Living with Birds Let it bloom in June Tweetapedia

There is a profound, symbiotic relationship between the birds in our gardens and the insects they rely on. Right now, we are in the peak of the bird breeding season. Exhausted parent birds are working around the clock to raise their second brood of chicks, and local resources are running low.

While adult birds can happily sustain themselves on seeds and suet, chicks require pure protein to survive and grow. Their diet relies almost entirely on insects like caterpillars, beetles and aphids. A single clutch of blue tit chicks can consume up to 9,000 caterpillars in just a fortnight. Ultimately, a bug-friendly garden is a bird-friendly garden, making insects a vital part of the food web rather than a nuisance.

Simple ways to help your local wildlife

You can easily transform your outdoor space into a balanced ecosystem with a few simple changes:

• Leave a wild patch: Let a section of your lawn grow long. Plants like dandelions, clover, and long grass offer instant shelter and nectar for beneficial bugs.

• Plant native pollinators: Introduce native shrubs and flowers such as Foxgloves, Lavender, Ivy, and Buddleja to attract vital pollinators like bees, butterflies and hoverflies.

• Grow a wildflower patch: Setting aside a wildflower patch feeds summer insects for growing chicks, and then provides natural seeds for adult birds come autumn.

• Create a log pile: Stacking old logs and twigs in a shady corner creates a damp habitat for beetles and grubs, providing the perfect foraging spot for ground-feeders like Robins.

• Add shallow water: Set out a simple birdbath filled with pebbles. This allows thirsty bees and other pollinators to drink safely without the risk of drowning.

• Ditch the pesticides: Avoid chemical bug sprays entirely. Welcoming beneficial bugs naturally attracts the birds that eat them, letting natural predators like ladybirds and blue tits manage garden pests and keep your entire ecosystem perfectly balanced.