Breeding

Have you ever spend some time thinking what a pair of birds must endure in order to raise their chicks successfully? For a period of 20 days (for some species) to more than a few months for others, the parents will vehemently guard their eggs and chicks against any predators, will cool the eggs when it is hot and will warm them when it is cold and wet. For hours on end they will sit on the eggs, not wavering in their duty (although this might not be true in all species - in some instances the males will not accept any responsibility in brooding or raising their chicks).

Providing nesting opportunities

You cannot force birds to breed in your garden. You can only provide them with opportunities or places where they can breed. The rest is up to them.

You can provide breeding places in two ways:

• Going the natural way by planting trees and bushes and hope that birds will find these additions to your garden to their taste and choose to set up home in them; or

• You can also provide nesting boxes and logs and place them at strategic places where the birds will hopefully find them soon enough.

Natural nests

Birds will gladly build their nests in your garden if you plant trees and bushes that they prefer and at localities in your garden where they will feel secure. The book Nests and Eggs of Southern Africa by Warwick Tarbaton (see here) will provide you with detailed information about the breeding habits of the birds that frequent your garden. By studying this information and for instance noticing how high or low the nests are located, what material they use to construct their nests and what type of trees or bushes they prefer, you will quickly get an idea of what to plant and where to plant it. Some nurseries might also be able to provide you with information.

A Crowned Lapwing chick. They can walk within minutes of being born, covered with down and can feed by themselves (Simon du Plessis).

Sisal nesting logs

Birds have adapted quickly to the use of nest boxes and sisal nesting logs. The nesting logs are available from most nurseries and are very easy to install. Secure the log to a branch, facing south if possible, and hopefully the barbets and woodpeckers will soon peck away at it. Many stories are told of barbets having found a log within hours after it was installed and immediately started to excavate a hole for their new home. These logs might also later be used by hoopoes who breeds in the holes excavated by other birds.

Sisal nesting logs are easy to install and will quickly be discovered by barbets and woodpeckers. Also try to place the nests in such a way that you can view them from the comfort of your home.

If you have a natural, balanced garden there is no need to supply birds with nesting material. Weavers will use grasses and palm leaves, sunbirds will use spider webs and dead twigs will be used by many other species.

The use of human-made material to line nests are becoming more common. There are for instance examples of Speckled Pigeons whose nests exist totally of man-made materials. Apparently the use of these materials do not have a negative influence on breeding success but it would be advisable not to provide birds with materials such as cotton, wool etc. I have seen too many birds with wool or nylon around their beaks - unable to get it off with a slow horrible death as a result. There are natural alternatives - why not make use of them?

An European Starling with not the normal sort of nesting material! (Simon du Plessis)