Building site....

[Amylou]

We moved into our house last August. Its a converted steading that had a lot of builders around. Its all settled down now but they have still to sort out the mud pile of open space infront of the house. I would show pictures but not sure how to. Heres a link though: Flickr: Photos from Amy Lou in Edinburgh
We havnt sorted out our garden yet.

One thing i have noticed is the lack of birds! Iv seen what could have been a buzzard flying about (before christmas) but apart from that and the usual ravens/crows there just arnt any birds! I really miss seeing robins and sparrows and blue tits and finches. I presume all the activity has scared them off? How long do you think itl take for them to come back? If they ever will!

Do you think once i get my garden sorted they might come back. There are plenty of shrubs and bushes around and when i start growing things there will be more. We are in a bit of an open space and west facing so we get lovely sunsets but the wind can be quite bad!

What sort of things can i put in my garden? I mean shrub wise. Il put a bird feeder up. We havnt even put a fence up yet but as christmas has passed and the funds are saved up the garden in the next project.

[ChrisJB]

I'm sure when you get the garden sorted the birds will return. Get a few shrubs in for shelter, with perhaps some berry bearing ones for thrushes and the like. Try holly, cotoneaster, perhaps some climbers like ivy and put some decent bird food out in feeders and on the floor for certain species.

When we moved into our house a few years ago, the back garden was all concrete, a wildlife wasteland in fact. I shifted it all, seeded a lawn, created flower beds and put a small veg' patch in. I also feed the birds and am well pleased with the wildlife that visits.

Good luck and I look forward to hearing of how it all develops!

Regards, Chris

[Amylou]

Thanks for the ideas. My only worry is the wind! We are just in the wrong place for it. We just need a good solid fence that has enough spaces in it to let the wind through but also to shelter the shrubs.

[ron1863]

Hi, I don't think Buzzards scare smaller birds off. Where I live we have lots of Buzzards and the smaller birds don't seem to mind.

[Jason Green]

Is this in the countryside? If so, the birds may have moved further to towns to escape the cold...

[galanthus]

Originally Posted by ron1863

Hi, I don't think Buzzards scare smaller birds off. Where I live we have lots of Buzzards and the smaller birds don't seem to mind.

Same here with small birds and buzzards living relatively harmoniously

We had builders in from may to sept last year, the garden was full of builders, concrete mixer, lawn turned into temp hardstanding with the splashes and lots of junk everywhere. I didn't think I'd ever get the birds back, however, bout 4/5 weeks after the garden was cleared they gradually came back. Now have the usual abundance of wintering birds scoffing away. There's lots of threads with good ideas on what to plant for birds and wildlife, also some great links on the net. You're place looks amazing Good luck with planting.