One of the many pleasures offered by retirement and the more leisurely pace of life that goes along with it is the chance to sit and watch the variety of birds that visit your garden on a regular basis. While your life was dedicated to working and bringing up your family, you probably didn’t have time to even notice these birds but, now your time is your own, you can spend it how you wish. If you have been watching the local birds, you may have thought about installing a bird table or feeder to attract more species. Even if you hadn’t considered it before, looking after the local birds can make a huge difference. Birds really suffer during spells of cold weather and here’s what you can do to help.
During the cold winter months, particularly when the ground is frozen and they cannot forage for food; wild birds in the UK are very vulnerable. We’re not saying you need to install numerous complex feeding stations all over your property; even a simple fat ball or two can be a great help. If you would like to do your bit to help the birds in your area make it to spring, it’s fairly easy to make your garden a feeding hotspot.
What equipment do I need?
You won’t need to dedicate too much time, space or effort to feeding the birds in your garden, but the equipment you choose will determine which species you attract. Bird tables are popular with the widest range of birds so may be a good choice if you only have the space or inclination to maintain one feeding station. If you have noticed robins, blackbirds or thrushes tend to be the most frequent visitors; a ground feeding station will be their preferred option. Obviously though, this is not a viable option if you or your neighbours have cats! Hanging feeders are the option of choice for birds such as blue or great tits.
What kind of food should I supply?
As with the feeding equipment, different food will appeal to different types of birds. Just like people, not all birds want to eat the same food! Watch the birds that visit your garden before buying food to make sure you buy a suitable variety. Peanuts are favoured by blue tits, great tits and nuthatches; mixed seeds are great for sparrows, blue tits and chaffinches and meal worms are the favourite dish of robins. If you have noticed visiting blackbirds, leaving fruit on the bird table or the lawn will be greatly appreciated. Sunflower hearts, black sunflower seeds, nyjer seeds and fat balls are also popular with various birds. If you do provide peanuts or large seeds in your feeder, remember to keep them behind mesh so birds cannot take whole peanuts at once.
What else do I need to do?
Don’t forget the water! Birds will need to drink plenty of water each day to remain hydrated and healthy, particularly when they are eating a lot of seed. Keep your water container topped up and remember to clear any ice from the surface each morning. You don’t need to spend out on a purpose made bird bath or water vessel, you probably have several dishes or containers in your kitchen already that will do the job perfectly well.
When winter is over, remember to keep feeding your flying visitors. They may not need as much care in the warmer months but consistent food and water supplies will keep them coming back regularly.
If you would like more information on the various birds found in the UK and how to care for them, visit the British Trust for Ornithology website.
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