Winter can be a tough time for birds – especially if the temperature drops to freezing levels.
There are ways you can help them survive though, so that they are still around in summer to watch.
Provide them with food
One thing that birds really need during the cold weather is food. This provides them with the energy for keeping warm.
The problem is that the darker days and nights of winter make it harder for them to locate food for themselves. This is where you come in, and you should keep your feeders well stocked for the duration of the season.
Suet cakes, dry porridge oats, hard unsalted fat and slices of fruit are all excellent sources of energy.
Provide them with water
Water is something that birds need all year round, but winter can lead to natural sources becoming frozen. Therefore, you should provide fresh water each day in a bird bath.
Make sure to clean both it and your feeders once each week using mild detergent though, as this will keep disease away.
Provide them with shelter
Garden birds need to be protected from the harsh winds of winter. One way of helping them with this is to buy a bird house for them to shelter in. Another option is to grow hawthorn or privet hedges out, as this will give them a place to shield from the cold.
If you follow this advice, your garden birds will be able make it through another winter!
