Happy little visitors

Why you should open a bird restaurant if you haven’t already

---

Finding ways to support and observe the nature around you is a low cost, low effort way to destress, learn more, and find delight in unexpected ways. In short, looking after your local feathered friends will benefit you as much as them, and anyone can do it.

One easy way is investing in a simple bird feeder. Somewhere the local winged community can meet friends, grab a bite to eat, and see and be seen.

Here are five reasons you should open your own bird restaurant:

• It's fun to have unexpected, happy little visitors. Having a bird feeder is a reminder of how much variety there is in nature and the miracle of its existence. Since I hung up a simple feeder and filled it with peanuts, I have a couple of great tits and a sparrow visit every day, which I’d never noticed before. It’s rewarding to know they’re enjoying a meal on the house and, at certain times of the year, they’ll take it ‘to go’ for their babies at home.
• Noticing nature is good for your mental health. Taking a small moment of your day to put your phone down, look out the window and notice any part of nature is a wonderful mental reset. It’s a reminder that even though you may be ruminating about a conversation in the past or a deadline coming up, the wider world keeps going.
• We should do what we can, even if it’s small. Providing a reliable source of food can significantly support the wild bird population in your area. This is especially important at times of year when food sources are scarce and competition for food is high.
• A helping hand in your garden. Attracting more wild birds to your garden will help control unwanted pests that cause harm to your plants.

Here are five tips to help you get started:

• You don't have to have a garden! My friend’s elderly father has a feeder attached with suction cups to the window he sits next to. During one visit I was charmed by the constant stream of small, colourful visitors that would come and go behind his head.
• Be patient. It can take a while for your feathered friends to discover this source of food (anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks). If you can, opening your restaurant near a tree or bush will help: somewhere they feel safe to scope out their route and retreat from the clutches of potential predators (a-hem 😺)
• Cleanliness is next to birdliness. Like any reputable establishment, you must keep your restaurant clean. Clear away excessive droppings, clean your station before serving new food, and check that the food you put out hasn’t gone mouldy. This will help mitigate the risk of spreading disease among your dining guests (and who wants to eat from dirty plates?).
• Mix it up. Nuts, seeds, dried worms, fat balls. Different guests like different things and a good menu will cater to a wide variety of clientele. (Note: Save the fat balls and suet for the colder months when your guests will thank you for the extra energy and you won’t have a melting, rancid mess on your hands.)
• Save the chocolate for yourself. You may be tempted to think that what your human guests like, so too must be true for your avian friends. Not so! As it is with other creatures, chocolate is toxic to birds, so save it all for yourself and eat it in secret. Like you normally do.

👉 Find out more about how you can support wildlife in your area

Book a table