Help your garden birds this winter

As temperatures plummet, the ground hardens up, making it harder for birds to find tasty morsels in our lawns.

Winter bird food

At this time of year, black oil sunflower seeds are a great choice for the bird table. These particular seeds have a thinner than normal shell, which makes them easier to break down in cold weather. They also have higher oil content than most other seeds, which delivers a more nutritious and efficient feed. Particularly important at this time of year, when more natural food sources are scarce.

Winter time is also a good time for using suet in the garden for your visiting birds. For large parts of the year a lot of people like to avoid this product, given that it is prone to melting, but at the moment we have a few months ahead of us where that is highly unlikely! Suet can be found in a range of different blends and it can be fun to experiment to see what birds you can attract to your garden.

Home made bird food

If you want to put something together yourself, then unwanted fruit that can serve very well in the winter time. Some of our summer songbirds will migrate during the winter months, but there are plenty of other birds that will welcome a fruity winter time treat. Simply chop up some apples, make some orange wedges, cut up some banana’s and slice a few grapes. Melon rind is another option, and means you can still enjoy the fruit before effectively recycling what is left over.

Just like the autumn time, peanuts are an excellent choice in the winter months. The main reason for this is that the peanuts don’t freeze. Allowing all of your visiting birds to digest the high energy nuts 24/7. You can choose to put them out shelled or unshelled, and even smearing peanut butter on a tree outside will be welcome!

Salt for garden birds

Salt is a surprising dietary requirement for many of our garden breeds in the winter months. Unfortunately, the only place that salt is abundantly available during this time of year is on our roads. Once temperatures plunge, many of our roads are gritted on a regular basis. This provides birds with an almost limitless supply of salt, but it is also a dangerous location for them to be.

It’s very easy to provide salt for visiting birds yourself. Simply create a strong salt water solution and allow it to evaporate in a saucer on your bird table. This will leave salt crystals which will be easy for your visiting birds to feed on. Be careful not to allow this solution to get onto your lawn though. Salt can restrict the growth of grass and could potentially leave your garden in a poor state for the arrival of spring.

Choosing bird food

If you don’t have time to make your own mixes for birds in your garden, you can find plenty of pre-prepared products at Dobbies online and in-store. When picking winter bird food, try and choose simple bird seed mixes and especially those with sunflower seeds. Avoid mixes high in fillers such as wheat and corn and you will be doing your garden visitors a great service!

Bird feeders are vital

That’s one of the conclusions of research released by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO).

Bird feeders now attract many more species than forty years ago – according to the study, half as many again.

The research has been conducted in 250 gardens each year since the beginning of the 1970’s. It found that while the gold finch appeared in just one percent of gardens forty years ago, that figure has now risen to nearly two thirds.

Also visiting far more gardens than they used to are long tailed tits. This species now makes appearances in a third of the gardens surveyed compared with just three percent forty years ago.

So what’s happening?

Well according to BTO head of garden ecology Mike Toms, birds are visiting garden feeders more often for different reasons.

In some cases the story is a positive one with species like the wood pigeon and the woodpecker flourishing in their woodland setting and also making many more visits to gardens. Numbers are healthy and the birds are merely capitalising on an easy supply of food.

But sadly in many cases, birds species like the bullfinch are being seen much more often in the garden but are actually in decline in the wild. This suggests that the birds are struggling to find food and being forced to resort to the offerings made my thoughtful householders.

The decline of species in the wild has been blamed by the BTO on changes in farming and woodland management practices. The loss of stubble fields and more efficient harvesting techniques just two factors that reduce the amount of food available in the wild.

The BTO’s Tim Harrison says that the effect of this is to push individuals of many species out of their traditional habitats, while increased availability of specialist bird foods and feeders is pulling them into gardens.

In fact generous gardeners now play a major role in supporting wild bird populations through the year. Over the 41 years of the annual survey, some 177 species have been spotted using garden feeders. Around half of all householders now feed the birds in their garden and an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 tonnes of food is put out each year.

From bird seed to bird feeders and bird baths, here at Dobbies you’ll find everything you need to give the wild birds in your garden the help they need this winter.

For more information on the study visit the British Trust for Ornithology website.

