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Winter care for wild birds

Published: 4:05 PM October 28, 2014 Updated: 11:17 AM February 3, 2021

A blue tit feeding during the winter months - Credit: Archant

Promotional feature: As the colder weather approaches, spare a thought for the wild birds in your garden. CJ Wildlife offer some tips on how you can help them survive the winter.

During the winter months there are less daylight hours for the birds to feed and longer, colder nights for them to endure. Providing a regular supply of supplementary food which is rich in calories will help the birds consume the energy required to stay warm, giving them a better chance of survival.

Sunflower hearts are a good option because they are a firm favourite with many birds. They can be fed from a feeder or a bird table and are naturally high in oil. You can buy straight sunflower hearts or choose a good quality seed mix; the advantage of a mix is that they contain combinations of ingredients to entice more species.

Fat-based products are also a great source of energy and peanut cakes or fat balls are a traditional favourite because they are packed full of calories. You could even try ‘Peanut Butter for Birds’ which is high in calories and provides an instant energy boost, especially for smaller birds.

Water is vital for birds feeding on dry seeds or peanuts and they also need to bathe regularly. In cold weather, clean, healthy plumage equals better insulation! Make sure that fresh water is available throughout the day and remember to remove any ice. A small amount of warm water can be added to delay refreezing but never use additives such as anti-freeze.

Natural food sources diminish significantly from November to March, particularly once we get frost and snow. This means you will see even more birds visiting your garden. You may need to increase the amount of food you put out and the number of feeding areas you have in order to satisfy demand. Another top tip is to avoid disturbing the feeding areas during the first and last hours of the day as this is when they will be at their busiest.

By following this simple advice you can do your bit to keep the UK birding population fit and healthy this winter!