By Debby Looney, gardening expert

Ireland is home to over one hundred different wild birds, and at least a quarter of them make an appearance in our gardens.

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Goldfinches, greenfinches, robins, Bluetits, Great tits and Dunnocks are probably the ones you are most likely to see on your birdf feeders. With so many different types of feed available it can be difficult to know what to give them, but different species do go for different cuisines! The most popular products are fat-balls, seed mix and peanuts. Fat balls, suet bites and suet cakes are particularly favoured by tits, robins and sparrows. Seed mix is a favourite of Dunnocks, sparrows, robins, tits and thrushes, while peanuts and sunflower seeds will bring in flocks of brightly coloured goldfinches. Nyjer seed attracts finches, siskins, black caps and tits. I have noticed a great difference between different types of seed mixes – there are some which start sprouting as soon as they get damp. I have also noticed the birds in my garden do not like split peas and corn, and as they pick out and discard these bits, they waste an awful lot. Unfortunately, these inferior seed mixes are not always price related! For each type of feed there is a specific feeder, which is well worth getting to avoid excess spillage. There are basic feeders available, usually plastic, but depending on your budget I would recommend going with ranges which are more durable, such as the stronger metal feeders or even timber types. Crow guards are also advisable – though it is easier to get feeders with a ‘squirrel’ guard - these are the same thing really.

Birdhouses

Birdhouses are also popular additions to any garden or patio, there are some gorgeous ones available - from beautifully finished dovecotes to the smaller value houses, there is something for everyone’s budget. With Christmas coming up, bird feeders and birdhouses really are the ideal gift for gardeners and kids alike. There is something very energising about watching birds, and if you are running out of gift ideas for elderly relatives, bird houses are often very appreciated. Watching birds can lower levels of stress and anxiety, even when sitting inside looking out.

Enticing birds to your garden has many benefits, aside from interest and relieving boredom. In winter, their song and presence bring positive energy into the garden, they alleviate the darkness and sombreness with their chirpiness! Birds are also good friends to every gardener, and you will notice tits picking grubs off tree branches while they wait for a chance to get to the peanuts! Birds will also act as pollinators as they move from plant to plant, and in the early spring are particularly helpful in pollinating early flowering apple trees. Later in the season, birds will be the first line of defence against caterpillars, and in autumn, they will pick out leatherjackets and vine weevils.

Planting berry bearing plants such as hawthorn, Viburnum opulus and cotoneaster will encourage birds to flock to your garden, as well as perennials such as Eryngium, Knautia and Scabious whose seed heads are a favourite with goldfinches.