Introduction

Christmas is a time of abundance for humans, but it’s important to remember our feathered friends in the garden. Natural food sources can be scarce during winter, so providing birds with a festive feast is a great way to help them thrive.

Natural Food Sources

The best way to feed birds in winter is to provide them with natural food sources. This includes:

• Berrying trees and shrubs: Rowan, hawthorn, guelder rose, holly, and ivy all produce berries that are loved by birds.
• Seeds-bearing trees: Silver birch and alder trees are both great sources of seeds for birds, especially tits.
• Other plants: Sunflowers, echinacea, teasels, and even lavender can provide a bonus source of natural food for birds after they have set seed.

You can also help birds by:

• Letting leaves rot down naturally: This provides shelter for invertebrates, which birds eat.
• Allowing areas of grass to grow long: This also provides shelter for invertebrates.

Supplementary Food

In addition to natural food sources, you can also provide birds with supplementary food to help them through the winter. This includes:

• Calorie-rich sunflower hearts
• Peanuts
• “No mess” mixes
• Suet

You can also leave out small amounts of:

• Christmas scraps: Bread or cake crumbs (not too sweet or salty)
• Grated cheese
• Cooked rice
• Rehydrated raisins and sultanas (only if you don’t have a dog, as sultanas can be lethal to dogs)

Foods to Avoid

There are some foods that you should avoid giving to birds, including:

• Fat from cooking: This might not solidify if conditions are mild, and it can smear on birds’ feathers, preventing them from being able to fly.
• Turkey fat: This is soft and can smear on birds’ feathers, preventing them from being able to fly.

Water

It’s also important to provide birds with a dish of fresh water, especially during winter. Make sure to clean the bird bath regularly to prevent the spread of diseases.

Preventing Diseases

To prevent the spread of diseases at bird feeders, it’s important to keep them clean. Many diseases are spread at bird feeders, including trichonomosis, which affects finches, and avian pox, which is often seen in tits.

Here are some tips for keeping bird feeders clean:

• Use several bird feeders and rotate them each time they are emptied.
• Clean feeders with hot, soapy water before rinsing thoroughly and leaving to dry.

Conclusion

By providing birds with a variety of natural and supplementary food sources, you can help them to thrive during the winter months. Just be sure to avoid giving them foods that are harmful, and keep bird feeders clean to prevent the spread of diseases.