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Monty Don’s 1 simple task will attract birds to your garden and keep the pigeons away

Monty Don has shared his February gardening jobs, and one of the daily tasks is essential for bird lovers to support wildlife.Chaffinch, Scientific name: Fringilla coelebs, adult male Chaffinch with scaly leg mites, perched on a branch and feeding his young chick in Springtime. Horizontal. Copy space

Monty Don’s 1 simple task will attract birds to your garden and keep the pigeons away(Image: Callingcurlew23 via Getty Images)

Birds brighten up our outdoor spaces and desperately need our support, particularly as native species numbers continue to dwindle across the UK.

With February delivering its usual dose of grim, freezing, damp conditions, it’s the perfect moment to ensure garden birds are getting proper nutrition, according to gardening legend Monty Don.

In his February round-up of essential gardening tasks, Monty highlighted the crucial job of supplying birds with daily sustenance, especially when the mercury plummets.

The horticultural expert expressed his worry for our winged garden guests during winter, stressing how vital it is that they remain well-fed through the brutal season.

Blue tits and great tits feeding on peanuts that have been put out in a hanging feeder to help birds over the winter. A long-tailed tit is feeding on fat balls behind.

Birds make our gardens happier places, and they need our help, too(Image: Trudie Davidson via Getty Images)

Among the most critical actions you can take is offering a reliable and nourishing supply of bird feed.

Keeping them fed bolsters their energy levels and warmth, which not only aids their survival but also ensures your garden remains a hub of avian activity.

Monty advised: “Keep feeding the birds as they begin to mate, nest, and lay their first clutches of eggs.” He added: “The better nourished the parent birds are, especially during cold weather, the larger and healthier their offspring will be.

“Make sure to provide fat, nuts, and seeds daily throughout the month, and don’t forget to offer fresh drinking and bathing water.”

Previously, Monty has warned against scattering grains, explaining that these typically attract pigeons, sparrows, squirrels, and even rats, which can wreak havoc in your garden. Instead, opt for energy-dense options like seeds, nuts and fats to ensure birds get the vital nutrition they require.

Photograph taken at an altitude of Sixty four metres at 09:34am on a cold afternoon in May, of a pair Feral pigeon (Columba livia), off Chessington Avenue in Bexleyheath, Kent. They are a wild ancestor of domestic world pigeons. A common sight in UK gardens, and traditionally seen on London postcards of Piccadilly circus until the feeding of pigeons was banned, they can weigh up to 370g with a wingspan of 34cms. There are approximately 550,000 breeding pairs in the UK.

Monty has previously cautioned against offering grains, as these tend to draw pigeons(Image: DESPITE STRAIGHT LINES (Paul Williams) via Getty Images)

Consistency matters when it comes to feeding garden birds. By keeping food supplies reliably topped up, your outdoor space becomes a trusted feeding station they’ll return to time and again.

What’s more, clean drinking water is essential, particularly when temperatures plummet and natural sources freeze over.

Monty Don’s advice for February serves as a timely reminder that offering suitable food and fresh water helps birds through harsh conditions whilst bringing life and colour to our gardens.

This straightforward act of kindness can have a real impact on local wildlife populations.

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