Even though the snow is beginning to thaw in parts of Surrey, the wild birds that inhabit your garden still need supplements to their usual diet, and a fresh supply of water each day. With heavy snowfall, wild birds usual food sources are covered up, but even as the snow starts to disappear the ground is often too hard for natural foraging.
There are several simple things you can do to help with winter feeding, as outlined below by the RSPB:
1. Put out feed regularly, especially in severe weather. Set up a bird table and use high calorie seed mixes. This can also be used to put out kitchen scraps such as animal fats, grated cheese and porridge oats
2. Put out hanging feeders for black sunflower seeds, sunflower hearts, sunflower-rich mixes or unsalted peanuts
3. Ensure a supply of fresh water every day. If it is very cold use tepid water but DO NOT use any antifreeze products
4. Put out fruit, such as apples and pears, for blackbirds, song thrushes and other members of the thrush family
5. Food bars or fat hung up or rubbed into the bark of trees is a great help for treecreepers, goldcrests and many other species
6. Put up nest boxes to provide roost sites for the smaller birds. They will then be used for breeding later in the year
There's more information available on the RSPB's website, so check it out.
It's essential that we put out high calorie foods for our native birds during the winter, not only to help them survive at all but also so they're in good physical condition for breeding in spring.
You don't need to spend a fortune on food or feeders - there are usually affordable options available in garden centres and DIY stores.
Katrina
Thank you for reading TheBestOfRedhill and TheBestOfReigate Blog. If you are LOCAL to Redhill or Reigate and VOCAL - we'd love to hear from you. Come and blog with us: email redhill@thebestof.co.uk or reigate@thebestof.co.uk
TheBestOfRedhill and TheBestOfReigate Blogs - what's on, what's new, what's done, what's you
Katrina is a freelance writer and photographer with The Little White Studio.