Gift guide for bird lovers

Most families and friend groups have a bird enthusiast among their ranks (or two, or three…). Here are six ideas to tweet them right when it’s gift giving time.

Give the gift of winged visitors.

For a bird lover, a backyard feeder is a gift that keeps on giving. The right feeder for your friend will depend on the type of home they live in. For apartment dwellers, try the Feeder Fix, which can attach to a balcony balustrade. For more spacious yards, a Snack Shack is a great choice for bringing in birds of both a large and small feather.

Adorn their home with native birds.

While technically Christmas decorations, these wooden birds can be used to decorate any space, bringing the beauty of birds indoors. Or why not gift this beautiful NZ Native Bird poster, hand-painted by artist Erin Forsyth, which has the added benefit of raising money for Predator Free NZ. Another option is this handsome Wildlife of the Whakatipu calendar produced by the Whakatipu Wildlife Trust, one of our SOAR Initiative recipients.

Help them get down for the count.

Of garden birds, that is. In collaboration with Manaaki Whenua and the New Zealand Garden Bird Survey we created this Supporters’ Pack. It contains fan faves from our Wild Bird Feed range selected in conjunction with the NZGBS. Whether you want to help them prepare for this winter’s count (Saturday 29 June – Sunday 7 July 2024) or simply start welcoming garden birds, this pack is always gratefully received.

Trees, the original bird feeder.

Of course, the best way to bring native birds is to plant native trees. A potted kōwhai or tī kōuka, ready to be planted in their garden, makes a beautiful gift. For those without a lot of room, a donation to Trees that Count means their gift goes to planting natives in an area where they are required for revegetation, which is sure to bring warm fuzzies.

Be a bug-bearer (in a good way).

This sweet little gift box will help bring the bugs - and the birds - to your buddy’s garden. The Topflite Bug Hut will help with biodiversity in the yard while also creating an invertebrate food source for hungry beaks, and the set also comes with a Wild Bird Seed Bell, and a delectable (we’re told) Wild Bird Energy Coconut Feeder.

Put a bird on them.

A true bird lover will want to wear their heart on their sleeve, and support conversation efforts around New Zealand, making one of the elegant shirts, crews, tea towels or prints from Tumbleweed Tees an apt choice. There’s also these tees from Little Yellow Bird. This New Zealand company makes regular donations to Forest & Bird and is also making huge efforts to recycle fabrics in the quest for circularity.