Winter Wildlife : Feeding Your Garden Birds Through Winter

Planning Your Winter Feeding Stations

Winter is finally here be it a little warmer than usual!. It’s time to get your bird feeders clean and stocked up! A reliable food source is crucial for birds during the cold months as they need to eat a third of their body weight to maintain a healthy weight and stay warm. In the UK, many birds including robins, sparrows and blue tits can greatly benefit from your help. It is a time when most natural food sources like seeds and berries will have been depleted and this is where you come in. If you have a garden, yard, balcony or just a ground floor window, you have an ideal place to start feeding birds. My local park even has birdfeeders throughout the winter which are topped up by volunteers regularly. As long as you can hang a feeder you can feed the birds.

Bird Feeders

I have compiled a list of the best feeders I have found on amazon for all situations and budgets.

https://amzn.to/3O1kneK A complete feeding station solution Includes Feeders and is suitable for a garden with borders or a lawn as needs to be staked into the ground. Alternatively it could be sunken into the soil of a large planter
https://amzn.to/3UQ1kHV If you like your tech then this is the feeder for you. Wall Mountable, movement activated camera feeder that can be viewed on your phone. See the birds feeding close up from the comfort of your sofa without disturbing them.
https://amzn.to/3YtCsqQ Metal, Squirrel bite proof Nut feeder, small birds can enter through the outer guard, which also gives them more safety from predators.
https://amzn.to/3MztgP7 Squirrel proof seed feeder. Chew proof Metal and Roxresin construction. Waterproof and rustproof. UV stabilised with a patented seed tube ventilation system, keeping seed fresher for longer. Includes 5 Year cover and Lifetime care.
https://amzn.to/3Z0Sl9u Heavy duty seed feeder with multiple feeding perches.
https://amzn.to/4hHWM09 British Birdwatching Winner Innovation Award. Window feeder and most wished for on amazon.
https://amzn.to/4oXIACP My favourite novelty bird feeder for something more natural looking.
https://amzn.to/4feUIet Suet Block Feeder designed for the birds to feed as they naturally would.
https://amzn.to/4pw5n9I It’s important to consider ground feeding birds like Blackbirds amongst others. This ground feeder is ideal as it offers some security against predator birds from above like Sparrowhawks whilst they feed on the ground. This one is also a Pigeon buster. They are unable to reach far enough in to feed. The bowl is easily removable for cleaning and filling.

Types of Food for Common UK Birds

When selecting food for your feeding stations, ensure that you provide a variety of seeds and nuts to cater to different species. For instance, peanuts are a great snack for great tits, while black sunflower seeds are loved by a multitude of birds. Additionally, offering suet blocks can provide essential energy for birds during harsh conditions. Don’t forget to supply fresh water, it’s just as vital as food!