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The books in this section are ordered by publication date with the most recent publications at the top of the page.

Garden birds

A Gardener's Guide to Wildlife and Birds and How to Attract Them

Christine Lavelle & Michael Lavelle

2013

"Turn your garden into a wildlife haven by growing the right plants to encourage beneficial insects, aquatic life, backyard birds and animals. This title includes illustrated directories of over 200 plant species, from annuals, bulbs and pond plants, to shrubs, trees and climbers, with practical advice on cultivation and uses. It features 80 of the most common garden bird species, with identification illustrations and natural history information on distribution, size, distinguishing characteristics, nesting, eggs and feeding habits. It shows how to create beautiful borders, ponds and meadows, and how to make all kinds of birdhouses, birdbaths, bird tables and wildlife stacks. It is illustrated with over 1700 stunning practical photographs. One of the most enjoyable aspects of creating and maintaining a garden lies in the feeling of closeness to nature. These two books, written by award-winning gardening experts, give advice on how to create a range of wildlife gardens, with suggestions for the best flowers, shrubs, hedges and trees to grow. There are 25 projects for tables, nest boxes and birdbaths, as well as directories of over 200 wildlife-friendly garden plants, from woodland and countryside locations to town and city environments."

The Wildlife Gardener: Creating a Haven for Birds, Bees and Butterflies

Kate Bradbury

2013

"The first half is all about creating wildlife habitats in your garden and is split into sections on shelter, food and water. Kate gives advice on what to grow, do's and don'ts of bird feeding and organic methods of pest control. Kate has also devised 10 step-by-step projects that will help encourage wildlife into your garden, such as creating a bumblebee nester, making green roof and building a bird box. These are all achievable in a weekend and suitable for even the smallest gardens. The second part of the book is a mini yet comprehensive field guide to identifying wildlife in your garden. From birds to insects, butterflies to pond-life, nocturnal wanderers to daytime gatherers, Kate provides helpful tips on particular species, telling you what to look out for and how you can create the perfect environment for them."

A Practical Illustrated Guide to Attracting & Feeding Garden Birds

Jen Green

2013

"This is the complete book of bird feeders, bird tables, birdbaths, nest boxes and backyard bird watching. It helps you learn what to feed garden birds, from seeds, grains and peanuts to fruits, suet cakes and fat balls, as well as how to attract birds by planting the right flower borders, trees and shrubs, and by making wildlife hedges and ponds. It features practical step-by-step projects for making your own feeders, tables, birdbaths and nest boxes, from simple designs to highly ornamental creations. It includes a visual directory of all the most common garden bird species, with natural history information on distribution, size, nesting, eggs and feeding habits. It explains how birds live - from flying and feeding to egg-laying and migrating - with a guide to bird watching in urban, country, woodland and aquatic locations. It deals with over 760 beautiful photographs and illustrations. Birds are a delight in the garden, not only for their beauty and birdsong, but also because they eat many harmful garden pests. This book contains a wealth of feeding ideas for backyard birds, from seeds, grains and peanuts to fruits, suet cakes and fat balls, and suggestions for the best flowers, shrubs, hedges and trees to plant to encourage birds into the garden. There are 25 step-by-step projects for tables, nest boxes, birdbaths and birdhouses that will enhance and decorate your garden, and the book also features an illustrated directory of 80 of the most common garden birds, from woodland and countryside locations to town and city environments, with information about identification, distribution, habitat and feeding habits."

Attracting Birds to Your Garden

Stephen Moss and David Cottridge

2011

"This is a new edition of this popular title. Gardening for birds is both a great way to help our endangered feathered friends as well as a great pleasure in itself. This book offers a host of practical suggestions on feeding birds and providing opportunities for nesting and bathing. The reader is taken through the steps of planning a bird-friendly garden covering aspects such as pond construction, suitable plants, provision of nesting sites and food, pest control and garden maintenance. A directory of 80 common species aids identification and offers guidelines on the habitat, food and nesting requirements of each species. Produced in a lavish and exciting format, this glorious book is both practical and stylish."

The Garden Bird Handbook

Stephen Moss

2011

"This is a reformatted, redesigned edition of this popular title. Whatever the size, style or location of your garden, this stunning book gives you the perfect introduction to making the most of your space for birds. It provides opportunities for increasing the variety, number and regularity of birds. Written in a friendly and encouraging style, "The Garden Bird Handbook" is packed with practical advice and key information, ranging from planning and maintaining a bird-friendly garden, attracting, observing and feeding the entire range of likely visitors, through to a genuine understanding of bird behaviour. Illustrated throughout with wonderful colour photographs and artworks of the birds in garden settings, there is also a full and handsomely illustrated guide to garden birds, helping accurate identification. A special directory of plants that attract birds helps you plan your garden, and a month-by-month guide is packed with tips on what to look for. As well as the considerable pleasure to be gained from attracting and watching birds in your garden, there is an enormous contribution that you can make to their conservation."