Chapelwood are suppliers of top quality wild bird food suitable for attracting a wide variety of feathered visitors to your garden this winter.

By feeding the birds, you’ll be a big help in enabling them to survive the cold winter months when food is hard for them to find. But it’s important to make sure you feed them the right bird food. As some of the foods we throw out to the birds may actually do them more harm than good.

Chapelwood provide just the nourishment our feathered friends need: seed mixes, nuts and fatty treats that help them keep the winter chills at bay.

High energy, no mess bird food

Click image for details

Bird food for specific species

Click image for details

Chapelwood robin food is a mixture of pinhead oatmeal, kibbled peanuts, sunflower hearts and meal worms. The perfect combination of nutrients to keep our most hardy of native birds coming back for more.

Click image for details

Fatty bird food

Click image for details

Natural bird food

Click image for details

There’s no doubt that Chapelwood have the right combination of foods to encourage avian health and vitality in your backyard. All you need now is an appropriate bird feeder situated out of the reach of potential predators, and you’ll be set to enjoy a vibrant colourful display of wild birds all year round.

For the bird table to look after the birds, you have to look after the bird table.

To help you do that, we’ve collected 10 top bird table tips:

1. Be patient
Adding a new bird table to your garden can be exciting. You will no doubt wait with baited breath for the garden to be immediately filled with birdsong.

However, this is quite often not the case. If it takes a few days for visitors to take up your offer of free food, just be patient. When they realise your garden is a safe source of fresh food and water and not a trap, they’ll become regular patrons.

Hanging bird table

A mixture of food sites will help every avian visitor feel special, by having suitable for their subtely different tastes.

3. Location, location, location
Building on the last point, it is important to consider the positioning of your bird table. Larger birds like to feed off the ground and smaller birds are more adept at accessing food from suspended positions.

To make sure everyone gets in on the action, position the food sites using a combination of the following: pole mounted bird tables, ground tables, hanging bird tables suspended from above or bird tables placed on window ledges.

Bird bath time

A bird bath or bowl is vital for quenching their thirst and cleaning their feathers. Make sure water in winter doesn’t get frozen over, but don’t use anti-freeze!

5. Bird smorgasbord
Different types of food will appeal to different types of bird. So what you put out will naturally draw the attention of certain species more than others.

For a guide to which birds prefer which food, see our bird food guide.

Open wooden bird table

Avoid placing it near fences or small trees where cats or squirrels can launch a surprise attack However some nearby shrubbery can offer extra protection.

7. Shrubbery for shelter and safety
Providing shelter in the form of bushes and shrubs will give birds protection, for when predators come looking for feathered snacks. It will also attract more birds to your garden.

Bushes are a reassuring feature for birds. They offer a vantage point to check out your new bird table from, and helps them feel safe.

Winter feeding

Be ready to give a helping hand at this time of the year, and soon your garden will have a regular stream of grateful visitors.

9. Allow drainage
Whether you are buying or making a bird table, make sure there are holes in the corners to allow the rain to drain away.

Otherwise you can end up with a rather mushy offering for the birds, as well as a breeding site for bacteria.

10. Keep it clean
To stop your bird table from becoming a health hazard, clean it regularly.

Make sure you get rid of any old food debris, each time you put new food out. Once a month, give it a good scrub with some disinfectant and move it to an alternate spot to stop bird droppings accruing in any one place.

When you clean your table in Autumn, take the time to make sure it’s still in one piece by tightening any screws and checking for wear and tear. That way if it does need replacing you still have a bit of time to get a new one in time for winter, when it will be needed the most.

If the birds in your garden could benefit from a home makeover, take a look at the grand designs featured in Dobbies new bird house range.

Perfect for perking up the birds as well as your garden, the new range features natural Silver Birch logs and nest box cameras. Another refreshing addition is a ceramic teapot, re-developed for use as an open fronted bird house.

With so many desirable properties on the market at amazing prices, there’s never been a better time to go house hunting for your feathered friends.

Open fronted Silver Birch log house

Silver Birch bird house
Click image for details

Once inside, the birds will be pleasantly surprised with the thick sides of the nestbox. This will provide residents with excellent insulation and keep their nests cosy whatever the weather.

