Monty regularly shares gardening tips in his blog
A robin at a bird feeder(Image: PA)
Monty Don has shared gardening tips as nesting season begins. The horticulturist and broadcaster said feeding birds now is “more important than ever” as springtime approaches.
In his gardening blog, Monty said fat, nuts and seeds are the best options to feed birds in February. On the blog, he wrote: “Keep on feeding birds, as they are now beginning to mate, nest and lay their first clutches of eggs.”
According to the Gardeners’ World host, the better nourished the parent birds are, especially in cold weather, the larger and healthier their offspring will be. As well as providing fat, nuts and seeds throughout the month, he said you should also provide fresh drinking and bathing water.
Most bird species in the UK change their behavioural patterns with the seasons. In the summer they focus on chick-rearing and hunting, while in autumn they begin to fatten up, group together, and even prepare to migrate to warmer climates.
According to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) one out of every six birds has been lost since 1980. The leading causes for this are intensive farming practices and an overuse of harsh pesticides and fertilisers, as well as a loss of natural habitat.
This means birds rely more than ever on humans providing them with food. The society said: “Make sure all bird feeders drain easily and do not allow build-up of old food”. It added you should put feeders in a quiet, safe place sheltered from harsh winds. On their website the RSPB outline what birds like to eat:
Blackbirds mostly feed on the ground and will eat a broad range of foods, from suet nibbles to mealworms.Blue Tits and Great Tits use a feeder, eating seeds as well as suet and peanuts.Finches, including Chaffinches and Greenfinches, also use a feeder, and they love sunflower hearts.If you’re keen to attract Goldfinches or Siskins, try Nyjer seeds as they both seem to love them. Nyjer seed is also popular with Greenfinches and Redpolls.House Sparrows, Dunnocks and Collared Doves prefer to feed on the ground and will be attracted by small seeds.Suet balls and other fat-based food bars are excellent high energy giving foods for winter and popular with a wide range of birds.