Birds for natural insect control

An Integrated Pest Management system can include attracting birds to the garden. Possibly, this can be a two edged sword but in the interests of biodiversity, it is valuable. Planting a dense border of bird and insect friendly trees and shrubs promotes a diverse garden fauna, which may aid in insect management. As well as wild birds, domestic birds assist the organic gardener. Habitats can be designed, too, for frogs and lizards.

Unfortunately some birds will attack fruit and vegetables. Usually, though, these tend to be larger birds that will arrive the day prior to lychee picking in any case. Netting can overcome this. The small birds tend to be both nectar and insect eaters.

Many trees and shrubs supply living space for small birds that will gobble-up the moths and bugs that infest the garden. In the garden the Willy Wagtail, cheekily and incessantly wagging his tail in the grass, while feasting on many of the insects that damage crops. A similar bird the restless flycatcher as an example eats spiders and insects the latter including termites, plant bugs, beetles, some weevils, ants, flies, moths and butterflies.

To encourage and protect birds; plant bushes, dense shrubs and trees to provide sanctuaries.

When planting trees and shrubs to be bird refuge, one should consider a number of factors. Flowering shrubs attract birds. Many birds are will eat both nectar and insects. The blue faced honeyeater for example cleans up can be observed in bananas extracting nectar with his long beak and also pick off any insects in the vicinity. Choose varieties so that there are nectar flows for as long a period as possible and flowering shrubs to encourage bees that will help fertilize our vegetables.

Careful selection, should mean that each tree or shrub can be put to a variety of uses –

• aesthetic ( flowers – scents),
• bird food (nectar and berries),
• human food (nuts fruit, berries)
• weed retardant ( some nut trees for example)
• mulch suppliers ( autumn leaves, prunings)
• refuge for small birds
• diversionary (fruit eaters eat the less valuable and leave the more)

A diversionary tree may be something like a large white mulberry which brings in birds at about the time other fruits are ripening. Most birds tend to eat and squabble in a large, old dense tree while other fruits, more desired by growers are left relatively unscathed.

The shrubs need to be dense enough to allow the protection of small birds. Therefore, they could be thick with many live or dead twigs inside the dense outer canopy of leaves. Coffee bushes or large masses of plumbago provide the sorts of shelter necessary. They have the advantage too of providing coffee beans from one and useful “chop and drop” much from the prunings from the fast growing plumbago. Under such bushes a whole city of frogs, lizards and birds are able to live, work and play. It is dense and safe for robins and wrens and other small fry.

One lone specimen bush in solitary splendor is not sufficient to create a bird haven. One should develop a corridor so that the birds can travel and have access to diversity of environment contributing to a varied food supply, safety from predators, mating, and nest building.

Gardeners should research the native trees of their area as these will be more conducive to supporting the local bird life. The native trees may grow better being acclimatized but one should be careful not to challenge them with fast growing exotics. Some acacias from Australia have become pest trees in parts of North America whereas the South American lantana has infested many parts of Australia. One value of planting species indigenous to the region is that one is increasing the size and scope of wildlife habitats in which common food and shelter trees allows a wide range of local fauna to exist.

As well as wild birds, poultry in the garden will help keep down insect numbers. Ducks have an amazing ability to pluck flies and other insects from the air and chickens are skilled at scoffing up fallen grub infested fruit.

Hens have been called chicken tractors because of their ability to work the soil. A popular and workable idea is to have two runs to a poultry shed. The hens are in one while vegetables and flowers grow in the other after harvest the runs are swapped over and the hens eat the up the greenery left and any residual insects. A new garden is made in the hen matured well worked soil of the original run. Fruit trees overhanging the run can add shade and fallen fruit for the chickens.

Consideration given to diversity and tree and shrub planting will help develop a bio-diverse zone ultimately adding to richness and variety of the yard reducing pests and developing fertility.

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