“He who
plants a garden plants happiness” ~ Chinese proverb
Plant an
Assortment of Plants, Preferably Indigenous Species
To
attract birds in the landscape one needs to plant an assortment of plants,
preferably indigenous species, which are waterwise and familiar to local
birds. Having an area of relatively
untended landscape will attract shyer species such as Weavers, Sparrow, Bulbuls,
Sunbirds and Barbets, among others, to your garden.
The
grasslands of the Highveld are rich in plants, particularly bulbous ones such
as arum lilies, aloes and watsonias.
Among the birds you will see Korhaans, Guineafowl, Ibises, Eagles, Pigeons
and the endangered Blue Crane.
In
the Highveld summer-rainfall region frost and drought can make gardening
difficult. These areas need cold-hardy
plants and even the hardiest of them will need protection in their first two
winters.
Bird
Friendly Landscapes
Bird
friendly landscapes ideally offer a variety of areas – open, covered, a water
feature and a wild or hideaway area. A
wild area that you are prepared to neglect which will provide seclusion for shy
birds such as the Olive Thrush, Robins, Babblers, Francolins and the Burchell’s
Coucal. 
Hideaway
Areas of Trees, Shrubs, Logs, Stones and Rocks
A
suitable hideaway area of trees, shrubs, logs and piles of stones or rocks may
attract Spotted Eagle-Owls and Helmeted Guineafowls which nest between rocks
and natural features in a these quiet areas.
Acacias are particularly suited to being planted closely together. The umbrella thorn is a favourite of
pigeons. Hideaways support only independent,
sturdy ground covers that require little intervention from gardeners. Two varieties are Agapanthus and the Hen-and-Chickens
ground covers.
Spotted
Eagle-Owls
Spotted
Eagle-Owls hunt from, roost and nest in even the smallest gardens. In the wild they often nest on rock
ledges. They are opportunistic feeders
taking rats and mice, moles, insects, spiders, scorpions, birds, lizards and
small snakes. Baby owls often fall out
of the nest at about a month old, but the parents usually continue to feed them,
so don’t rescue them.
Fruit from
Indigenous Plants and Trees
Birds
love organic gardens, which are not controlled with pesticides, but depend on
nature for their balance. Birds love to
snack on snails, caterpillars and mosquitoes.
They enjoy the fruit from indigenous plants and trees, and these ripen
on a schedule that coincides with the nesting and migration times of the birds.
Indigenous
planting reduces the need for chemical pesticides, as these plants are
generally resistant to local pests and diseases.
Plant
a ‘cloister’ of trees and shrubs that will proved cover for shy species and at
the same time give you protection from noise and wind (and afford you more
privacy).
Wild
Grasses
If
you are keen to have a large area of lawn, plant wild grasses around it and
low-growing succulents like vygies and make sure that there are trees, shrubs
and creepers around the edges to supply cover for shy species.
Ground
nesters in wild grasses include guineafowl, francolins, thick-knees and
lapwings. Decorative grasses are
beautiful and are waterwise. Birds will
eat the seeds they produce and also used their dried leaves as nesting
material. Grasses bring softness,
texture and interesting hues to the garden.
Buffalo grass is an excellent replacement for kikuyu grass.
Plant
Ground Cover Instead Of Exotic Kikuyu Grass
Plant
ground cover instead of the exotic kikuyu grass which is lush and fast-growing
but is also very thirsty, and often turns brown in summer. Ground cover can serve as lawns on their own,
or be planted in between pavers to soften the effect. Daisy lawn makes a lovely waterwise lawn.
Creepers
trained over a trellis or wall provide good cover as well as nesting
opportunities for a variety of birds.
Black-eyed Susan is a very robust creeper and wild jasmine flowers
longer than any other jasmine.
Plant
bushy indigenous plants such as plumbago and use organic methods in your garden
to stand the chance of attracting chameleons.
They feed on a variety of garden pests.
Honey bees are among the most important pollinators of our flowering
plants, to which they are attracted by the sweet nectar.
Birdbaths,
Dead Logs and Tree Trunks
Place
a birdbath near thick foliage and established trees for drinking and bathing.
Dead
logs and tree trunks make ideal nesting spots for birds such as barbets and
woodpeckers. Drape creepers around the
branches of trees or trained up a wall to provide secluded nesting sites for
robins or flycatchers.
Avoid
the temptation to plant alien trees as they may deplete the underground water,
leaving the rest of the garden perpetually thirsty. Shade-tolerant creepers can be encouraged to
grow up the trunks of established trees and over walls or on trellises. There are also varieties of grasses that grow
well in relatively shady conditions under trees.
Recommended
Trees
The
Buffalo Thorn tree is one of the most widespread of South African trees. The spring leaf buds are eaten by
mousebirds. The flowers attract insects
and subsequently warblers, robins and shrikes.
The red-brown berries are favourites with birds, especially bulbuls and
turacos.
Fever tree; Fig trees – this
genus is the biggest feeder of birds worldwide; Henkel’s Yellowwood;
Karee trees – the
white karee, a multi-trunked tree, makes a good windbreaker; Natal mahogany;
Olive trees; Sweet thorn; Tree wisteria – very
showy; White stinkwood – makes
a neat umbrella
The
Tree Fuchia is a hardy, fast-growing evergreen tree. It prefers well-drained, nutrient-rich loam
soil. It grows to about 5m in a garden
but can reach 20m in a forest. It
produces juicy black berries from August onwards.
The
Wild Plum is an attractive evergreen tree that has a thick crown and drooping
leaves, making it a good shade tree in the garden. It can grow to 15m tall. The whitish-green flowers (males and females
on separate trees) appear throughout summer, while the tasty, plum-like fruits
first appear green and then turn red when they ripen in autumn. They contain a single seed and are enjoyed by
people, animals and birds.
Nectar Rich
Plants
“To plant
a garden is to believe in tomorrow” ~ Audrey Hepburn
