Gardens
are homes for many birds. They can nest in the trees and shrubs and find insects and
spiders to eat. Some plants have flowers with sweet nectar, and some have berries for the
birds to eat.
Tips for making your garden a place where native birds want to be...
Plant trees that provide food for
native birds
*Kowhai, flax, rata, pohutukawa – these trees all have flowers with nectar, which the
tui and bellbird like to eat
*Fuchsia, coprosma and wineberry have berries for pigeons, tui, bellbirds and silvereyes
*For more detailed information about planting trees and shrubs in your garden contact
Forest and Bird or your local Regional Council.
Allow the build-up of humus and
decaying leaves and twigs in the garden because it provides homes for insects - bird food!
Remove invasive weeds that take-over
native plant species
*For more detailed information about invasive weeds contact Forest and Bird or your
Regional Council.
Cats are lovely pets but cats do
kill birds. The more cats, the fewer birds we will have.
*Think carefully before you get a kitten. If you live near a swamp, or a beach, or a
forest, you may decide to encourage the native birds instead.
*If you own a cat, keep it in when native birds are in the garden, and at night.
What to do if a bird
comes inside your house...
Don't panic!
Keep dogs and cats away - put them
in another room
Close doors to other parts of the
house
Open doors and windows to outside
Turn off the lights, stereo and TV
Cover windows that do not open (with
sheets, blankets and pillowcases) so the bird doesn't try to fly through them
And finally, leave the room so you
don't frighten the bird.
These things will help to calm the
bird and stop it from banging into closed windows, and allow it time to find the way to
get outside.
The Kiwi Conservation Club is a Forest & Bird project for children.
İRoyal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand Inc 2008. All
rights reserved.
