The Zimbabwean Gardener Issue 19 Summer 2016/17 | Page 45
birds in the garden
When placed in the right area, a bird bath
can be a great visual experience with all
its activity and colour.
Feeding birds in the garden
The very best way of attracting birds
to your garden is by planting suitable
indigenous trees. They provide food for
insect-eating and fruit-eating birds. They
also provide shelter and nesting sites. A
good way to attract seed-eating birds is by
feeding them in the garden.
There is no need to buy fancy and exotic
seeds, although there is nothing wrong
with them. All that is needed is common
mixed grain from the supermarkets,
mixed with mhunga, which is also
available at supermarkets. The mixed
grain, which has maize, sunflower,
sorghum and some wheat, will attract
large doves such as the Red-eyed Dove
as well as smaller Laughing Doves.
Sunflower seed will also bring in
Brimstone Canaries and Weavers.
Jameson’s Firefinch
The smaller mhunga seed is there for the
smaller birds, although doves eat it as
well. The Red-billed Firefinch, Jameson’s
Firefinch, Blue Waxbill, Bronze Mannikin
and Grey-headed Sparrow will all visit for
the mhunga.
Find an appropriate place where you
can scatter the seed, again not too much
out in the open, and just throw some out
every day in the same place. The birds
will soon learn that they can come and
go all day long.
If you have cats, the bird baths and
feeding areas need to be raised. On tables
or bird feeders, it is also easy to feed
the fruit-eaters in your garden with old
bananas, oranges, or whatever you have
at the time. Even sadza will become very
popular with many of the birds.
Common Waxbills
Enjoy the view
On a last note, if you can site your bird
baths and bird tables where you can
easily sit and watch them, such as from
your verandah, then you will really
be able to maximise the delight and
pleasure you will find in your relaxing
environment.
Increase your birdlife with
planned indigenous trees.
Contact Ant Fynn
0772 956 511 · [email protected]
Arrow-marked Babblers
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