Birds bring a garden to life all year round. Here, we advise you on how to attract birds to your garden this winter.
Many gardeners miss the familiar sight of birds in their garden when the cold weather hits and friendly faces migrate south or simply change their daily patterns.
Snow can be fun and exciting for the children, but sadly for birds it means lack of food, water, shelter and becoming continuously vulnerable. Snow and frost makes it incredibly challenging for birds to get to natural food sources.
However you can help out. Learn how to attract birds to your garden this winter and save a few feathered lives along the way.
In such cold weather birds will appreciate anything they can get their beaks on but high-energy, fatty foods are essential.
An additional idea is to use bird feeders. Popular contents for bird feeders are sunflower hearts, black sunflower seeds, sunflower-rich mixes or unsalted nuts. Bird feeders are easily accessible and once you establish a feeding routine, birds will become winter regulars to your garden.
Water is vital for birds to use for drinking and washing as some foods do not contain much moisture. Their usual ways of getting water is through natural supplies, but when that freezes over it becomes a difficult challenge.
To prevent water from freezing over, float a small ball, such as a ping pong ball, on the surface of the water. It will stop it freezing because even a slight breeze will keep it moving around.
Overnight, many birds huddle together in tree roosts or nesting boxes and smaller birds need somewhere to stay and keep warm.
Know which winter birds to look out for with our handy guide.
Helping animals in winter is a rewarding and enjoyable hobby, especially when it’s in your own garden. Winter conditions can be very dangerous for birds as they cannot restore lost energy but by using these simple tips you can help them survive these cold months ahead.