Cooking For Birds

Mark Golley

2011

"This book offers some of the most popular and succesful bird food recipes, combined with a range of useful cookery tips and helpful hints on what to feed and when."

RSPB Gardening for Wildlife: A Complete Guide to Nature-friendly Gardening

Adrian Thomas

2010

"Gardening for wildlife is hugely enjoyable. There is something uplifting about having butterflies in your flowerbeds, frogs in your water feature and birds in your bushes - and knowing that they're here because of you. But if you want a 'nice' garden too, don't worry! This new book busts the myths that wildlife gardens have to be 'wild', or that you can only garden for wildlife in a 'wildlife garden'. You can easily fit in wildlife gardening alongside everything else you want from your garden. The secret is understanding the 'home needs' of your guests. Tap into their needs and you can create a five-star hotel for birds, bees, butterflies and more. As well as looking at a host of different species, there are sections to help you create entire habitats, such as woodland and meadow gardens, and a catalogue of over 300 of the very best garden flowers, shrubs and trees for wildlife. So no matter how large or small your garden, whether it is formal or a family football pitch, there are all sorts of things you can do. If you love wildlife and want to encourage more, this inspirational book will help you sow the seeds and reap the rewards."

The Birdwatchers Garden

Hazel Johnson & Pamela Johnson

2010

"The most regular contact many people have with wildlife is the pleasure of watching birds in the garden. Increase the attraction of your garden for birds by supplementing the food, shelter, roosting and nesting sites that are available, and your garden will offer a safe haven for many species, both resident and migratory. Hazel and Pamela Johnson show the most effective means of ensuring that birds will flourish and also detail the principles of sympathetic gardening, discussing how best to enhance local habitats, whether in cities, suburbs, a village or rural setting. Even patios and balconies can be attractive and useful to birds. The authors share their experience of this, devoting a chapter to the particular concerns of small gardens. They also cover: constructing, siting and maintaining ponds; cultivating annuals, biennials, perennials and aquatic plants; organic gardening and conservation issues; avoiding potential hazards; and breeding and feeding habits."

Birds in Your Garden

Malcolm Tair

2010

"This is the ideal companion for learning about the birds in your garden, featuring species profiles of all the species you are likely to see, and a wealth of useful advice about attracting birds to your garden and what to feed them. This practical and informative book contains all you need to know about the birds that visit your garden. It is illustrated with many superb colour photographs and full-page portraits."

Woodworking for Wildlife: Homes for Birds and Animals

Carrol L. Henderson

2010

"For everyone who enjoys attracting wildlife to their backyard, farm, woodlot, or lakeshore home, Woodworking for Wildlife is the perfect resource. With all the latest information on how to attract everything from bluebirds, chickadees, purple martins, and wood ducks to bumblebees, toads, owls, and woodpeckers, the book features thirty designs for nest boxes and nest platforms that will accommodate forty-six species of wildlife. It provides easy-to-follow diagrams for cutting out and assembling the nest boxes, accompanied by over three hundred beautiful color photographs - See more at: http://utpress.utexas.edu/index.php/books/henwop#sthash.kzm4XhF1.dpuf."

Making Wild Bird Nest Boxes

Michael Roberts

2009

"A detailed and beautifully illustrated guide to making over 30 wild bird nest boxes and a bird table. This book takes you through building, locating and maintaining the nest boxes and is suitable for everyone from novices upwards. The range of nest boxes covers most of our wild bird species in the UK from Tits to Barn Owls."

An Illustrated Practical Guide To Attracting & Feeding Garden Birds

Jen Green

2009

"Wherever you live, you can easily give nature a helping hand by providing feeders, tables and birdbaths and by erecting nesting boxes and birdhouses. In attracting birds to your garden, you will gain hours of entertainment, and your feathered friends will return the favour by controlling the aphids, slugs and snails that threaten your garden. This books contains a wealth of feeding ideas and suggestions for the best flowers, shrubs, hedges and trees to attract birds. The book also contains an illustrated directory of 80 of the most common garden birds around the world. With its practical advice and over 600 photographs and illustratios, this is the ideal source book for both gardeners and bird lovers."

