered in ivy and during pring is home to a whole lot of birds, blackbirds mostly, and i love it.
Now ivy is growing on 1 out of 3 trunks of a Prunus i have and i'm thorn between cutting the ivy to preserve the tree or letting her be...
Great post, most of us could do more to provide for our bird neighbors. Husband and I were admiring hawthorn trees on our walk the other day and now wonder if we have space for one.
We have American and lesser goldfinches in our area (Portland, Oregon) and notice they love the lemon balm, marjoram and oregano seeds in the fall. Bees also love the flowers so if you don't mind these taking over a bit they make great food for the wildlife as well.
I have just been reading Hanna h Nunn's weekly newsletter and she has put in a link to your piece about feeding birds. I love coming across connections between like minded people.
Agastache rugosa (Korean mint) is the only plant where I’ve seen blue tits eating seeds, even though I leave seed heads on many flowers, including teasels. I’ve noticed they abandon garden feeders in the spring anyway, once there are caterpillars in the oak trees. Since we’ve lived in our current house, starlings disappeared after a neighbour chopped down the tree they roosted in, thrushes went after magpies arrived, and now we have a gang of jackdaws and a pair of crows. The smaller birds have been decimated by falcons hosted by a market gardener trying to keep down mice. The insects haven’t recovered from the hot summers and dry springs. Only the giant slugs seem to thrive. Still, spring has sprung, so let’s see what this year holds.
I've had feeders for years - sometimes thought it might be interfering with the natural ecosystem function...but I should have considered there are bigger consequences. Super valuable article, thanks for spreading the word.
Yes I’ve always wondered if we were distracting birds from their natural skill of foraging for food too? I’m sure overall feeding them does help but I think a long term planting for food is the better direction.
Thanks for this, Jack. I haven't put out bird feeders for some years now after finding they attracted mice and rats. My terrace house is attached to a narrow small garden which I have left somewhat wild and I have blue tits and robins nesting along with resident blackbird, a myriad of visitors I can hear but not always see, too. I garden organically so aphids are left for the birds and they do a good job of cleaning up. The cleaning of the water bowl is something I must be more vigilant about.
I read that you can still put out fat balls/similar, which are also useful (high moisture content) for parent birds to feed fledglings, when caterpillars etc are scarce. Plus live mealworms, of course.
Thanks for this - I've just taken down my bird feeders. Can you give us a little teaser on the crab apples? I'm just about to buy one. Are most cultivars equally good for birds or should I look for one in particular. I'm looking for something quite small
Hi Louise, I need to think about recommendations a bit more before giving them (and check in with some garden owners) but I’ve mentioned some of my faves here: https://www.wildway.info/p/crab-apples-asters-fuchsia-and-fungi In terms of tree size it comes down to the rootstock- so be sure to check that before ordering.
Really useful article, thanks Jack. I feel like printing it out and putting it through the letterboxes of everyone on our street in London! I have never seen such sterile gardens with so few insects. So depressing.
In terms of other plants, birds seem to love our field maples - they are slow growing but I'm not sure their final size. Still beautiful trees I think.
Oh yes that’s a good shout with field maple. I feel your pain, my gardener friends and I found it so depressing what so many people were doing in London gardens. There are some like you though, keeping it all alive.
Thank you for the inspiration.
Excellent. Thank you. It’s good to have confirmation that between my practices, growing and what grows wild around about us is encouraging a thriving eco-system that supports insects and birds. I gave up feeding 2 years ago.
Yes I think with the plants you are growing, you’ve actually been having a strong long term impact supporting birds and other wildlife.
Super interesting! i have an old wild cherry that is getting covered in ivy and during pring is home to a whole lot of birds, blackbirds mostly, and i love it.
Now ivy is growing on 1 out of 3 trunks of a Prunus i have and i'm thorn between cutting the ivy to preserve the tree or letting her be...
If it helps, the ivy isn’t harming the tree unless it totally smothers the entire canopy
I'll keep an eye on it then ;) Thanks!!
Great post, most of us could do more to provide for our bird neighbors. Husband and I were admiring hawthorn trees on our walk the other day and now wonder if we have space for one.
We have American and lesser goldfinches in our area (Portland, Oregon) and notice they love the lemon balm, marjoram and oregano seeds in the fall. Bees also love the flowers so if you don't mind these taking over a bit they make great food for the wildlife as well.
Thanks for sharing those plant observations Jen
I have just been reading Hanna h Nunn's weekly newsletter and she has put in a link to your piece about feeding birds. I love coming across connections between like minded people.
That's lovely, thanks Catherine. Yes we live near each other and often bump into one another staring up into the canopy of the woods around Hebden :)
It's a lovely part of the country.
Agastache rugosa (Korean mint) is the only plant where I’ve seen blue tits eating seeds, even though I leave seed heads on many flowers, including teasels. I’ve noticed they abandon garden feeders in the spring anyway, once there are caterpillars in the oak trees. Since we’ve lived in our current house, starlings disappeared after a neighbour chopped down the tree they roosted in, thrushes went after magpies arrived, and now we have a gang of jackdaws and a pair of crows. The smaller birds have been decimated by falcons hosted by a market gardener trying to keep down mice. The insects haven’t recovered from the hot summers and dry springs. Only the giant slugs seem to thrive. Still, spring has sprung, so let’s see what this year holds.
Fascinating about the Agastache, thanks Sarah - I shall keep an eye on ours to see if the bluetits do the same here.
I've had feeders for years - sometimes thought it might be interfering with the natural ecosystem function...but I should have considered there are bigger consequences. Super valuable article, thanks for spreading the word.
Yes I’ve always wondered if we were distracting birds from their natural skill of foraging for food too? I’m sure overall feeding them does help but I think a long term planting for food is the better direction.
Thanks for this, Jack. I haven't put out bird feeders for some years now after finding they attracted mice and rats. My terrace house is attached to a narrow small garden which I have left somewhat wild and I have blue tits and robins nesting along with resident blackbird, a myriad of visitors I can hear but not always see, too. I garden organically so aphids are left for the birds and they do a good job of cleaning up. The cleaning of the water bowl is something I must be more vigilant about.
Aphids are so great for small birds, sounds like you are already making a wonderful home for so much wildlife
Excellent (as always). And thank you.
I read that you can still put out fat balls/similar, which are also useful (high moisture content) for parent birds to feed fledglings, when caterpillars etc are scarce. Plus live mealworms, of course.
Thanks Shirley