Ceramic teapot nester

Ceramic teapot bird house
Click on image for details

These teapots have been converted and crafted to a high specification, providing the perfect abode for our favourite red chested friends.

Colour camera nestbox

Bird box with colour camera
Click on image for details

The tiny colour camera includes audio, so you can hear and see everything that’s going on. An array of adjustable white LED lights also allow users to set just the right level of light. A built-in timer will reduce power usage and prevent the lights disturbing the birds at night.

Silver Birch bird box

Silver Birch nest box for small birds
Click on image for details

Closed off from the elements and with thick sides for excellent insulation, this bird house will keep smaller birds dry and warm through winter.

Made from naturally durable FSC timber, the nest box requires no maintenance. When it comes to cleaning the nest box, it couldn’t be easier, simply remove one screw and swivel the lid.

For more information on all of these attractive new bird houses, plus lots more, visit Dobbies online.

Keep your bird table topped up for Autumn

These types of food help birds keep their own fat reserves topped up in preparation for the cold winter weather to come.

Suitable autumn food for the bird table includes nuts, seeds and fat balls. Peanuts are a great source of fat for birds and are popular with many of our garden breeds. Black sunflower seeds are another good choice for bird lovers, as they are high in fat and suitable for feeding all year round.

You can make your own high fat foods for birds, but do be careful about what you use.

Don’t be tempted to put out the cooking fat from your Sunday roast, as it can harbour bacteria that is harmful to birds. Also, the consistency of the mixture of fat and meat juices can be very greasy, damaging birds’ feathers and making them less resistant to the rain and cold. Margarine and vegetable oils are also unsuitable bird foods for this reason.

Homemade high fat treats are best made from suet and lard, which are safe because they are pure fats. Melt the suet or lard in a pan and then mix in some suitable nuts and seeds. Pour the mixture into a half coconut shell with a string threaded through it. Once the mixture is set, hang it somewhere where you can enjoy watching the birds feed.

Try to put food and water out regularly for your garden birds. They will soon learn to expect the sustenance you provide for them and will return to your garden each day to look for it. The RSPB recommends feeding birds twice a day – in the morning and afternoon – if possible.

But also try to keep an eye on how much food is required. Don’t let quantities of uneaten food build up on your bird table as this can quickly turn mouldy and lead to salmonella, which can be deadly for birds like sparrows and greenfinches.

If you don’t have time to make your own, browse Dobbies wide range of bird food, available online and in-store.

For a range of bird box cameras
Click on the image above

That way you can watch your first tenants move in, build a nest and hatch their eggs. Then watch with sympathetic encouragement as their young build up their strength before flying the nest.

The close proximity a camera creates means you get a great view of the birds living in your garden, without disturbing or scaring them. Allowing you to learn and love the characteristics of your avian friends from the sofa.

Get ready for the Spring breeding season by leaving bird boxes out over Winter, this allows the birds to get used to it. If you’re lucky you may even get some early visitors looking to escape the Winter cold.

So, if you want to watch the whole birdy soap opera of hatching, fledging and leaving the nest, visit Dobbies.com and get a bird box with camera for your garden. Here’s a sample of the avain action you could soon be enjoying:

Build a beautiful bird house

Building bird houses is surprisingly simple, and the finished product will impress all your friends, feathered or otherwise.

All you need is some wood, a few tools and a little bit of flair and soon enough you’ll be an avian house-builder beyond compare.

This hand picked selection of how-to guides should inspire a sprint to the shed, and get you hammering in no time.

Step by step with Grandad:

A back to basics, hands-on guide to building a bird house.

To start you off, head to the shed with Grandad who will take some time to get you set up for making a bird house.

This video is nice and simple and goes at a good pace for beginners. So you time to get a good grasp of the basics, whilst still making a beautiful and unique bird house.

Intermediate nest box:

Build Your Own Mid-Century Birdhouse.

Once you’ve mastered the basics you can go on to all manner of designs and plans to turn people’s heads as much as those of the birds.

This how-to guide ups the anti and sets its sights on a mid-century North American home design with sleek angles, modern lines and plenty of style.

Expert bird box:

It’s time to get decorative.

If you are still thirsty for more, this video refreshingly plunges in to the world of decorative woodwork for bird houses.

