Preserving the natural habitats of animals not only prevents the delicate balance of the eco-system from being disturbed, but it also gives fascinating species the best chance of survival for many years to come.

While much of animal care revolves around common sense – such as installing stylish and functional bird feeders for winged guests, or allowing native plants to grow in order to provide food and shelter for various insects – it’s also useful to have a list of dos and don’ts to follow. So, here’s some handy advice to help you out.

Do…

Enjoy a spot of bird watching

Admiring and observing the natural wildlife in your local area is absolutely fine, so long as you don’t cause harm to the animals in any way. Bird watching is a particularly popular pastime, but if you decide to attract feathered friends by laying out food, here are some basic rules to remember.

What to do:

• Provide food all year round. While food sources are scarce for birds in winter, additional supplements can greatly help parent birds feed their young in warmer months.
• Use wild bird food mix as well as sunflower seeds, mild grated cheese, sultanas, raisins and currants (soaked overnight), pinhead oatmeal, fat balls, suet blocks, and soft fruit such as apples, pears and plumbs.
• Clean your feeders regularly so that birds can eat from a clean surface.
• Place bird feeders in a safe, well-protected environment where birds will feel comfortable.

What not to do:

• Don’t feed birds mouldy food.
• Don’t ‘crowd’ the birds you find. If you find a nest, leave it alone as your scent can signal a ‘ready meal’ for predators.

Do…

Make your garden animal friendly

One of the best ways to protect local wildlife is to ensure you garden is animal-friendly. This could mean avoiding chemicals that tend to kill off fragile insects and disrupt the eco-system, or it could mean allowing foliage to grow as this provides much-needed shelter and protection for insects. You may also consider getting rid of anything that might harm animals such as poison or spikey wires. Make an effort to lock bins to stop animals from accessing food sources that might make them sick.

Do…

Take an interest in local conservation projects

Conservation projects are important for the survival of rare species and help us find out more about the world’s creatures. So, take an interest and perhaps support such schemes through voluntary work. If the project accepts donations, you could even become a sponsor to help with funding and encourage your friends and relatives to do the same.

Don’t…

Turn a blind eye

The importance of local wildlife is often underestimated but without it the world would certain be a different place. Get involved, don’t ignore wildlife and do consider installing a bird feeder – even a step as simple as this could play a huge part in helping your local wildlife.