As the autumn leaves start to fall and the weather is starting to turn colder, one thing we must all remember to do is give a little extra help to our songbirds and other wildlife over the winter.
We know that birds and other animals can survive without our help, however this is the hardest time of year. Natural food sources are in short supply and with it being so cold, they need extra food to keep their energy levels up to stay warm.
This is where you can help; we've put together a few simple ideas to try for a safe and inviting garden this winter.
Offer them a variety of food, especially fatty foods which are high in protein:
Pick a time each day you will be free to top up those feeders, then your birds won’t waste precious energy visiting and hunting for food in your garden. This can be any time during the day, just try and keep it at roughly the same time.
The plastic nets around fat balls etc., are very dangerous for birds; they can get tangled up in them, so make sure never to hang them out with the plastic nets on. Most garden centres offer wire cages at little cost.
Certain birds such as blackbirds, robins & dunnocks prefer to feed on the ground.
If you don’t wish to scatter food on the ground, a small dish will be sufficient. Fill with ripe fruit such as apples or raisins, songbird mixes or mealworms. A great way of keeping these vulnerable ground-feeding birds safe from predators, such as free-roaming domestic cats, grey squirrels and sparrowhawks, is to put an old dog carrying cage over the scattered food, trays or dishes. This allows the smaller birds to access the food while keeping predators, scavengers and larger competitor birds like crows, magpies, jackdaws and pigeons out.
Clean water and food will encourage visiting hedgehogs to return regularly to your garden. Minced meat, fresh liver, tinned dog food (not fish based), or even scrambled eggs appeal to these prickly creatures.
Keeping the food under a platform or ridge tile will help to prevent other animals such as cats, dogs and foxes stealing the hedgehog's food. Build or buy a small feeding station or house to put the food into that will only allow hedgehogs to get in. Be aware – hedgehogs like milk but it may cause severe diarrhoea in youngsters. It is best to provide fresh water each night in a shallow bowl.
When it freezes, birds struggle to find a natural source of water as ponds & puddles may be frozen over. Keeping your bird baths, ponds or even a water bowl clean and frost free will really help them. To stop them freezing over add a clean ball (eg golf or ping pong ball) or wobbly rock to the water.
Many birds will be grateful for clear patches in the snow and ice. Grit and other nutrients available from the soil and ground are also needed to help with digestion and general health.
Like us, birds look for shelter to keep warm. Evergreens are a good source of shelter and will offer them some comfort in the cold weather.
Some ornimental conifers offer good cover as do privets, laurels and Pyracantha. Holly and ivy provide great cover and can be a saviour for many small birds. Making a windbreak can be an effective way of keeping an area of your garden clear from drifting snow and bitter winds, allowing the birds access to feeders during the winter.
An old Christmas tree, or a pile of branches and other foliage can be placed on the ground. Adding a sheet of plywood to serve as a wall will drastically reduce the wind. Behind the contraption, on the sheltered side you can clear the snow from the ground and either scatter seed or use ground feeders.
Providing a place for birds to hide near to a feeding station should encourage them to come as it means its only a short distance to the food and water which allows them to expend as little energy as possible to reach their meals. this way they have more energy to stay warm!
In the cold weather predators will need to eat more to keep warm as well. There are a few things you can do to avoid them snacking on your songbirds. Place bells on cats' collars so that they can alert the birds when they are too close. Predator-proof feeding stations are also very helpful.
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