you can help songbirds survive this winter

Here are budget-friendly tips to attract more songbirds to your garden or green space.

GIVE FOOD

Plants and flowers are nature’s bird feeders, but in the winter when they die back, we recommend giving extra food to songbirds.

Choosing a high-quality bird feed, made for small birds or high in protein, will attract the largest variety of birds into your garden.

Fat balls and suet balls and blocks are also a great energy source. One fat ball can provide enough energy for 17 robins for a day.

You can also share some healthy food scraps, like chopped up apples or pears or finely chopped unsmoked bacon rind. Robins also love Christmas cake!  

Refreshing food twice a day is a good rule of thumb. Once first thing in the morning to help the birds replenish fat supplies lost overnight, and late afternoon to get them through the cold night ahead.
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GIVE WATER

Providing fresh, clean water daily will help attract more birds to your garden.

Birds are more than happy to use a shallow dish or container to drink and wash in.

For example, a plant pot saucer or shallow bowl are ideal. When it's freezing, place a small ball in the dish to help stop the water icing over.

Think carefully where to place the water so it is away from potential predators like cats.

To prevent the spread of disease, it is also important to clean your bird feeders and water baths regularly.

We recommend cleaning your bird feeders and water baths at least once a week, and more frequently during times of high bird activity.

GIVE SHELTER

Birds need shelter from the cold, especially on cold, winter nights.

Leaving things to get a bit wilder in your garden in the winter months, and leaving fallen leaves, can give shelter.

You can make a windbreak in your garden for birds by placing a pile of branches and foliage on the ground. Adding a sheet of plywood to serve as a wall will drastically reduce the wind and provide shelter from wind and snow too.

If you have space and permission, install a bird box for birds to sleep in and have a safe place to nest in this spring.

Some birds, including tits and wrens, will shelter in empty nest boxes, snuggling together for warmth.