Feeding birds in your garden

Watching birds make their homes in your garden is a popular past-time and, according to the RSPB, more than 50% of us leave food out for our feathered friends.  Feeding garden birds is a great way to encourage more birds to visit you and, with some careful garden design, feeding can also be used to tempt birds to come closer to the house, garden shed or whatever it is that you use as a bird spotting vantage point.

In London garden design can often favour humans rather wildlife with many people using their gardens predominantly for patios or paving but even so, feeding tables and bird feeders can be used to compensate for the loss of hedges and shrubs which would usually provide shelter for British birds.

Supplementary feeding can give a great boost to garden birds but it can’t give them all of the protein and vitamins they need so, even if space is limited, try to leave some space for lawns, flower beds and shrubs.  If you suffer from a shortage of space like many people in London garden design companies can help you get creative about how to make better use of the space available and maximise the rewards for both you and your feathered friends.

What food to provide

Small seeds, for example millet, will be devoured sparrows, whilst blackbirds often seem to prefer flaked maize. Pinhead oatmeal is another good choice and larger birds such as pigeons or doves will enjoy wheat and barley grains.

It’s best to avoid split peas, beans or other pulses as these are really only suitable for larger birds but peanuts, black sunflower seeds and Nyjer seeds are all great options.

How to feed birds

Bird feeders filled with any of the suggestions above can be attached to garden fencing and if you position it right you’ll get a great view of the birds tucking in.  When choosing a  wire feeder, look for one where the mesh is large enough to stop beaks from getting caught but small enough to prevent the bird removing huge chunks of a nut in one go.

Transparent tube feeders are also good and are especially well suited to sunflower seeds or packets of seed mix.  These will be a firm favourite of Blue Tits and Greenfinches.

When to feed them

Winter is the number one time to remember birds as that’s when food gets really scarce but food shortages can happen at any time and feeding birds all year round can help feed them up and make them better able to cope with food shortages, whatever the time of year.

During winter, it’s best to feed regularly – even if means pulling on your muddy wellies to venture outside in the snow and if you can manage to feed them twice a day, in the morning and in the early afternoon you’ll be making some friends for life…

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