Bring in the birds

Birds in your garden can indeed be a source of joy... they make the garden come alive with their constant chirping, fluttering, hopping, preening and other playful activities.

The morning chorus of birds is wonderful music to all those who love Nature.

Deena Motiwalla, Head of Dubai Gardening Group, believes not only do these twittering feathered creatures add colour and cheer to your garden, they also provide an invaluable service in regulating undesirable insect, weed and rodent populations.

As a matter of fact, having birds in your garden is an effective as well as eco-friendly method of insect and weed control — a single medium-sized bird can devour some 500 to 1,000 insects for lunch.

Most garden birds methodically search through the dense foliage of bushes and trees to hunt down harmful beetles, ants, grasshoppers, flies, moths, spiders, green caterpillars, grubs etc.

When they're not chasing insects, they sit on the ground to consume large quantities of weed seeds that may otherwise invade the entire garden.

Besides pest and weed control, species such as sunbirds also play an important role in pollinating flowers.

“There's nothing more enjoyable than watching a tiny sunbird sway with breeze, as it sips nectar from hibiscus in my backyard. These dainty birds with their striking metallic sheen are so trusting — they let you come very close, as they sit sipping on a flower,'' says Deena Motiwalla, who has spent almost quarter of a century keeping a garden in her Jumeirah residence.

She even has a mulberry tree in her garden that attracts huge flocks of ravenous mynahs and sparrows every morning.

Another tree in her backyard that is favoured by several species of birds is the Indian curry leaf tree (Murraya koenigii) — a small aromatic tree with olive-like fruits that birds such as bulbuls, doves, sparrows, mynahs and hoopoes love to eat.

A little imagination

Whether you have a large garden or a small yard, you can attract all types of birds to your garden by offering food, water and shelter.

In a hot place such as the UAE, birds are always looking for a reliable source of water to allow them to take frequent dips and sips to beat the heat and quench their thirst. Having a shallow birdbath is a sure way to attract a wide variety of birds to your garden all year round.

The greater the variety of plants in your garden, the more will be the chances of inviting a diversity of bird species — so while landscaping, include an assortment of trees, shrubs, indigenous ground covers and grasses for providing ample food, shelter and nesting sites.

Berry-producing species such as lantana and mulberry and seed-producing plants such as sunflower, marigold, cosmos, zinnia etc are especially appealing to many local birds.

Flowering plants should be planted in masses or rows to make them more visible to flying birds. Make sure you provide a dry patch of sandy spot, where birds can clean their feathers.

If you do not have enough space in your garden for planting large fruit-bearing shrubs and trees, you can supplement the food supply by keeping feeders filled with millet, sunflower seeds and other bird seeds.

However, before you encourage birds to visit your garden, do make sure they are safe from common enemies such as cats, dogs, squirrels and crows.

Dense hedges and ground cover allow the ground-feeding birds to quickly hide from a chasing predator.

Cats often use garden chairs and tables to climb tall trees — so keep the garden furniture at a distance from tall trees, especially if they contain bird nests.

Also avoid indiscriminate spraying with pesticides to protect these delicate creatures from coming to any kind of harm.

With a little imagination and some effort, you can transform your garden into a safe haven for birds.

Offer them ample food, water and shelter, and they will return the favour by getting rid of all kinds of harmful pests and providing you with non-stop entertainment.