These how to keep garden birds fed in winter tips will help to make sure that not only will your garden birds be well fed over the winter months, but that you will also get some time outside during a time of year when we all spend much more time inside. Watching your garden visitors can bring joy, increase well-being over winter, and help wildlife in your garden.
- Suet balls or blocks
- Nuts, seeds, and mealworms
- Keeping feeders clean
- Fresh, ice-free water
- Ground feeders
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Suet balls and blocks
Suet balls, fat balls, and blocks are nutritious food for garden birds, from balls that can be easily hung up in trees or from the edges of birdhouses to suet blocks that can be hung in special block hangers, so birds can get to them quickly. These are a great source of energy for birds during a tough time of year for them. They can be bought, or you can make your own at home.
2. Nuts, seeds, and mealworms
There is a massive choice of seed mixes for garden birds. If you observe which birds already visit your garden, you can focus on ensuring that your seed mixes are appropriate. If you’d like to attract different species, try adding a few different feeders, including a range of nuts and seeds, so there is something for as many species as possible. You’ll find so much joy in spotting new birds visiting over the winter months.
3. Keeping feeders clean
When you top up your bird feeders, make sure they are kept clean to ensure there is no spread of diseases between birds. When the feeders are empty, take the opportunity to scrub them with warm soapy water and then rinse them well, dry, and refill them. Also, check over your bird tables and baths to keep them clean.
4. Fresh ice-free water
Imagine a meal without a drink to wash it down! Water can be supplied in bird baths or even in plant trays left on a table. The addition of stones can be helpful as well. Birds will bathe and drink from it, so if there has been a frost, ensure it isn’t frosted so the birds can still get the water.
5. Ground feeders
Some birds feed on a bird table, while others prefer to feed from the ground. Most will do both, but during the months when food is scarce, and birds need to save as much energy as possible to get through the cold weather, spreading some bird food, such as mealworms, on the ground will be helpful as well.
