Best bird table to encourage wildlife to flock to your garden

The feeling of being close to nature is grounding. Even if it's noisy on the other side of the garden fence, we can still make the space we have a tranquil haven that inspires. Waking up to birdsong and watching wildlife from your window is one of life's small joys. A simple bird table can have tremendous therapeutic benefits, and along with a bird feeding station it's doing an essential job of providing a year-round food source to small wild birds.

It's important to provide food in winter when natural sources of food are scarce. But, it's also essential at other times of the year too, when birds are laying their eggs, feeding their young and growing feathers. According to the RHS, more than 140 species of birds have been recorded in British gardens. As part of the food cycle, birds do their bit by keeping aphids and caterpillar populations under control.

Where should a bird table go in the garden?

Position bird tables and feeding stations in a sheltered spot. Bird tables with waterproof roofing provide small birds with a covered place to feed in any weather. Additionally, look for bird tables that are designed with a slope so that they drain and have access so they can be cleaned.

Garden Wildlife Health have advice on maintaining hygiene to prevent the build-up of harmful bacteria. In short, the best practice is to only put enough food out for a day or two, change the position of feeders regularly and clean feeding stations often.

The issue of keeping bigger birds, squirrels, foxes and cats at bay is a battle. Some bird tables have smaller access points so pigeons can't get inside. To reduce the risk of cats attacking bird tables and feeding stations position them in plain sight, away from vegetation where a cat could hide.

Best bird tables

The RSPB has useful information on what to feed garden birds in different seasons, including high-fat food during autumn/winter and high protein during the spring/summer.

By providing food in a variety of forms - and in several places - you will attract different bird species. For example, ground-feeding platforms will attract robins, blackbirds and dunnocks. And hanging feeders are preferred by birds that naturally feed on the branches of trees, such as finches and tits. In this guide, we've included some bird tables that have integrated hanging feeders and ground-level bird tables.

Some birds prefer to feed on the ground. The following ground-based bird table is a neat way of providing overripe fruit for thrushes and blackbirds. Also, mealworms or fat blocks in wire cages are an especially nutritious food in winter and ground-feeding birds, such as robins, will appreciate if you position them low.

Bird feeding tables for small spaces

Install a variety of hanging feeders, feeding stations, ground feeders and, of course, a bird table to attract several bird species. Positioning feeders in several places prevents food waste and bird droppings from building up in any one place. Additionally, opting for a hanging bird table or feeder is the perfect way to enjoy wildlife in the smallest of outdoor spaces. For instance, a hanging bird table could be hung from a balcony.

Which is the best bird table to buy?

At £35 the Wilko Easy-Clean Premium Bird Table is superb value and has several thoughtful features that make it our top pick. We're impressed with the addition of the four hooks so that fat balls or hanging feeders can be hung in addition to a wide feeding platform. Also, because limiting the spread of bird disease is essential, it's great that the design includes a fold-down lip so that debris can be swept away. This ensures that there's no build-up in nooks and crannies, and the bird table can be thoroughly cleaned. The sloping roof allows water to run off and provides year-round protection from the weather. All-in-all, cheep-cheep is good when it comes to bird tables.

How do I maintain my bird table to look after wildlife?

Make bird food available all year round. Have several feeding stations and reposition them throughout the year to prevent bacteria from building up. Additionally, remove old or wet food to prevent mould and bacterial build-up. Regularly clean your bird table and/or feeding station with disinfectant and warm water. Always wear protective gloves and wash your hands thoroughly after handling wild bird food products.

Some birds prefer to hang from bird feeders and some prefer ground or table feeding. It's a good idea to only put out enough food for a day or two to prevent pests. Plus, it's essential to provide fresh drinking water - this could be as simple as a shallow plastic container.

What not to feed wild garden birds

There are six common bird foods which could be deliciously tempting to our feathered friends, but also devastating - so are you feeding your birds the right stuff?

Many of our bird-feeding habits have been passed down from generation to generation. But whereas the 1970s may have seen your dad scattering a mini mountain of bread onto the lawn to attract the local Starlings, recent research suggests we have to think more carefully before throwing our Sunday leftovers into the yard.

Chips/crisps
The stomachs of most garden birds can simply not process salt and so these should be avoided. Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust animal health officer Martin Brown says, "Birds, especially seagulls will eat chips; and most things left on the street. Potatoes are often fed to geese, but chips should definitely be avoided, as salty, fried foods don't offer much nutritional value, and birds are not used to digesting such heavily processed fatty foods."

Bacon rind
Meat such as bacon often comes highly processed or smoked, with extra salt which garden birds cannot process.
Martin says: "It would be better to give birds specially made fat balls. These have a mixture of nutrients and protein as well as the fat birds need in winter."

Desiccated coconut
While half-shelled coconuts are a tremendous source of protein for birds. The process of desiccating a coconut sees nut meat shredded or flaked and then dried to remove as much moisture as possible. While fine for humans, this powdery food has been found to expand in the stomach of birds and can lead to death.

Bread
Martin says, "It's a common misconception that birds should eat bread. Problems can occur when people feed leftover or stale bread to birds; as any mould could cause respiratory tract infections in the birds." Bread has also been found to leave birds bloated and lethargic, again leaving them vulnerable to predators and too 'lazy' to forage for more nutritious foods.

Natalie Knowles is a Homes & Garden Product Writer for Modern Gardens, specialising in garden trends. When she's not flexing her mow-how, Natalie is a successful artist and illustrator.