How to support your garden birds as we move into winter

Winter is a particularly challenging time for our garden birds as long, cold nights really threaten their health and wellbeing. It is vital that they are able to maintain their body temperature to withstand dipping temperatures and this is where supplementary feed really comes into its own.

Natural food at this time of year is in steady decline, so topped up feeders often make the difference between surviving or perishing. Here’s our top tips for feeding your feathered friends through the late autumn and winter months:

Offer high-energy food

From November onwards you should make sunflower hearts, peanuts, seed blends and suet-based feeds available as they provide valuable calories. Fat balls and suet cakes are extremely beneficial as they provide heaps of energy in relatively small amounts of food.

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Feed little and often

Keep food fresh and minimise waste by putting out smaller amounts of food and then topping it up more frequently. Filling feeders to the top can result in food becoming spoilt and can lead to the risk of spreading disease around feeding stations.

Don’t forget water!

Always ensure your garden birds have constant access to clean water for drinking and bathing. Birds need water all year round, not just for summer.  Every living creature needs to keep hydrated, but in winter natural water sources are often frozen. Use drinking bottles and bird baths in the garden and keep a close eye on them during cold weather to ensure water is still flowing freely.

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Keep things clean

Winter feeding means more birds gathering together, so hygiene is very important to help reduce the risk of contamination and the spread of disease. Clean feeders regularly, remove uneaten food and droppings underneath them, and re-site feeding stations at intervals when possible.

Think beyond feeders

Plants in your garden can provide wild birds with food and shelter. Leave seedheads standing, keep berry-producing shrubs and allow them to grow a little wild, rather than keeping everything ultra-tidy. Hedges containing ivy, hawthorn and rowan create a real haven for small birds.

Provide a shelter

Evergreen trees and hedges provide protection from the cold winds and predators. Nest boxes, too, can double up as winter roosting spots.