How to attract little birds to your balcony garden

Nothing beats the joy of waking up to the gentle chirping of little birds outside your window. It is indeed one of the best ways to start the day. For city dwellers, this is a luxury they can hardly afford. Not anymore. You can live in the city and still attract little birds to your balcony garden. Yes, that’s right. By making simple changes in your balcony garden, you can transform it into a safe haven where little birdies would want to chill and relax! If you live in the city away from nature, either for work or other reasons, but still want a slice of nature with birds in it, here are some tips you can try.

You read that right. In order to wake up to the soothing sounds of birds, you have to create a space that they feel comfortable in. How to do that? Consider your balcony garden as a mini-ecosystem. Start with planting native flowers and shrubs. Instead of thinking of whether these plants would mix with the theme of your house, pick local species of plants. Because this will attract the birds there. You can also plant herbs like basil, mint, and rosemary, which draw pollinators, which in turn attract insect-loving birds.

Would you go to a party if there was no food? Well, birds are no different. The chances of them wanting to chill in your balcony garden is higher if you provide them with food. You can keep a variety of bird seeds and nuts on the balcony. For instance, sparrows, finches, and doves like sunflower, millet, and sorghum. You can hang the feeders or rail-mount the trays if the space is constricted.
Also, place some clean, fresh water in a shallow bowl. In this scorching sun, the birds would find relief in the water you serve. Some may even take a bath! Ensure you keep it in a place that’s visible to your little guests, and also refill and clean the bowl regularly.

You can also offer them an abode on your balcony. Wondering how? You can add bird houses or nest boxes, depending on the local variety of birds. You can also try to add potted plants at different heights, so that the birds can seek shelter near them and feel less exposed to predators.

It takes time for the birds to start coming, and then finding a cozy place on your balcony. It’s not going to happen overnight. Creating a cozy atmosphere for them is important. This is why you have to cut off all the noise. Birds are highly sensitive to noise and disturbances. So if you really want them to visit, it is important to create an atmosphere sans noise.