Any suggestions on plants to grow (in Perth hills area) to help the little birds out? I am finding that a lot of plants in the garden (larger flowered grevilleas, banksias etc) are really attracting a lot of wattle birds, and these are getting very aggressive with the honey eaters and my precious pardalotes! How can I attract the little birds I love so much without getting invaded by the bigger ones?
Most little birds eat insects rather than fruit or nectar. I grow lots of dense shrubs such as old fashioned roses and honeysuckles, and lots of things the insects will eat such as perennials and vegetables. Don't prune things too much, let them grow dense and twiggy. Flowering natives such as grevilleas and banksias do seem to favour the bigger birds. Keep your garden well watered and fertilised and you get more insects, therefore more birds, and never use insecticides. Local native trees provide scale insects and other bark dwelling insects the little birds love, but may be hard to fit in a small garden.
Thanks for the suggestion Greg, it's a really nice one, as I love a cottage-style garden. I'm going to plant some honeysuckles and shrub roses and some smaller spiky grevilleas this afternoon. I think I'll make some "pockets of shrubby shelter" at random points through the garden, and the little birds can take their pick. As for trees, my garden is too small to go for anything too grand, but I can put in a couple of the small flowering gums and I'm trying to source a pittosporum tobira. Thanks again! :-)
I would also look at planting some geraldton wax and tea trees these can be pruned to keep to size and a bit of pruning helps them grow quite thick for the birds to hide in when big birds visit. the little birds can quickly dart off into the thicket and be safe.
Happy Birding!
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