Support the NZ birds this Autumn.
For NZ birds, Autumn is a time of preparation. Being in top condition before the winter rolls in is imperative for survival.
Blackbird stocking up on protein.
March to May is officially Autumn here in New Zealand. And while we humans are lucky enough to enjoy the last of the long warm sunny days it's a busy time for the NZ garden birds we kohabit with.
For all NZ birds, Autumn is a time of preparation. Those that have been busy nest building, breeding and raising their young need to rebuild their strength after such a physically demanding time. They are often under-weight, run down and in need of good nutrition. While the young juvenile birds will be busy using this time to practice their newly learnt hunting and survival skills.
Birds will also be working hard to build up their fat reserves to help get them through the cold winter months. During this time keeping warm uses up vital calories, as does searching for food that is often scarce. So being in top condition before the winter rolls in is imperative for survival.
Luckily there are lots of things we can do to help the birds transition from Summer to Autumn, and help them prepare for the Winter months ahead. Take a look below at our 8 tips to get your garden Autumn ready.
8 ways to support your NZ garden birds this Autumn.
Multiple bird feeders help reduce stress at the bird feeder. If you don’t have any spare you can make a DIY bird feeder out of almost anything.
1. Set up multiple feeders
When there is too much competition to get to the feeders, birds can get stressed and as in humans, this can lead to illness. Stressed birds can also attack each other causing injury. It's easy to avoid this by simply setting up multiple feed stations in your garden. This doesn't mean you need to increase the amount of feed you put out, simply spread it around the different locations.
2. Give your bird feeders and birdbaths a good clean
You need to wash bird feeders and birdbaths frequently to help limit the potential for the spread of any germs or diseases. It’s easier than you think and doesn't take long. Use a 5% disinfectant solution and give them a good scrub inside and out, followed by a thorough rinse with water, then leave them to dry.
Always wear gloves as birds can carry infections that can be dangerous to humans, so good hand hygiene is essential.
3. Turn your birdhouse into a safe shelter
During Autumn the weather can be unpredictable. Sheltering from storms and bad weather can be very dangerous for our garden birds. However, it's easy to turn your birdhouse into a safe haven. Take a look at our Kohab Life blog: Winter Birdhouses for quick and easy steps to get set up.
4. Don't tidy up too much
Leaf litter is really important to support insect life, which in turn, supports the birds.
It's not often we're told not to tidy up too much, but birds love it when we leave a bit of mess. Leaf litter and other organic materials left in the garden are great places for insects to thrive. By leaving them you are providing a natural food source for many of the NZ garden birds who will be visiting. This is especially important for our NZ native birds who live off insects and bugs such as the Grey Warbler, Fantail, Sacred Kingfisher.
5. Don't prune the garden too much.
As the weather turns to Winter it's important for birds to have somewhere safe to roost or wait out a storm. Leaving your bushes and trees so they are nice and dense will provide lots of safe places for birds to shelter.
6. Leave your seeded flowers
Don't be in a rush to remove plants when they have stopped flowering. Many seed-eaters will be happy dining out on those dried seeds and they will be great for attracting lots of visitors to your garden.
7. Provide high-quality, high-calorie bird food
In preparation for the winter months, birds will be busy trying to increase their fat reserves. Just keeping warm uses up a lot of energy. Add in the extra energy needed to search out scarce food sources and it's easy to see why birds need to be prepared.
Kohab believes it's important to provide supplementary food (not replace their natural diet) and we offer a great range of quality wild bird foods.
The perfectly balanced Kohab Wild Bird Seed will appeal to a range of NZ garden birds. This seed mix is full of fresh, nutritious ingredients packed with vitamins and minerals.
8. Support our NZ native birds, the nectar eaters
Now the nectar-producing flowers such as kōwhai, puriri, rewarewa, kahikatea, pohutukawa, rātā and flax are less abundant our NZ native nectar-eating birds often need a boost too. You can do this by simply mixing sugar water for birds. Use 1:8 sugar:water and put it in a bowl or nectar feeder. Supplementing their natural diet like this can help them thrive.
You can also buy nectar mix. Kohab Bird Nectar has the added benefit of beetroot. The beetroot gives our bird nectar its beautiful red colouring that attracts birds making it easier for them to find and enjoy. In addition, beetroot is rich in nitrates, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals to help the birds thrive and maintain their energetic lifestyle.
You can find out more about what makes Kohabs Wild Bird Foods special here: Discover Kohab Wild Bird Foods.
Now Autumn is here and the weather is starting to change it really is easy to help our NZ garden birds thrive. Once they know your garden offers a regular supply of good healthy food and shelter from the elements you will start to get lots of regular visitors. And what a better way to enjoy the change in season than to welcome it with a nice cup of tea while watching the magic goings on of your new feathered friends.
We’d love to see and hear updates from your garden, simply send us an email at: info@kohab.nz with any news or photos.
