7 Ways To Help The Birds This Winter
Published: 17/01/2019
Wild birds need our helpmorein winter than at any other time of the year and you can do your bit to lend a hand. Provide our feathered friends with food, water and shelter during the harsh, colder months, and you canmake all the difference. Weve put together 7 of our top tips for looking after the birds in winter.
1. Stock up
Food for our feathered friends is much more scarce in winter, so make sure your feeders are regularly topped up. Theyll need lots of high energy food such assuetandfat balls. Why not have a go at making your own fat balls? Our blogherewill show you how. You may find youre making more regular trips into the garden to top up the feeders, but youll be rewarded in summer when the birds start eating all the pesky insects for you.
2. Keep it varied
Its not just one type of bird that needs help in winter. Keeping a rich source of different food available will attract a variety of birds and keep them coming back again and again. Our huge range offeederswill store all types of feed. We love our exclusively designedbird feeder,which gives you the choice of adding peanuts or suet pellets. With a hanging strap that unclips, the feeder can be effortlessly hung on any branch without damaging the tree. The integrated tray will catch any dropped food and doubles up as a perch to give birds better access. Wed suggest high energysuet pelletsthrough the winter months which can then be switched forpeanutsin milder weather. Its easy to fill and separates into compartments for easy cleaning. Head over to ourFeeding wild birds in winter blogfor lots of advice on the types of food to feed the birds.
3. Fight the freeze
Its easy to forget, but water in bird baths can quickly freeze in winter, leaving birds with an even more limited supply of fresh water. You can help to prevent this by putting a light, floating objectsuch as a twiginto the water. As the wind blows, the twig will naturally float around in the water, helping to stop it from freezing over.
4. Set up shelter
Its a great idea to have anesting boxin your garden all year round but even more so in winter as the birds seek much-needed shelter from the elements. These should always be tilted slightly so theyre protected from strong winds and rain. Our exclusively designedwooden bird boxprovides the perfect shelter for your feathered friends. Its metal surround prevents predators from getting inside as well as being easy to clean and maintain. You can find even more tips on bird nesting boxes, including how to make your own, where to put them and how to clean them, on ourGuide to bird nesting boxesblog.
5. Let it grow
Staying on the subject of shelter, did you know you can provide this simply by leaving an area of yourgarden to grow wild? Leave your hedgerows to grow, particularly during nestingseason between March and August. Or you could pile all yourfallen leaves and twigs into a corner rather than throwing them away. This provides a great, natural shelter for our feathered friends.
6. Keep it clean
Its really important to keep all your bird feeders clean, particularly in winter when theyll be visited much more often. By regularly cleaning the feeders with warm, soapy water youll be helping to prevent disease from spreading, ensuring your visitors stay healthy throughout the toughest months. Our bird feeders are easy to take apart, to make sure you can clean them properly. You can read more about cleaning your bird feeders on our bloghere.
7. Grow your own
Heres a great tip for keeping the birds in your garden well fed. Instead of stocking up on a constant supply of food, why not grow it naturally in your garden? Not only will you be brightening up beds and borders, youll also be providing natural seed to the birds. They particularly love eating the seeds from sunflower heads but are also partial to globe thistle, teasel and rudbeckia.