Fruit for birds
Jun 27th, 2008 by Birdy Trish
Another way of feeding birds is to plant a variety of shrubs, bushes or even hedges. This is natural food for birds.
So next time you go to a garden centre - think British Bird. Ask what plants feed birds.
A bush needs planting once and provide fruit and shelter for our garden birds for years
Some of the birds that enjoy Berry bearing shrubs are
- thrushes,
- blackbirds
- starlings,
- finches,
- tits,
- robins and
- pigeons,
- You may also attract waxwings, redwings or fieldfares - winter vistiros.
The following list includes 3 berry bearing shrubs which are popular for bird food.
British species support more insect life than non native and are more attractive to birds.
Planting bushes in the garden also gives cover to birds as well as providing bird food every year.
BLACKBERRY OR BRAMBLE (rubus fruticosus} up to 2m (6 1/2 ft). Native
If you have room for a bramble patch in your garden it will be used by birds all through the year.
SOME OF THE BIRDS THAT EAT THE FRUIT starlings, bullfinches, Great Tits and Blue Tits.
NESTING - Blackbirds, warblers, thrushes, Long tailed tits, finches and dunnocks will nest in the safety of it’s prickly branches.
In Autumn and winter finches and sparrows will gather in the bramble hedge to roost.
To keep the bramble bush / patch thick and attractive to birds trim the long branches each year to stop them rooting.
ELDER BUSH (Sambucus nigra) up to (10m) (32 1/2 feet
SOME OF THE BIRDS THAT FEED ON ELDERBERRY blackbirds and thrushes and starlings
NESTING . It provides nest sites for blackbirds, thrushes, chaffinches and bullfinches.
Elders grow very quickly but new growth can be trimmed back by about 1ft each year which will help provide a nest site.
HAWTHORN (Crataegus monogyna) 2-10m (6 1/2 - 32 ft) native
MANY BIRDS FEED ON THE DARK RED BERRIES OF THE HAWTHORN - (especially in early winter)
The hawthorn hedge bears crimson berries which are called Haws.
Some of the many birds feed on these Haw berries in Autumn and early Winter including Blackbirds, redwings, fieldfares and waxwings
The leaves of the hawthorn are eaten by woodpigeons.
NESTING - thrushes, finches, buntings, warbler
Hawthorn hedge keeps out predators such as cats and sparrowhawks.
I often see blackbirds near Hawthorn
Hedges and shrubs provide safety and shelter for birds
Eat some of the fruit yourself
Remember some bushes provide a good source of food and shelter for birds
If you don’t have a garden you can still have fun feeding birds. I have just sent for a window feeder which I will fill with bird seed. I know I’ll enjoy watching the birds so close to the window. I should get a good view - have been told it’s a great way to take photos as well.
Anyone can get involved with feeding or watching birds.
I was supplied with a big bag of raisins in my last Wiggly Wigglers birdy box. It hasn’t done much to attract birds - but the wasp population of my garden has rocketed! Not exactly the effect I was hoping for.
[...] Three types of fruit bush and some birds that like fruit [...]