1. Plant bird-friendly plants 

The best feeding programme for birds is to plant indigenous shrubs and trees which offer nature’s menu.  Aloes and watsonias will attract nectar feeding birds such as the sunbird.  Seed eating birds are attracted to the seed heads of grasses and grains and ordinary daisies.  To attract fruit eating birds, such as the loeries, plant fruit producing plants.  Try the tree fuchsia, dune crow-berry or white stinkwood.

2. Provide roosting sites 

Established trees will naturally provide a source of shelter and roosting spots for many birds and a garden which is well planted with indigenous trees will attract numerous birds throughout the year. Good roosting sites are provided by the Henkel’s yellowwood, fever tree, karee, sweet thorn or buffalo thorn.  Creepers such as the black-eyed Susan can be draped around the branches of trees to provide a secluded nesting site for robins or flycatchers. Grasses, including reeds, are valuable suppliers of nesting material to weavers who suspend their nests from trees. 

3. Leave mulch and compost 

Leave fallen leaves and logs in the garden as these will provide micro-habitat for various insects, grubs and worms, which will in turn attract insect feeders such as Cape robin-chats, Karoo and olive thrushes as well as African hoopoes.  These birds love the dense undergrowth of gardens where they turn over leaves and debris in search of grubs.  Dead logs and tree trunks make ideal nesting spots for birds such as barbets and woodpeckers. 

4. Provide water for birds 

Every garden should have a bird bath in the quieter part of the garden preferably near thick foliage and established trees, so that the birds can perch nearby and not feel exposed.  Avoid placing a bird bath directly underneath tree branches, as falling leaves and bird droppings may soil the water.  Keep the bird bath topped up over winter, as many birds will frequently visit to drink and bath.  Bird baths come in various shapes and sizes, but most importantly, it should be anchored securely so that it does not topple over. 

5. Feed the birds 

Feeding stations for garden birds come in a range of shapes and sizes.  A common variety is the seed-dispersing tube type feeder whereby you place bird seed on top by removing a cap.  A feeding plate attaches to the bottom and this will hold the seeds which are gravity fed.  As the birds feed, the seeds will filter down and spread over the plate. These are often equipped with small perches, allowing only small birds such as finches and sparrows to feed, but making it difficult for large seed eaters such as doves and pigeons to perch and feed, which would otherwise rapidly finish off the bird seed. 

These feeders can be hung from a tree branch.  Other bird feeders include platforms where bread, seed, fruit and suet and can placed.  They often have spikes where fruit can be anchored for fruit eating birds.  These bird feeders can be placed on top of a sturdy pole or hung from a tree branch.  For the really dedicated, consider breeding your own mealworm colony, which will provide a delicious treat for grub feeding birds. 

Keep in mind that not all birds prefer feeders.  To ensure that you make your garden enticing for all types of birds, consider an area close to the feeder where you can scatter seeds too, since some birds prefer to feed on the ground.  Additionally, when seeds drop down from the feeders, do not clean it up, since the fallen seeds will attract ground feeders. 

6. Provide nesting boxes 

Hollowed out logs, available from garden centres, are a favourite with barbets who use them for breeding.  Anchor the logs vertically on tree trunks several metres off the ground.  Traditional square or rectangular box nests are also available and can be anchored securely around various parts of the garden. 

In return the birds will do their bit by controlling the insect population in your garden, aerating your soil and keeping it free of grubs and harmful worms and giving you their greatest gift – playful banter and an orchestra of birdsong!