Choosing A Bird Table

If you enjoy feeding birds in your garden then a bird table is likely to be the most important thing you have. A bird table will encourage birds to return again and again to feast off the food you put on the table and the bits that drop on the ground.

A bird table will be the most popular during the winter months when natural food such as insects and berries may be in short supply.

There a few things you should think about when choosing a bird table for your garden.

Make sure the bird table is big enough - if it is too small you are likely to see more fighting than feeding.

Check that the bird table has a lip to prevent too much food falling off and drainage holes so food does not sit in water if it rains. You could consider getting a bird table with a roof which will keep both the food and the birds dry.

Traditional bird tables are made of wood, often with a rustic feel to them. They may have a thatched roof which the birds may "borrow" to build their nests in the spring time.

However, you can now get bird tables made of other materials such as metal, plastic and even glass. These are easier to clean than a wooden bird table and can look better in more modern or urban gardens.

Avoid bird tables that have a nest box in the roof as nesting birds will often conflict with feeding birds and it is not recommended to get a bird table that has a bird bath above it as the food will get very soggy from the water splashes.

The smoother and straighter the pole the more difficult it will be for cats, squirrels and other predators to climb. If your bird table post has knobbles on it then smear it with Vaseline or other grease so they cannot get a grip.

Once you have chosen a suitable bird table you need to decide where to put it in your garden. You do not want to move your bird table around as the birds will get used to where it is so you need to take some time beforehand planning where it will go.

It needs to go somewhere quiet where the birds will not be disturbed by a lot of human traffic. However, you also need to be able to see the bird table from your house as part of the fun of feeding birds is that you can watch them too.

Make sure that the birds have a good view from the table to look out for any predators and avoid placing the bird table near dense shrubs or trees from where predators could attack. Place it a couple of metres from a fence or a wall so birds have somewhere to flee to if they do feel threatened.

Do not place your bird table in strong sunlight or where it could get blasted by cold wind.
You can put almost any food out on a bird table including kitchen scraps like breadcrumbs, nuts, dried soaked fruit, grated cheese, unsalted bacon, oatmeal, cooked potato or rice. You can also buy special formulated bird seed mixes or you could make a fat cakes from melted suet mixed with seeds and nuts.

Put some food below the bird table for ground-feeding birds to enjoy although make sure you remove any leftovers each day to discourage rats and squirrels.

Brush off any old food and debris from your bird table and clean it regularly with a mild disinfectant to prevent the build up of bacteria or parasites that may be harmful to birds.

Clear away the build up of droppings that may have accumulated underneath. For this reason it can be easier to stand your bird table on a paved area or decking or stand it on something that you can clean easily.

Carry out maintenance in the autumn; tighten any loose screws and remove any splinters which could injure birds. Your bird table won't last forever so it will probably need replacing every few years.

A well stocked bird table will bring you and the birds much pleasure in your garden and is one of the first things you should think about when planning a bird friendly garden.

Find a great range of bird tables for your garden in many styles and designs.