The Benefits of Birding

When you mention that you’re an avid birder, you may be met with a look of surprised bemusement. “Bird watching? Is that fun?” Of course, birding is fun! The activity has millions of adherents the world over, yet the joys of birding are seemingly lost on people who have never been. Birding offers tons of benefits for people of all ages and abilities.

Wild birds are part of the local ecosystem and attracting them to your yard means planning bird-friendly landscaping, adding fresh, clean water to the yard, and choosing the best bird feeders and birdhouses.

Controls Pests

If your garden has a wide range of different insects and pests crawling around, then spraying fertilizers may not be enough. Many birds eat a variety of insects, including aphids, mosquitoes, spiders, grubs, slugs, and other bugs that may not be welcome in a yard or garden. Attracting birds encourages them to take advantage of this natural food source, eliminating the need for harsh chemical insecticides.

Rodent Control

Larger birds, including kestrels, owls, and hawks, will provide excellent rodent control by hunting mice, voles, rats, squirrels, snakes, and other less-welcome critters in the neighborhood. 

Flower Pollination

Hummingbirds, orioles, and other birds that sip nectar are efficient pollinators of garden flowers. This can give flowerbeds an added color boost from extra blooms, which will, in turn, attract even more birds.

Weed Control

Finches, towhees, and sparrows consume great quantities of weed seeds, making them effective landscapers to help control unwanted plants. Planting seed-bearing flowers for birds can also give birds a natural food source to enjoy without needing frequent feeder refills.

Food Sharing

Many fruit trees for birds are also great for birders, including apples, peaches, plums, cherries, and pears. Planting these trees and berry-producing shrubs to attract birds will also give birders fresh, delicious fruit to enjoy after every harvest.

Provides Greater Property Value

If your home is well looked after and has the ability to attract a variety of different bird species, than it could potentially increase the value of your property. It can instantly make the look of your home feel eye-catching, warm, and friendly.

Reduces Stress

By simply observing garden birds and communicating with them can help reduce stress and improve your health in an instance. By spending time outdoors in your garden for half an hour a day can help your body receive vitamin D and great relaxation, whilst listening to these beautiful garden birds.

Helps The Environment

Garden birds are more likely to be attracted to native plants in the garden. Native plants require less water and are less likely to spread diseases in your garden. By having more native plants in your garden can help to improve the environment by preventing less wastage of water.

For many birders, the best benefit of attracting birds is simply being able to enjoy them but attracting them with proper landscaping and attentive care at home and throughout the neighborhood can lead to a range of other benefits that make enjoying the birds even more exciting and productive.