Garden experts recommend putting out certain types of food to provide birds with the energy they need to survive the cold nights
Putting out these foods will attract a variety of birds to your garden(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
As temperatures begin to drop and the nights grow longer, autumn months are a time for cosying up indoors – but there’s wildlife out there braving the cold that might need your help. And if you love watching birds visit your garden all year round, there are actions you can take now to help them survive the winter.
While wild birds will benefit from food that you put out all year round, it’s particularly important to keep those feeders topped up at this time of year so they can prepare for the coldest months ahead. When temperatures plunge, birds need more energy to stay warm and maintain their body fat – but the wintry conditions make their natural food sources scarce.
There are lots of different types of bird food you can choose from – but it’s important to make sure you fill your feeders with the right type of nutrition to keep your feathered friends healthy throughout autumn and winter.
Gardeners World recommends in its advice to gardeners for October: “We should feed the birds all year round, but in winter garden birds need extra calories, to provide them with the energy they need to survive the cold nights. Choose calorie-rich peanuts, sunflower hearts and suet products, and keep the feeders topped up as the birds will come to rely on them.”
As well as making sure you put out these three calorie-rich food types, it’s worth bearing in mind that different birds like to feed in different ways. You are likely to see a greater variety of birds become regular visitors to your garden if you put out a selection of different foods.
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The RSPB explains: “Birds such as blackbirds, robins and house sparrows are generally ground feeders, preferring to hop around on the ground or a bird table, while tits and finches generally prefer to feed from hanging feeders.”
Finches are particularly partial to sunflower hearts, while goldfinches love tiny nyjer seeds that they can access thanks to their small beak, and mealworms are a favourite of robins and blue tits. Blackbirds will eat a variety of foods, while house sparrows, dunnocks and collared doves will be attracted by small, easily accessible seeds such as millet.
However, the charity also recommends putting out the likes of suet balls and other fat-based food bars when winter comes, as these are packed with energy for the colder months and popular with a wide range of birds. In all cases, bird feeders should be placed in a quiet spot that is sheltered from harsh winds and safe from predators.
If you’re providing food for the birds who visit your garden, it’s crucial to ensure that any feeders, tables and baths are kept clean in order to help prevent the spread of diseases. The RSPB urges households to clean any outside feeders or baths every week with warm, soapy water, scrubbing them inside and out with a strong bristled brush and allowing them to dry completely before refilling.
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