Gardeners hoping to attract smaller birds such as blue tits have been advised to make a simple, cost-free change to their feeding setup. According to bird experts, the key is to hang feeders away from fences and trees, which can serve as perches for cats—one of the main causes of blue tit mortality.
The advice comes after a Reddit user complained that their garden only attracted pigeons and blackbirds, despite offering suet balls, peanuts, mixed seeds and nyjer seeds. Love Garden Birds recommends using mesh peanut feeders, as blue tits enjoy gripping onto them while feeding, often upside down. Suet balls and suet pellets are also favourites, while peanuts provide a good source of protein but should be removed during nesting season as they can be too large for chicks.
Other gardeners shared additional tips for encouraging wildlife. One suggested adding a small pond or bird bath, as birds are attracted to the sound of running water, especially in winter when other sources may be frozen. Plants such as teasels and echinops support insects in summer and provide seeds for finches in autumn and winter.
Another user recommended sunflower hearts, cut-up apples for blackbirds, and growing plants that attract caterpillars. Log piles, brush piles, and areas of longer grass encourage insects, which in turn attract birds. Thorny shrubs are ideal for nesting, and bird boxes can help if placed in suitable locations. Gardeners are also advised not to be too tidy in spring, allowing birds to collect twigs, moss and grass for nesting.
