• Description
• Images (6)
• Contents
• Reviews
• Author Bio

Acknowledgements iv Introduction 1 Using this Book 3 PART ONE Gardening for Birds and Wildlife 4 Natives, Exotics and Invasive Plants 6 Garden Habitats 7 The Woodland Garden 7 Herbaceous Borders 7 Hedges and Trees 8 Shrubs 9 Herbs 11 Climbers 12 Lawns 13 Meadows 13 Vegetable Plot 14 Ponds and Damp Gardens 15 Composting 18 Water Butts 18 The Bird Gardener's Year 20 Feeding and Caring for Garden Birds 29 Autumn and Winter 29 Spring and Summer 29 Feeders 30 Food to put out for Garden Birds 31 Nest Boxes 34 Bird Baths 36 Troubleshooting 37 Hygiene in the Garden 38 Young Birds 40 Sick and Injured Birds 41 Ringed or Tagged Birds 41 Watching and Recording your Observations 43 PART TWO Identifying Ireland's Garden Birds 48 Getting Started 48 What to Look at when Taking Notes 48 Species Profiles 52 Explanation of the key 52 Mallard 54 Pheasant 56 Grey Heron 58 Sparrowhawk 60 Kestrel 62 Black-Headed Gull 64 Herring Gull 66 Feral Pigeon 68 Woodpigeon 70 Collared Dove 72 Barn Owl 74 Long-eared Owl 76 Swift 78 Swallow 80 House Martin 82 Meadow Pipit 84 Grey Wagtail 86 Pied Wagtail 88 Waxwing 90 Wren 92 Dunnock 94 Robin 96 Stonechat 98 Blackbird 100 Fieldfare 102 Song Thrush 104 Redwing 106 Mistle Thrush 108 Blackcap 110 Chiffchaff 112 Willow Warbler 114 Goldcrest 116 Spotted Flycatcher 118 Long-tailed Tit 120 Coal Tit 122 Blue Tit 124 Great Tit 126 Treecreeper 128 Photo Gallery 166 Jay 130 Magpie 132 Jackdaw 134 Rook 136 Hooded Crow 138 Starling 140 House Sparrow 142 Tree Sparrow 144 Chaffinch 146 Brambling 148 Greenfinch 150 Goldfinch 152 Siskin 154 Linnet 156 Redpoll 158 Bullfinch 160 Yellowhammer 162 Reed Bunting 164 Glossary 174 Bibliography 177 Website Resources 178 Photo credits 180 Index 182