How to care for the birds in your garden
The birds in your garden will need a variety of foods throughout the year, and don't forget to provide them with a fresh supply of water at all times. Here are a few tips to help you care for them:
- JANUARY - Provide lots of high energy food during winter; it will help birds keep warm. Seed mixes and high quality peanuts are best and put up bird tables, hanging feeders and ground feeding stations to provide for a wide variety of birds.
- FEBRUARY - Begin putting out high protein foods such as mealworm and maggots which you can buy form fishing tackle shops. This will help the birds build up their strength for the rigours of breeding and raising their young. Place the food on a bird table or ground feeding station.
- MARCH - At this time of the year natural food resources in you garden are at their lowest. Keep putting out generous quantities of seed mixes, food bars and fat balls, as well as mealworms and live food.
- APRIL- With very little natural food available around the garden at this time of year, help seed feeding bird by providing seed mixes on bird tables and hanging feeders.
- MAY - Breeding birds will be seeking out protein rich food for their young. To provide them with the energy they require, make sure you regularly put out food mixes on hanging feeders, ground feeders or bird tables.
- JUNE - Adult birds may still be busy feeding their first brood or preparing for a second. Provide them with protein rich food such as dried mealworms or live food to provide adult birds with energy and help young birds grow.
- JULY - With many birds maturing from spring and early summer broods, it is vital to provide them with regular supply of food such as seed mixes and dried and live food.
- AUGUST - Long warm days give birds plenty of time to feed so they have less need for high energy nutrition. Keep providing small amounts of seeds in hanging feeders, ground feeders or on bird tables.
- SEPTEMBER - With ripening fruit, berries and nuts, this is a time of plenty for birds, but keep putting out small quantities of seeds and take the opportunity to clean bird feeders and bird tables.
- OCTOBER - Now that the nights drawing in, birds need to find lots of food in a shorter period of time. Seeds, nuts and fat balls will give them instant energy and help insulate their bodies against to colder nights. Remember to put out separate nyger feeders for finches.
- NOVEMBER - With large numbers of migrant birds arriving and natural supplies of food dwindling, put out apples and pears for thrushes and blackbirds. Fat balls and suet feast will help the birds to maintain their bodyweight.
- DECEMBER - Left-overs from Christmas dinner are ideal food for birds. Provide fat from cooked meat, root vegetables and slices roast potatoes, but continue to provide seed mixes and fat bars in hanging feeders, ground feeder and bird tables.
**REMEMBER: Always ensure you regularly clean up any old, uneaten food.
