Experts say birds need our help in summer months, just as they do in winter months, and there is plenty you can do to help
Gardeners are being told to ‘be sure’ to leave one thing out for robins and blackbirds as soon as possible
Gardeners are being told to ‘be sure’ to leave one thing out for robins and blackbirds as soon as possible. August is a great month for garden bird-watching, with lots of different species to be seen.
But while you may assume that birds most need our help in winter, experts say they need our help in summer months too to raise their young and keep their own energy levels up.
In fact, birds need all the help from us they can get. The RHS says the UK’s birds “are in trouble, and they need our help”. In fact, a 2023 State of Nature report found that 43% of all UK bird species are at risk of being lost over the coming decades.
Thankfully, there is plenty you can do to help birds survive and thrive in gardens, which are a valuable refuge to them. And the bird experts at Peckish, a bird food and accessories seller, say there is one thing you can do immediately to help.
They say: “Water is the most valuable commodity for birds in summer. Be sure to leave shallow trays of water out for birds, particularly during dry spells. Even better are ponds, which won’t need to be topped up as often, and will also provide insects for birds to eat.”
They also give some tips on how to make your water source as safe as possible for birds saying:
Place it two metres from cover like trees or shrubs so that it is both visible and provides a safe place to retreatMake sure garden birds have plenty of fresh clean water for drinking and bathingClean feeding and drinking areas regularly with a mild disinfectant.
A water source for birds is particularly important at the moment because of the prolonged hot and dry weather, which means water can be difficult for birds to find and will also evaporate quickly.
Birds to spot in your garden in August
In August, robins, whose distinctive red breasts make them easy to spot, can often be seen foraging for insects and worms. Similarly, blackbirds are a common sight in our gardens, searching for insects and worms on the lawn or under shrubs. Other common birds to spot in August are wood pigeons, blue tits and house sparrows.
What to feed birds in August
The experts at Gardeners’ World say: “Feeding birds used to be a winter activity, but birds need our help in the summer months too, to ensure they have energy enough to survive leaner times ahead. Just as in winter, high-energy food is the key to summer feeding. Live food is also recommended, to supplement the food they can find in the wild.”
They recommend foods like:
Sunflower heartsMealwormsFruit and other leftover foods like cooked pasta and rice and rind from unsalted meat or cooked veg, which are all high in energyPeanuts, though check the pack to make sure the nuts have been tested for aflatoxin, a fungal infection that can be lethal to birds.
The RHS also suggests the following ways to care for birds in your garden in the summer:
Avoid using pesticides, as insects are a crucial food source for birdsMinimise use of mains water, as this has a knock-on effect on wetland habitatsDelay hedge-cutting, until late August when nesting season is safely out of the way.
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