Gardening for Birdwatchers

Mike Toms, Ian Wilson and Barley Wilson

2008

"This new book brings together the expertise of garden designers Ian and Barley Wilson (Natural Gardens) with that of the British Trust for Ornithology to produce the definitive guide for improving your garden for birds and other wildlife. The well-illustrated text, complete with planting plans, gets to grips with the techniques that underpin successful wildlife-gardening, highlighting those varieties of plants that have particular wildlife benefits and explaining how best to manage your garden for wildlife. With sections on different garden features (e.g. lawns, ponds, shady corners and sunny borders), this book should enable you to enhance the wildlife value of your own garden. The book contains a wealth of information, all of it based on sound scientific research, enabling you to tackle some of the myths and misconceptions about gardening for wildlife."

RSPB Handbook of Garden Wildlife

Peter Holden and Geoffrey Abbott

2008

"This RSPB-endorsed guide includes sections covering over 200 of the mammal, bird, amphibian and reptile, invertebrate, spider, insect, butterfly, moth, wild flower, garden plant, tree and shrub, and mushroom and toadstool species you are likely to find in your garden. The concise, practical text covers identification, habits, characteristics, food and garden conservation. Additional introductory sections about garden habitats detail, among other topics, how to plant for the seasons, how to make a pond or bog garden to attract new species into your garden, and how to build a hedgehog box or a nest box for birds to encourage your garden visitors to stick around for longer. This brand new RSPB Handbook provides a complete, single source of basic information to our most familiar garden wildlife."

Garden Natural History

Stefan Buczacki

Collins

2007

"A history of gardens in Britain with special reference to the evolution of different styles and the changing importance in them of native and exotic plant species. How does a garden differ from other habitats, both natural and semi-natural? Is it true that the modern home garden is largely a collection of hybrids between exotic species? These and other questions are answered in New Naturalist: Garden Natural History. It touches on subjects such as plant fertilising, watering, pest and disease control, pesticide usage, greenhouses, lawn mowing digging, pruning, hedge clipping, protecting plants from wildlife, scarers and traps. It also points out the role of the gardener as a conservator and how the garden can be an inspiration for a naturalist."

No Nettles Required: The Reassuring Truth about Wildlife Gardens

Ken Thompson

2006

"In this illuminating book, Ken Thompson explains that encouraging wildlife is actually entirely compatible with ordinary gardening, costs next to nothing, and is almost completely effortless. Packed with helpful hints and tips, the book shows us how easy it is to fill our gardens with everything from foxes, frogs and mice to butterflies, ladybirds and literally thousands of fascinating creepy-crawlies. Why should we? Because we'll be promoting the biodiversity of the UK, we'll be reconnecting with nature, getting more from our gardens, and we'll be doing our plants a favour."

Wildlife Gardening for Everyone

Editor: Malcolm Tait

2006

"In 2005, the RHS and The Wildlife Trusts combined their expertise to launch an exciting and innovative new perspective to wildlife gardening. By encouraging members of the public to swap ideas, experiences, questions and answers with each other through the internet, they were able to develop a network of wildlife gardening discussions and shared information. This book takes the very best of those ideas, and tops them up with expert advice from professional RHS gardeners and Wildlife Trust naturalists. Within these pages you will discover all the benefits of gardening for wildlife, for your garden...and for you."

Attracting Wildlife to Your Garden

John A. Burton, David Tipling

2006

"This book offers a host of practical suggestions on planning the wildlife garden, attracting, observing and feeding garden wildlife. There is also useful information on the benefits or otherwise of each species to the gardener, and the best 'wildlife-friendly' ways of handling those 'unwanted' visitors. A directory of over 140 common species of mammals, amphibians, reptiles, insects and other invertebrates most commonly encountered in the garden aids identification and offers guidelines on the habitat, food and type of shelter requirements of each species."

Tony Soper's Bird Table Book: The Complete Guide to Attracting Birds and Other Wildlife to Your Garden

Tony Soper

2006

"An all-new edition of this classic "Tony Soper" work, with completely revised text and brand new illustrations. This book covers everything you need to know about attracting wild birds to your garden, with details of what feed to put out to attract the maximum variety of birds all year round. It also includes nestboxes, pond building and gardening with wildlife in mind, with advice on attracting frogs, newts, toads, hedgehogs, foxes, badgers and other kinds of wildlife to your garden. It is beautifully illustrated with superbly observed watercolours and line drawings, capturing the essence of wild bird behaviour and appealing to the widest possible readership."

The Bird-friendly Garden

Stephen Moss and Gill Tomblin

2004

A guide to making the garden a 'haven for birds'. The main part of the book comprises full-page garden plan in number of different styles. One section also covers unusual garden habitats, such as those near the coast. Also provides information on identification, what plants to grow, nest-boxes, feeders, bird-baths and protection from predators.

