Revealing local wildlife
Garden for Wildlife
(Part Two)
This is one of the simplest ways to help Cambridge's wildlife. I believe that if you complete just one of these steps, you will have helped up to 500 animals live a happier, longer life.
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I have compiled these choices to suit as many different scenarios as possible. All of these are inexpensive (Though you will need time on your hands for some) and only doing one option will give your birds, mammals, bees, butterflies and even sometimes frogs a fighting chance in life.
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So get outside and complete some wildlife-friendly gardening at the next opportunity!
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This option is best for birds, but squirrels may enjoy it too.
2. Feed the Birds
Suitable for: All gardens, all houses and all flats
This is the most commonly known way of helping wildlife in the garden or perhaps anywhere. You can carry out this option anywhere with a hook (Or, in the case of window feeders, a window). Keep an eye out for some of the more interesting visitors, for example a charm of Goldfinches visiting a seed feeder filled with sunflower hearts, or a flurry of Starlings squabbling over the mealworms. Feeding birds is also an excellent way of introducing young children to the wonders of nature (I learned this firsthand).
Birdfeeders are an excellent way to get to grips with identifying common birds. In late January, (Usually about from the 28th to the 30th) the RSPB runs the largest "Citizen Science" program in the world. Known as the Big Garden Birdwatch, it allows you to report your bird sightings over a one-hour long period and they use this to monitor bird population increases, trends and declines over a long timescale. If you are interested in finding out more about this and other projects they have, the link to their website is below.
There are a multitude of different feeders being sold. Most of them, especially those listed below, are very effective in attracting birds and have been tried and tested for generations.
Fat Ball Feeder
Used By: Robins, Blackbirds, all Tits, Blackcaps, some Crows, Sparrows, some Finches, Starlings
An example of a fat ball feeder. In this feeder, three or four balls of fat (Buy from a Bird Food Supplier) are put in this feeder. It is a very popular option everywhere.
Seed Feeder
Used By: most Finches, some Tits, Robins, Blackbirds
An example of a seed feeder. This is the usual "Bird Feeder" but however I find this quite ineffective in areas far from cover or with a low bird population. Alternatively, you can add some mealworms inside instead. This tends to attract much more Starlings and Robins.
Nijer Seed Feeder
Only occasionally used by Goldfinches
I wouldn't recommend this feeder as, due to an apparent change in the taste of Goldfinches, this feeder is rarely visited.
Peanut Feeder
Used By: Tits and occasionally Robins
An example of a Peanut Feeder. This feeder is often used by Great, Blue, Coal and Long-tailed Tits. I would put the peanuts in only up to half as they take a long time to go down. WARNING: Only buy peanuts from a bird food supplier, and NEVER leave whole peanuts on a table in the nesting season (March to August) as they may choke a baby chick's throat.
Table Feeder
Used by: All garden Birds
An example of a Table Feeder. This feeder is the most effective type of feeder. Any kind of seed can be put on it. Alternatively, you can leave seeds on the ground.
