The RSPB has revealed three easy steps you can take to ensure birds continue to come back to your garden this winter and get through the harsh weather conditions
Birds need a little extra help in the winter(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
While the cold snap can turn our gardens into mini winter wonderlands, it might not feel as magical for the birds. As the snow starts to fall, ice sweeps the nation and daylight significantly dips, the little animals can do with a helping hand.
The loss of sunlight means birds have a shorter time to find food and many of their usual sources start to run low. They also need much more energy to stay warm as the temperatures teeter under zero.
However, there are three simple things you can do in your own garden to make winter a bit better for the birds and encourage them to return to your space. The RSPB say you can help birds by providing food sources in your garden.
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You can put food out to help birds this winter(Image: Getty Images)
This can include kitchen scraps such as mild grated cheese, fruit, cooked rice, unsalted hard fat, roast potatoes and dry porridge oats. You can also buy calorie-rich foods like mixed seeds, sunflower seeds, myjer seeds and peanuts.
But, be warned, you should not put out certain foods as they can pose a risk to the birds. Cooking fats from meat juices can turn into a runny and greasy mixture that can even stick to feathers.
You should also avoid dried coconut, cooked porridge oats, milk, and mouldy or salted food. As well as food, another simple way to help birds in your garden is by providing water sources.
Birds need fresh water all year round so they can drink and bathe. During cold conditions, water can freeze over, so make sure you keep it ice-free and topped up with fresh water.
Keeping things nice and clean is a must, which also refers to feeders. This can help reduce the spread of disease and is best done once a week.
To clean the feeders effectively, just use mild detergent such as washing up liquid but make sure you wear gloves. The final way to help the birds this winter is to provide shelter.
This will keep them in your garden for much longer, as they need places to settle in away from the cold. You can do this by planting dense hedges as well as letting ivy or Holly grow in the garden.
Birds can use these as places to snuggle down away from the elements. Nestboxes and bird houses can also be put up in the garden, providing them with a safe place to settle.
Make sure wherever you decide to place your bird house, it is away from predators and strong winds. It’s not just the birds that could do with a helping hand this winter, as compost heaps can be warm spaces for frogs and toads.
If you are planning a bonfire, make sure you look out for hedgehogs as they can find shelter in the logs and sticks.
A shallow dish of water at ground level can also help a range of animals in the garden, including birds, as they can stop off for a drink.
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