Attracting Wildlife to Your Garden

Michael Chinery

2004

"Our gardens have become an important nature conservation area for animals, insects and plants, especially as many natural habitats are being destroyed. With the help of this practical book, you can create not only a fascinating mini nature reserve but also a vibrant and attractive garden. Projects and special features include: creating a wildflower meadow; looking after injured, baby and hibernating hedgehogs; making a bat roost or bat box and siting it; developing a wildlife pond; planting a butterfly garden; and filming and photographing wildlife in your garden."

Wildlife Friendly Plants: Make Your Garden a Haven for Beneficial Insects, Amphibians and Birds

Rosemary Creeser

2004

"Wildlife-friendly Plants has been specially designed to help you chose the best plants to encourage and support diminishing populations of wildlife, whether your garden is big or small, in the town or country. Many of these plants are perfect for use in small spaces, such as a patio, terrace or window box. With the valuable suggestions for use, planting and aftercare covered in this book you too can create a haven for beneficial insects, amphibians and birds, irrespective of the size or location of your garden."

The Garden Bird Handbook

Stephen Moss

2003

"Whatever the size, style or location of your garden, this guide offers suggestions on making the most of your space for birds and increasing the variety, number and regularity of birds. Written in a friendly, encouraging style, the book is packed with practical advice and information, ranging from planning and maintaining a bird-friendly garden, attracting, observing and feeding the entire range of likely visitors, through to a genuine understanding of bird behaviour. Illustrated throughout, there is also a full guide to garden birds to help with accurate identification. A special directory of plants that attract birds is included to help you plan your garden and a month-by-month guide offers tips on what to look for."

Wildlife Gardening

Charlie Ryrie

2003

"This practical book will scotch any myths about wildlife gardening, and encourage everyone, wherever they garden, to invite wildlife to share their outdoor spaces. There are practical ideas for gardens of all sizes and in varied situations, with a special chapter on wildlife gardening in towns: the smallest shady garden can support a range of wildlife and even a window-box or hanging basket in an urban apartment block can make a difference, if you ensure ingredients like extra food in winter, plants that sustain insects and bright or aromatic plants are planted to attract animals and keep them returning. From the best sites for ponds to the right plants to feed various fauna, this book should ensure both you and the wildlife enjoy your garden as fully as possible."

The BTO Nestbox Guide

Chris De Feu

2003

"All you need to know about nestboxes in this colourful, practical, informative guide from the British Trust for Ornithology. Whether you want to build your own nestboxes or buy them ready-made, The BTO Nestbox Guide gives instructions and guidance on the types of nestbox preferred by the 24 species most likely to nest in and around your house and garden. Information on building or choosing suitable boxes, when, where and how to site nestboxes, maintenance, nesting materials, details of each species' nesting preferences and behaviour, and watching and monitoring your nesting birds is provided. It is very well illustrated with lots of colour photographs."

Build Your Own Birdhouses and Feeders

John Perkins

2002

"Presents all the the necessary information and techniques required to successfully construct a birdhouse. Information is also given on birds' needs and behaviour, from how to pick the most protected and attractive site for a feeder or house, to encouraging use and recommended dimensions for different species."

The Garden Bird Year

Roy Beddard

New Holland Publishers

2001

"Season by season, this text gives detailed advice on how to plan a range of garden habitats to accommodate the needs of birds - both resident and visiting. Topics covered include bird behaviour and identification, providing food, water and nest sites, and deterring pests and predators."

Chris Packham's Back Garden Nature Reserve

Chris Packham

2001

"This comprehensive and practical guide allows any reader to transform their own patch into a valuable and enjoyable refuge for a greater range of species than they'd ever imagined."

The Complete Garden Bird Book

Mark Golley, Stephen Moss and David Daly

2001

"This book combines full identification and behavioural features of over 70 common garden birds as well as detailed, highly-visual information on attracting and encouraging birds to your garden. Stunningly illustrated, yet simple to use, The Complete Garden Bird Book will ensure that you get the maximum pleasure from your garden whatever its size or location."

Bird Boxes and Feeders: Stylish Designs for Attracting Birds

Stephen Moss with Alan and Gill Bridgewater

2001 / 2003

"This book combines the DIY expertise of Alan and Gill Bridgewater with the knowledge of bird expert Stephen Moss. There is informed advice on the nesting and feeding habits of birds, and helpful hints on how to attract them to your garden. The 11 practical projects are accompanied by information on their suitability for different kinds of birds, on siting and on construction, plus step-by-step photographs, diagrams and easy-to-follow text."

