Want more birds in your garden? Stop gardening so much

Birds love berries, so having some in your garden is a good way to attract winged visitors. Photo: dpa

The sound of birdsong offers a peaceful start to the day. But thanks to widespread use of concrete, agricultural practices and a decline in biodiversity, birds are increasingly withdrawing from urban gardens, unable to find enough food.

Homeowners can do something about this, but bird boxes and baths aren’t the answer. Birds need to be able to live independently of people. So in fact, “doing nothing and leaving the garden to itself is a first step”, according to Sonja Doelfel of Bavaria’s regional association for the protection of birds.