Two little legs delicately land on your balcony, between a flowerpot and a solar lamp.
A bird has decided to stop at your place.
You also enjoy a melodious song.
A scene that we want to live very often.
How do I feed the birds on my balcony?
First of all, it is important to know that it is recommended by the League for the Protection of Birds (LPO) to feed the birds in late autumn and winter.
In other seasons, trees, flowers and other plantings provide them with a wide range of food for their stomachs.
Continuing to feed them in the spring risks making them dependent
You can install a feeder or feeder quite prominently.
It should be positioned
away from the window
or bay window, to prevent the bird from bumping into it.
There should be no obstacles around so as not to hinder the comings and goings of the “guests”.
An unobstructed view allows them to stay alert in the event of any threat from a predator, such as a cat for example.
They must feel
safe
to come frequently.
Trick
To avoid a collision on a window, you can place relatively discreet stickers on it.
Clean the container about once a week so that no disease or bacteria proliferate and avoid spilling food on the ground so that pigeons are not attracted.
When the level of food drops, you can add more so that their stock does not run out all at once.
Then it's about choosing the most suitable food for their diet.
Some foods should not be given.
Sunflower seeds, millet, unsalted and unroasted peanuts, cracked corn – preferably organic –, balls of vegetable fat or small pieces of ripe fruit (apples, pears etc.) are among the foods suitable for most birds.
Indeed, they are suitable for both the tit and the blackbird.
You can also install plants that attract them, such as those producing fruits or berries, or those that attract certain insects, such as bee plants for insectivorous species.
Bushy or climbing plants, such as ivy or wisteria, allow them to camouflage themselves between two flights and thus rest peacefully.
You can also offer them a water point by placing a bowl or a dish that is not too deep but long enough.
Pour in non-calcareous water, which you will change daily so that they can drink and wash their plumage.
Read alsoA transparent feeder to see the birds feasting on
What color attracts birds?
To give yourself the best chance of seeing a chaffinch pointing the tip of its beak, you can try to attract it with colors that will attract its attention, as well as that of its congeners.
According to a study in the journal Scientific Reports, published a few years ago, red and black are the two colors that can attract birds.
They remind them of those of different red and black fruits such as blueberries for example.
So place elements of these shades on the feeder and birdhouse.
On the other hand, if you do not want the sparrow to pass without stopping on your balcony, white, yellow and blue should be avoided because they scare them away.
Can a bath or birdhouse be installed on the balcony?
According to the town hall of Paris, “
It is possible to install a nesting box in the shared garden that you frequent, the courtyard of your building or your balcony or window sill
.
She also recommends setting it up in the fall or early winter so that the birds can have shelter during this cool period.
Do not hesitate to inquire at the town hall of your residence.
Tips for not alienating your neighbors
On the other hand, to avoid any conflict with its neighbours, check beforehand whether the rules of your co-ownership authorize you to feed the birds.
If this is the case, regularly clean the traces left by the birds and place the feeders for example above a planter or a container.
