RSPB's top tips to get your garden birds in tip-top condition

With Christmas in our sights and the cold nights drawing in, the RSPB is appealing to the people of Yorkshire to help our garden birds survive the winter.
RSPB bird care product. Fruity suet balls on mesh tray European Robin Erithacus rubeculaRSPB bird care product. Fruity suet balls on mesh tray European Robin Erithacus rubecula
RSPB bird care product. Fruity suet balls on mesh tray European Robin Erithacus rubecula

After benefitting from a mild autumn, birds start to struggle during the winter months. The countryside becomes bare as natural resources dwindle, but more energy is needed just to keep warm and the short days leave less time to find something to eat.

The nature charity says the key things that birds will need this winter are food, water and shelter.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Chris Collett from the RSPB in Northern England said: “Up until now birds have been able to feed on insects and seeds, but the cold weather means they move into our gardens to find refuge. You can make a real difference and improve their chances of survival, as well as being rewarded by great views of wildlife in your garden or outside space.”

Top tips to keeping your birds happy this winter

· Make it full fat: Birds need high-energy foods such as suet balls or cakes during the cold weather to maintain their fat reserves to survive the frosty nights. These are excellent winter foods and can be bought or home-made with lard or suet as a fun children’s activity.

· Top seed: Sunflower seeds are also high in fat – the oil content is higher in black than striped ones, and so they are much better. Sunflower hearts (the husked kernels) are a popular no-mess food.

· Save nature while shopping: Some bird food contains palm oil so check with your shop or supplier. Keep an eye out for the ‘Fair to Nature’ label – any seeds which have this label are grown by farmers who put aside at least 10% of their land for wildlife conservation.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

· Go nuts for peanuts: Siskins, tits and nuthatches love peanuts but make sure they’re fed from a stainless-steel mesh feeder. This will help stop squirrels and woodpeckers from destroying the feeder to get to the nuts!

· Spare some scraps: You don’t have to buy food in specially. Kitchen scraps like mild grated cheese, old fruit, cooked rice, unsalted bits of fat, roast potatoes and raw porridge oats will all be gratefully received. Dried fruits, such as raisins, sultanas and currants are particularly enjoyed by blackbirds, song thrushes and robins.

· No thank you: There are some foods you should avoid as they can be dangerous for birds. Cooking fat from the roast or Christmas turkey mixes with meat juices during cooking to make a runny, greasy mixture. This sticks to feathers and stops them from being waterproof. Others to avoid are dried coconut, cooked porridge oats, milk, and mouldy or salted food.

· Fresh is best: Another essential is fresh water for drinking and bathing. Finding sources of water can be hard with freezing temperatures, but there’s a simple trick which will help keep a patch of water ice-free. Float a small ball, such as a ping-pong ball, on the surface of the water and even a light breeze will stop it from freezing over.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

· Hide in a hedge: Providing shelter from the harsh weather is extremely important. Plant dense hedges such as wild privet or field maple and you’ll be providing a great place to roost in and shelter from the elements.

· Warmth is key: Nestboxes are not just used over the summer egg-laying season – many birds will use them on a cold winter’s night.