The Cherry tree is a generous host to some of the most unique birds around the world. Here in Chitral, it attracts the Golden Oriole, a small bird with strikingly beautiful yellowish-golden colored feathers. It is omnivorous in nature. Its main diet includes Cherries and Pomegranates as well as insects. In fact the structure of its beak is perfect for hunting insects hidden in logs and underground. we believe it to be another addition to all our garden lover’s pest problems. The Golden Oriole is referred to in many songs in Chitral. The most popular one being “Mayon aye mo Chuley ki” - by Mirza Ali Jan.

Chitral is blessed with various species of native as well as migratory birds throughout the year. One such blessing is the Robin. It is one of the more recognizable birds in the northern region. Robins help plants spread by pooping out seeds after they have eaten fruits. The seeds can then grow in new places. It has gray-back wings with a red breast. This bird usually migrates (flies South) for the winter and can be found in Chitral from February till September. Flowering Dogwood, Black Cherry and Wild Grape are some of the many plants that the Robins are attracted to

Wrens are primarily insect eaters, but they will also eat some fruits and seeds. You can increase your chances of attracting Wrens to your garden if you put a bird feeder and a brush pile close to your feeding area. They feel more secure with a place to seek refuge nearby. They are amazing singers, cute, fun to watch, full of character. They adapt to all sorts of habitats. They may nest in a log pile or even a conifer hedge in your garden and search it diligently for small insects, especially spiders.

The black-capped chickade lives in deciduous and mixed forests. with diet consisting of seeds, berries and insects(specially caterpillars) it feels at home where it can find plenty of insects, or even a feeder pot. It is well known for its capacity to lower its body temperature during cold winter nights as well as its good spatial memory to relocate the caches where it stores food, and its boldness near humans (sometimes feeding from the hand). It is almost universally considered 'cute' due to its oversized round head, tiny body, and apparent curiosity about everything, including humans. a common visitor in the Chitral gardens, this bird is without a doubt a heart-melter.

The Bay-backed shrike is a meat-eater, found mainly in scrubs and open habitats. This bird has a characteristic upright "shrike" attitude when perched on a bush, from which it glides down at an angle to take lizards, large insects, small birds and rodents. Known in Chitral by the name of “Tiouf”, it is capable of flawless vocal mimicry and its songs include the calls of many species including lapwings, cuckoos, puppies and squirrels. This singing ability makes it a very popular pet throughout Chitral and almost all of Southeast Asia and  an eagerly awaited guest in the gardens of many.

Every garden would have the Ladybug or ladybird as most of us call it. It is a beneficial insect for our plantation and is not plant/flower specific, which means an abundance in their numbers. Almost the size of a paper clip and having more than 5000 species worldwide, we are lucky that the ones found in Pakistan have an appetite for other insects as compared to some of its relatives that prey not on plant-eaters but on plants. Having bright colors and a shy nature, the ladybug is a pleasant site in most gardens.

The perfect gift a garden lover would appreciate above all is the Butterfly, which is truly a sight for sore eyes. With their wings decorated with various patterns and amazing color combinations. However, some species of butterflies are considered to be pests because in their larval stages they can damage domestic crops or trees; however, some species are important agents of pollination of some plants and caterpillars of a few butterflies (e.g., Harvesters) eat harmful insects. Culturally, butterflies are a popular motif in the visual and literary arts of Chitral.

Another beneficial member of the insect family for our gardens is the Parasitoid Wasp. Again it is neither plant specific nor flower/seed specific. Wherever it finds food (the insects each wasp kind is attuned to eating) it will make a home there. Known to kill other insects in order to lay their eggs, this wasp helps us get rid of many different pest related issues. Even though these wasps seem threatening, but unless they are disturbed or endangered, they wouldn’t sting humans. Sometimes, their colors can be really beautiful to behold.