Gardens: RSPB’s annual Feed the Birds Day

Make friends with the birds and you will have year-round interest and colour in the garden

It’s hard to imagine a gardener who doesn’t enjoy watching birds as they go about their daily lives in our immediate vicinity. As much as the flowers, trees and shrubs, birds are among the essential ingredients in what makes a garden special. As our plants become dormant through winter, it’s birds that often become the focus of our attention. Next weekend marks the RSPB’s annual Feed the Birds Day (29 October, www.rspb.org.uk/feedthebirds). Many gardeners will be well used to hanging up a peanut feeder or putting scraps on a bird table, but this day aims to raise awareness of just how important our efforts are to the bird population.

“RSPB’s Feed the Birds Day is an annual reminder that as winter approaches natural food sources such as fallen fruit, berries and insects start to dwindle, and some species will rely on human help to ensure they keep their energy up,” says Louise Smith of RSPB Scotland. “By starting to put food out now, nature lovers will help wildlife prepare for the tougher times ahead.” It’s estimated that over half of adults in the UK feed birds in the garden, but we’re not always confident that we’re putting out the right food. During the cold weather, birds require high-energy foods to maintain their body reserves to survive the frosty nights. “Bird cake and food bars are very good because of their high-fat content, as are peanuts,” says Smith. “Bird seed mixtures are also high in oils. You can also feed them kitchen scraps, such as fat and suet, mild grated cheese, cooked potatoes, pastry and dried fruit.”

Of course, gardens themselves provide a source of both food and shelter for birds. Berrying shrubs such as cotoneaster, berberis, pyracantha, hawthorn, dog rose and honeysuckle should all prove popular not only for their berries, but for the insect life they support. Leaving seed heads on plants over winter provides an additional food source. Smith points out that during the winter months, natural food sources can be hard to come by, particularly during heavy snow and ice. “Supplementary feeding ensures that birds have regular access to food, can survive periods of severe winter weather and are in good breeding condition in the spring,” she adds.

If you’ve tried varying the sorts of food you put out, you’ll have noticed that certain species like particular foods. Highly nutritious nyjer seed, for example, seems to act like a magnet to any goldfinches, greenfinches or siskins that are in the local area. Fruit such as apples and pears will be enjoyed by members of the thrush family; while hanging food bars on trees or rubbing fat into the bark is a great help for treecreepers, goldcrests and many other species. There is a huge variety of bird seed mixes for sale – small seeds like millet attract house sparrows and dunnocks, while flaked maize is a favourite of blackbirds. Tits and greenfinches will flock to sunflower seeds and peanuts while nuthatches and coal tits sometimes hoard peanuts. It’s important not to put out salted peanuts and to buy from a reputable source to ensure the peanuts don’t contain aflatoxin, which can kill birds. Barley and wheat grains are often found in seed mixtures, but these are really only suitable for ground-feeding birds like pigeons, doves and pheasants (which can deter visits from smaller species).

Fat balls and bars are another popular choice and you can make your own by pouring melted suet or lard into a mould with seeds, nuts, dried fruit, oatmeal, cheese and cake (the mix should be around two thirds mixture to one third fat). The RSPB points out that fat from cooking is not suitable for birds – fat from roasting tins that has mixed with meat juices has a consistency that tends to smear on birds’ feathers and the fat is also a breeding ground for bacteria. Being aware of hygiene when feeding birds is very important. “Cleanliness is vital when providing food and water for garden birds,” says Louise Smith. “When a large number of birds are attracted into an area to feed, the danger of disease increases. It is therefore important that all feeding areas are checked and swept clean regularly to ensure there is no build up of food particles or droppings. Drinking water should also be replaced daily to ensure it doesn’t become stagnant or dirty.”

We’ve all got favourites we might be fond of seeing in the garden, but are there any particular species that need our help? “Smaller bodied birds, such as coal and long-tailed tits are most susceptible to the cold, needing very dependable food supplies to survive plummeting temperatures,” say Smith. “These birds need to eat little and often so it’s important food and water is provided on a regular basis, sometimes twice a day (in the morning and early afternoon) during particularly severe weather.”

In terms of where to locate your bird table or feeders, the important thing is to position them where the birds are safe and will be able to feed undisturbed. Smith advises against putting them near fences or dense hedges, where cats can easily get to them, and suggests that if there is a small bush near the feeders, this will provide a look-out point so that the birds can make sure it is safe. The other important thing is to put them where you can see them. “Feeding garden birds is a popular activity, enjoyed by hundreds of people across Scotland on a daily basis,” says Smith. “For most, it is their first chance to enjoy wildlife at close quarters and for adults, it is an easy way to start teaching children about wildlife. Many people take great pleasure in watching the birds that visit their garden, and are pleased to feel like they are stepping up for nature during a difficult time of the year.”