GARDENING IN FRANCE

By CHRISTINE LEES
Supporting birds in your garden

I have been a member of the RSPB and the WWT (Wildlife and Wetland Trust) for many years and in London was also a member of the RSPB London House Sparrow Project which aimed to increase the number of breeding house sparrows in London by supplemental feeding in spring and summer of fresh mealworms.
 
After moving to France, I have a much bigger garden and a lot more feeders. They are situated in the front garden where I can see them from my lounge and are mainly hanging feeders from feeder poles or from a tree (please remove the netting as these become traps for the birds). I leave some food on the ground for woodpigeons, collared doves and other ground feeding birds, and also water dishes of different sizes. I have 2 cats plus visiting cats so want to minimise cat predation. I have had cats also for 40 years and only have the occasional bird casualty – probably less than 5-10 a year, mainly fledglings. 
 
I feed sunflower seeds, peanuts, niger seeds when I can get them, and various fat balls. Fat cakes with peanuts and insects, etc, and filled coconut shells, and dried mealworms. I feed all year round as recommended by the RSPB, as although I live in the middle of fields, my farming neighbours all use chemicals and there are not many weeds in the fields. Small songbirds need to eat between one third and one half of their bodyweight each day to survive.  I have had up to 40 species in ​my garden, mainly bluetits, great tits, goldifinches, house and tree sparrows, dunnocks, and formerly before the advent of the dreadful disease they are susceptible to, many greenfinches. In the winter I get flocks of bramblings, also up to 10 hawfinches at a time, and occasionally crested tits. I also have yellowhammers, siskins, and cirl buntings which are very rare in the UK. It’s important to clean feeders regularly and change water daily to avoid disease.

In addition to providing food and water, there are many other ways you can provide a better habitat for birds. For insect eating birds one of the most important things you can do is not use chemicals and not use insecticides.  I have about 25 rose bushes in my front garden and never have a problem with greenfly as the bluetits and great tits eat them. You can put up nest boxes, although I seldom do this as my garden has about 30 trees and dense hedges down 2 sides, and an oakwood on one side.  If you do have nestboxes site them away from direct sun and from predators.  If you are near woodland it’s important to have metal reinforcements around the entrance hole as woodpeckers peck at the hole to get at the chicks Inside. You can buy these from the website Vivara, as well as many other bird foods, feeders and other accessories.

It's also very Important to provide a variety of seed producing and fruit producing plants, grasses, annuals perennials, shrubs, hedges and trees which will provide a variety of food throughout the year. Leave your grasses and seedheads over the winter to provide much needed food for birds and shelter for insects. Flowers and plants which are good for pollinating insects and caterpillars will also indirectly provide food for birds and the whole food chain. You can also find shrubs which will provide berries at all times of the year, although autumn is the main season. Pyracantha, cotoneaster, and mahonia are all very good. One of the best plants for wildlife is ivy, which provides nectar from flowers and berries throughout the winter. 

If you mulch your borders with bark mulch or a layer of dead leaves or leafmould, this harbours many insects, small beetles etc and provides a great feeding ground for blackbirds. A woodpile or pile of dead wood will also provide plenty of insects and beetles for insect eating birds and hedgehogs. 

Mixed country hedges and dense conifers as well as evergreen hedges such as pyracantha, provide shelter for roosting and nest building, as well as nectar for insects from flowers and berries in autumn for food.  The mixed hedges will also provide different foods at different times of the year.  You will also find wildflowers in the bottom of the hedge. 
A garden pond will be a great resource both for the many creatures which live in it, but also for birds which can bathe in it, eat the insects and drink the water. 
A wildflower meadow or section of your garden will provide a feast for the eyes and for pollinating insects, and also directly provide food for birds in the form of seeds, teasels are very attractive to goldfinches. 
I hope this has given you some ideas to help and support wildlife in your garden, particularly birds, and to increase your own enjoyment of the garden.
 
Merry Christmas
Chris