Feeding the birds is a hugely popular activity in the UK. Ideally, you should provide a supplementary food source for garden birds all year round, whilst considering ways to manage your garden to be as food friendly as possible. In autumn and winter garden birds need to build up fat to keep them warm during the colder months, they don't have the luxury of putting on another layer or another log on the fire like we do!
So what do you need to consider when feeding garden birds?
It's important to keep supplies topped up so that birds know they can rely on the food source but to apply the little and often rule so you can avoid food deteriorating in the harsh autumn/winter climate. Also, make sure you regularly clean your bird feeders to avoid germs and disease spreading. The internal conical shape in the Green&Blue Birdball peanut and seed ceramic bird feeders prevents the build up of debris making it a more hygienic design.
What can I feed to garden birds?
Fat ball feeders (suet balls)
Fat balls are great winter food for birds. If you buy readymade balls in net bags ensure you take them out before putting them in the garden as birds can damage feet and beaks in the bags. If you fancy making your own then check out our recipe on the blog. Belle bird feeders are the perfect way to feed fat and suet balls to garden birds.
Peanut feeders
Peanuts are a really helpful food source for small garden birds during the colder months as well as during the breeding season, they'll mean a variety of birds flock to your feeders as they provide the extra energy boost and fat source they need. The Green&Blue Peanut feeder is easy to hang and easy to fill, no fiddly nuts and bolts and it's unique Flexi perch system deters larger birds and mammals.
Bird Table bird feeders
The greater the variety of feeding stations you can offer in your garden the more species you can attract. Place your Bird Table in a quiet spot where birds won't be disturbed, but where they have a good view around them so they can be confident they won't be attacked whilst feeding there. Ideally, place your Bird Table near a spot that birds can use to check the area out, such a nearby bush or branch they can fly from. The Bird Table from Green&Blue can be used as a single dish on the ground or raised to your desired height with the Bird Table rings.
Seed Feeders
Sunflower hearts are rich in fat and protein and make a great food source all year round. A bird approaching a bird feeder takes a massive amount of energy so the more quick and efficient the food source the better, meaning birds expend less energy. You can offer seeds in the Green&Blue seed feeder or even sprinkled on the ground, table or railings - again just make sure you keep the area clean to avoid germs and unwanted garden visitors.
Why feed the birds?
As a connection to nature, bird feeding is one of the simplest and most pleasurable things you can do. Inviting and encouraging them into your garden gives you an ever changing view of a variety of species with all the associated songs, colours and changing behaviours. It's also a great way to introduce children to wildlife and to learn together about the different birds that visit. They also play a great role in natural pollination and insect and weed control in the garden, hopefully meaning you won't need to use harmful chemicals in your garden.
And birds need feeding. They are losing more wild space to ever increasing developments and more landscaped gardens and by giving them a helping hand with a food source and nesting space we can all do our bit to make up for this loss of habitat.