RSPB New Bird Feeder's Handbook

Robert Burton

2000

"This is a complete guide to attracting and observing garden birds, with tips on creating a bird-friendly environment with imaginative use of garden design and plant selection. It is also a photographic directory identifying features of more than 60 common garden birds."

Gardening for Birds: How to Help Birds Make the Most of Your Garden

Stephen Moss and Gill Tomblin

2000

Featuring seven garden plan illustrations, this guide covers different types of garden - window ledge, balcony, terrace or roof terrace, small suburban, large suburban and country garden. Each one is supplemented by checklists that suggest the best nest-boxes, feeders and baths to install, and also the best sorts of plants to cultivate. There is also a section on unusual gardens, such as those near the coast. Subsequent chapters look in more detail at caring for birds, providing protection from predators, and identification information. A bird calendar explains season-by-season the different birds you are likely to see in each type of garden, and the correct type of food to provide at different times of the year.

Attracting Birds to Your Garden

Stephen Moss and David Cottridge

2000

"This 60 page book describes how to garden for birds and how to identify and care for the birds in the garden. The sections of the book are: Gardens for Birds; Bird Calendar; Caring for Birds; Plant Directory; Bird Directory; Useful addresses and further reading."

Creating Birdhouses

Mary Maguire

2000

"Contains thirty projects, ranging from the classic to the quirky, which show you how to make everything from simply decorated to large-scale birdhouses."

Gardening for Wildlife

George Pilkington

1999

"An eminently simple, straightforward guide to making your garden better for wildlife." - RSPB

The Birdwatchers Garden

Hazel & Pamela Johnson

1999

"This manual demonstrates how to increase the attraction of your garden for birds by supplementing food, shelter, roosting and nesting sites that are available, to offer a safe haven for many species. It covers: the principles of sympathetic gardening for birds to flourish; constructing, siting and maintaining ponds; cultivating annuals, biennials, perennials and aquatic plants; organic gardening and conservation issues; avoiding potential hazards; and breeding and feeding habitats. All local habitats are covered, whether in cities, suburbs, a village or rural setting."

Studies in Golf Course Management, No. 2: Nest Boxes for Birds and Mammals

Bob Taylor and Jonathan Hart-Woods

1999

"An ecological approach and guide covering next box construction for a wide range of box types suitable for encouraging roosting, sleeping, hibernation for birds and mammals."

RSPB Birdfeeder Garden: The Essential Guide to Creating an Enticing Haven for Birds

Robert Burton

1998

"This is a practical guide to attracting birds into the garden all year round. As well as demonstrating how to design and adapt a garden to provide food, shelter and nesting places for birds, the book contains ideas for landscaping gardens of different sizes, shapes and locations, from urban rooftops and courtyards to more sizeable country gardens."

Boxes, Baskets and Platforms: Artificial Nest Sites for Owls and Other Birds of Prey

Sue Dewar & Colin Shawyer

1996

"This book describes the siting, manufacture and installation of artificial nesting sites for many of the UK's birds of prey."

Nestboxes (2nd edition)

Chris De Feu

BTO

1993

Bird Gardening

B. Loomes

1993

A practical guide to attracting birds to your garden, based on the author's experience with his own garden in Yorkshire.

The Wild Bird Garden

L. Jackman

Souvenir Press

1992

A guide to gardening to attract wild birds, illustrated with 20 colour paintings and 32 line drawings.

Birds In Your Garden: A Month by Month Guide

Tony Soper, Roger Lovegrove

Webb & Bower

1989

"A celebration month-by-month of different birds and their activities and behaviour. Practical advice is given on how to attract birds to the garden and how to help thrm through winter. It also has a section on identification."

Nest Boxes for the Birds of Britain and Europe

L. Bolund

1987

"A practical guide to the birds of Britain and Europe, their preferred habitats, and the nest boxes which will attract them to breed. Covers all types of artificial nest from the simplest nest box, to platforms for storks and ospreys."

How to Make a Wildlife Garden

Chris Baines

1986 (revised 2000)

"Chris Baines shows the reader how to transform his or her garden into a rich wildlife haven. He sets the wildlife garden within the context of the broader concerns of regional ecology and reveals how we can each do our bit to safeguard the habitats of important indigenous flora and fauna. A wide range of natural habitats is discussed in detail, including hedgerows, shrubberies, meadows and ponds, with lists of native wildflowers and practical tips."

Nestboxes

Chris De Feu

BTO

1985

Tony Soper's Bird Table Book: In Colour

Tony Soper

David & Charles

1977