Winter in the garden is a time to think ahead; to spring and the presence of more life. One way in which to start seeing more movement and colour in our gardens is to support the birds that visit them! Not only do we get enjoyment from these creatures, but supporting garden birds helps the UK’s overall bird populations to thrive in a time of decline.

Why support birds in winter?

Winter’s cold is a hard time for many wildlife, especially birds. Their reliance on insects, fruit and seeds makes winter food sources scarce. Birds can spend up to 85% of daylight hours foraging during winter, in a bid to minimise body mass loss. Alongside insulating feathers and fat stores from autumn, birds produce their body heat through the metabolisation of food. Where natural habitats are less plentiful today, your garden is an ideal foraging ground for birds. The right support for our feathered friends can make their survival over winter easier.

As well as eating to survive, birds are preparing for spring and the nest building and mating that comes with it. This is an energy-hungry task, and many garden species such as Long Tailed Tits begin nesting as early as February! By supporting birds in your garden early in the year, you might get the chance to spot a nest close to home.

In the bigger picture, the UK’s bird populations are in decline, with one of the main drivers of this being the depletion of certain ecosystems. Supporting birds in your garden is a great way to combat this loss, and to encourage more life into your garden. Winter is a great time for this as the UK sees various winter migrant species, such as stunning wax wings – see last month’s wildlife blog for more information on winter wildlife! Giving garden wildlife a helping hand gives them the best chance to survive the winter, but is also great for us! Being around nature has been shown to boost moods and improve wellbeing. Seeing birds in our garden reminds us that spring is just around the corner. By supporting them, you know you have helped something precious thrive!

How you can support your garden birds

Feeding Birds

One sure-fire way to entice birds into your garden is providing them with a reliable source of much-needed food! Different birds tend to choose slightly different foods, so an array of feeder types would be much appreciated.

  • Thrushes and black birds love worms, so are accustomed to eating from the ground and enjoy seeds, suet and mealworms.
  • Dunnocks, doves and sparrows will also eat seeds from the ground.
  • Great tits, blue tits, and robins will eat a variety of foods from a feeder.
  • Chaffinches and green finches enjoy sunflower seeds, while goldfinches and siskins like nyjer seeds.
  • Fat balls and suet are winter staples because of their high fat content and will be visited by a variety of species.

To attract a variety of birds, opt for a few well draining feeders stocking peanuts, suet (blocks or balls), small seeds and large seeds (such as sunflower and nyjer). Sprinkle seeds on the floor – non sprouting mixes are also available. Old – but not mouldy – fruit such as apples can also be great forage! If you use mealworms, aim to keep them off the floor in large amounts, as they can cause health problems if hedgehogs gorge themselves!

How to protect garden birds

It is extremely important that bird feeders are kept clean, as this can reduce the spread of avian flu and a finch disease called Trichomonosis.

Consider your feeding station set up. Recently the RSPB have stopped selling flat feeders, such as bird tables, as this has been linked to the spread of trichomonosis.

Bird Shelter Ideas

Clean nest boxes should ideally be up and ready for inhabitants by February. A variety of shapes and styles are available, and will be used differently by different species.

In addition to providing a nest box, having available nesting materials in the garden can help birds build their homes. Pet hair is an excellent example: after brushing your cat or dog, tuck the hair into a nook or cranny in your garden. Birds will use this to insulate their nests, and squirrels might use it too!

Improving bird habitats in your garden

If bird feeders and nest boxes aren’t your cup of tea, here are some less conspicuous ways to support birdlife in your garden.

  • Allow some areas to go a bit wild over winter: this will encourage small mammals and insects, creating more food sources for garden birds and the odd bird of prey! Old logs are home to insects that garden birds will happily snack on.
  • Leave ivy: the berries on ivy are staples in many birds’ winter diets, as not many native plant species produce fruit over winter.
  • Plant fruit-producing ornamentals – rowan and holly are great examples of beautiful shrubs and trees that support birds. Rowan berries are even a favourite of wax wings!
  • Clear eaves – by avoiding fairy lights or vines on overhanging house eaves, this leaves space for the nests of visiting species such as swallows in preparation for late spring.
  • Healthy soils and insect-supporting plants: stems and flowerheads from last year are the perfect hidey-holes for insects that support insectivorous species. Healthy, loose soils are also homes for worms for thrush species.

The Big Garden Birdwatch

The Big Garden Birdwatch is taking place over the weekend of the 24th-26th January. Take the opportunity over this weekend to spend an hour with your garden and watch for any visiting birds. This provides the RSPB with data on bird populations, and can give you an insight into the birds around you! It is a good chance to be present and observe nature, and sign-up is available on the RSPB’s website.

Whether you log the birds you see or not, using feeders and nest boxes in your garden not only improves the lives of our feathered friends but will bring life to your space.

Supporting birds in your garden is easier than you think, and the Big Garden Birdwatch is a great way to get started.