Keep an eye out for bird sized furniture, pots and pans as well as porches, decks and chimneys.

Extreme bird house building

For those who know no limits.

These extreme bird houses are more like bird mansions due to their huge scale, intricacy and lavish design.

If you progress to building bird houses to this level, than you may have a news crew coming to visit you soon, so get cracking and go wild!

Wild birds love to splash about in bird baths, and we love to watch them.

Bird baths brimming with fresh water, are just as important as bird feeders full of food for our feathered friends.

Clean water will help keep your local avian population happy and healthy. In return they will perform a wet and wild show for you to enjoy everyday.

Bald Eagle bird bath
Photo by Hans Splinter

Bottoms up!
Photo by Matt.herzog

Anyone got a comb?
Photo by Duncan Brown

Blow dried bird
Photo by Krysia B

Bird bath bully
Photo by Krysia B

Bird bath blur
Photo by Ben Grey

A splash of colour
Photo by Mctheriot

Shake your tail feathers
Photo by Duncan Brown

Blue tit bathing
Photo by Duncan Brown

Soggy robin
Photo by Jans Canon

Bird bath invaders
Photo by Miguel Angel Rodriguez

Wild birds flock to nut feeders

By leaving bird food out now, you can gain the confidence of wild birds, who will visit you all through winter.

They may even choose your garden as their new home, when the breeding season starts up again in February.

So here’s a guide on how, what and when to feed your wild birds:

Wild bird feeders

Wild bird feeders are perhaps the best way to help your local avian population stay healthy. The most popular of which are nut feeders, seed feeders, nyjer feeders, fat feeders and bird tables.

Nut feeders are usually simple mesh cylinders hung from bird tables, tree branches or specially made crooks. The mesh is small enough to keep nuts contained inside, but large enough to let the birds get at them without hurting or damaging their beaks.

Seed feeders are often plastic cylinders with small holes at the base, through which the birds can get at the seed. Sunflower seeds provide a high energy feed and prove very popular with a wide range of birds including collared doves, starlings, robins, blue tits and sparrows.

Nyjer seeds are a lot smaller than most seeds, and best contained in closed cylinders that have small hoppers or trays beneath. They are oil rich and highly nutritious, proving an irrestible meal for greenfinches, goldfinches and siskins.

Fat feeders provide the perfect feast for winter. Fat feeders are usually open mesh cages with large holes, designed to contain fat and suet balls or cakes. These fatty foods give wild birds the all important fat and energy to keep them warm during the colder months.

Bird tables

Wild birds come in all shapes and sizes, and modern bird feeders are usually designed with smaller birds in mind. A bird table is an attractive option for luring larger birds.

A bird table can be a simple tray on top of a small pedestal, to keep the birds safe from predators. The simple flat and open design allows you to provide a wide range of bird feed, in turn attracting a wide range of birds.

They take a bit more looking after than other feeders as they can get clogged up with old food and droppings, so be sure to keep them clean. Bird tables with roofs not only look great, but they keep the birds and food, dry and safe.

Autumn and winter feeding

Long tail tits fattening up for winter

The colder it gets the more fat the birds will need. Fatty foods help birds maintain energy levels and body-warming fat reserves. Try to remember that birds need water just as much as food, so be quick to break any ice on a bird bath.

If you keep to a regular routine of feeding and watering, word will spread and your garden will be a popular pitstop for all kinds of wild birds.

Spring and summer feeding

During the summer months be careful what you put out for your garden birds, and keep your feeders clean.

In warmer months birds need high protein foods, especially when they’re moulting and breeding. Sunflower seeds, soaked sultanas, mild grated cheese, mealworms, and good seed mixtures without loose peanuts are ideal for this time of year.

Peanuts, fat and bread can be harmful during breeding season as adult birds may feed them to their nestlings. Only supply peanuts in suitable mesh feeders, this will ensure only small pieces of peanut can be removed and redice a choking risk.

Fatballs can quickly go rancid in warm weather, and should be avoided. Natural food shortages can occur during the breeding season, so regular food supplies can help ensure the survival of young.

With any wild bird feeder that you end up using, make sure it drains well and give it a thorough clean at regular intervals. This will avoid the build up of bacteria and fungi that can be harmful to wild birds.