Essential Elements for Your Garden as Per Advice by Wildlife Experts to Safeguard Birds from High Temperatures
In the heat of summer, ensuring that garden birds have access to shade and water becomes vital for a thriving wildlife garden. Here are some practical tips to help local birds stay cool and hydrated.
## Shade: A Necessity for Birds
1. **Planting Native Trees and Shrubs**: Native trees and shrubs not only provide shade but also offer shelter and nesting sites for birds. Evergreen trees, in particular, help keep the garden cool year-round[1][4].
2. **Temporary Shade Structures**: Garden umbrellas or shade cloth near bird feeders and baths can create shaded areas. These structures can also protect plants from extreme sun[4].
3. **Wise Positioning of Birdhouses**: Mount birdhouses facing north, east, or slightly between both, to avoid direct sunlight. If necessary, use shade structures like umbrellas or reflective material[2][3].
4. **Shady Spots for Birdhouses**: Positioning bird boxes in shady areas such as hedgerows or brambles can provide both shade and access to nesting materials and food.
5. **Maximising Air Circulation**: When placing shade structures over the birdbox, ensure air circulation is maximised.
## Water: A Lifeline for Birds
1. **Shallow Bird Baths**: Place shallow bird baths in shaded areas to allow birds to bathe and cool down. Fresh water should be provided daily[1][4].
2. **Multiple Water Sources**: Keep water sources topped up, even at night, to ensure birds have access to hydration throughout the day[4].
In small gardens or balconies, bowls of water can be used instead of bird baths.
## Additional Tips
- Bird baths can add an elegant touch to a garden and serve as a place for birds to bathe. - Building shady structures to keep birdboxes or shelters out of direct sunlight can help keep birds cool. - A clean bird bath with fresh water is beneficial for garden birds in hot weather.
Chris Bonnett, the founder of GardeningExpress.co.uk, suggests that putting out a dish of fresh water in the garden can help local birds survive during hot weather[5]. By implementing these measures, you can create a haven for garden birds during hot weather, helping them stay cool and hydrated.
[1] GardeningExpress.co.uk, "Gardening in Hot Weather," [online] Available at: https://www.gardeningexpress.co.uk/blog/gardening-in-hot-weather/ [Accessed 19th May 2022]
[2] The RSPB, "How to make a bird box," [online] Available at: https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/how-you-can-help-birds/how-to-make-a-bird-box/ [Accessed 19th May 2022]
[3] The RSPB, "How to position your bird box," [online] Available at: https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/how-you-can-help-birds/how-to-position-your-bird-box/ [Accessed 19th May 2022]
[4] Gardeners' World, "10 ways to help birds in the garden," [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/advice/birds/help_birds_garden [Accessed 19th May 2022]
[5] Chris Bonnett, founder of GardeningExpress.co.uk, personal communication, 2022.
- Utilizing a variety of plants such as native trees, shrubs, and even flowers can contribute to a home-and-garden lifestyle that caters to birds, providing them with shelter, nesting sites, and shade.
- For those with a home-and-garden interest, incorporating small water features like bird baths or bowls filled with water in shaded areas can offer birds a vital lifeline in the form of water for drinking and bathing.
