How to Care for Your Garden Birds During Winter

Winter presents challenges for garden birds as natural food sources dwindle, temperatures drop, and the days grow shorter. With a little extra care, you can provide the support they need to stay healthy and thrive throughout the season. Here’s how you can help your feathered friends during the colder months.

Why Garden Birds Need Extra Help in Winter

Winter is a tough time for garden birds. Food sources like insects, berries, and seeds become scarce, and birds expend a lot of energy just to stay warm. A reliable supply of food and water in your garden can make a significant difference in their survival. Supporting birds during winter not only benefits them but also creates a wonderful opportunity to enjoy their beauty and activity in your outdoor space.

What to Feed Garden Birds in Winter

Offering high-energy, nutrient-rich foods is essential during the colder months. Fat balls and suet cakes are rich in calories and fat, providing the energy birds need to stay warm. Mealworms and calciworms are great protein-packed treats, with calciworms offering the added benefit of calcium to support bone health.

Peanuts are another excellent choice, as they’re high in protein and fat, but make sure they’re unsalted and offered in a mesh feeder to prevent choking hazards. Mixed seeds, including sunflower and nyjer seeds, attract a wide variety of species and keep your garden bustling with activity.

Providing Fresh Water

Access to fresh water is just as vital as food, especially in winter when natural sources may freeze. Birds need water for drinking and bathing, which keeps their feathers in good condition for insulation.

Check birdbaths regularly and remove any ice. Placing a small floating object, like a ping pong ball, in the water can help prevent freezing. Avoid using antifreeze or salt, as these are toxic to birds.

Creating a Safe Feeding Space

Ensuring your feeding areas are safe and inviting can encourage more birds to visit. Place feeders near shrubs or trees to give birds cover from predators and harsh weather. Using a mix of feeders, such as hanging feeders for small birds and ground feeders for robins, ensures you cater to a variety of species.

Clean feeders regularly to prevent the spread of diseases like avian pox. Wash them with warm water and a bird-safe disinfectant, and always clear away old or mouldy food.

Providing Shelter for Birds

Birds need places to rest and shelter during harsh weather. Bird boxes are a fantastic addition to your garden, offering a warm and safe space for roosting. Dense shrubs and hedges can also provide natural shelter from wind and snow.

Roosting pouches are another great option, especially for smaller birds, giving them extra protection during freezing nights.

Feeding Tips for Different Bird Species

Different birds have different preferences, so offering a variety of foods can attract a range of species. Robins love mealworms, suet, and sunflower hearts, which can be placed on the ground or on low tables. Finches and sparrows enjoy mixed seeds and nyjer seeds, which work well in specialised feeders. Tits and woodpeckers are drawn to fat balls, peanuts, and sunflower seeds, and hanging feeders positioned high up will encourage them to visit.

Long-Term Benefits of Winter Feeding

Supporting birds through winter doesn’t just help them survive—it encourages them to return to your garden in the spring. By providing a dependable food source, you’ll build a thriving wildlife-friendly environment and enjoy the sights and sounds of happy, healthy birds throughout the year.

Caring for garden birds during winter is a small act of kindness that makes a big difference. By offering high-energy foods, fresh water, and safe places to rest, you’ll help them survive the harshest months and emerge strong and healthy in spring.

For all your bird feeding needs, including fat balls, peanuts, mealworms, and more, visit our shop here. Together, we can keep our feathered friends thriving through the winter!