What’s Happening with Garden Wildlife in January
Helping Wildlife in Your Garden
During the cold winter months, many garden creatures are getting ready for spring. Here are some ways you can help them:
- Keep bird feeders filled and bird baths topped up with fresh water.
- Scatter seed and halved apples on the ground for birds that can’t find natural food in the winter, like blackbirds and robins.
- Leave berries on English ivy for birds to eat when they need extra energy for breeding.
Wildlife Spotting
Foxes: Foxes are breeding this month. Listen for the female’s scream and the male’s “hup-hup-hup” response.
Unusual Birds: You may see less common birds on your feeders in bad weather, such as siskins, redpolls, and bramblings.
Insects: On mild days, you might spot flies basking in the sun and midges gathering over ponds.
Badgers: In rural areas, you may see badgers wandering around looking for food. They eat earthworms, insects, and berries.
Birdsong: As the days get longer, birdsong starts to return. You’ll hear robins, great tits, wrens, and dunnocks singing.
Nesting Boxes: Installing nesting boxes in your garden provides a safe place for birds to raise their young. Different birds have different needs, so offer a variety of boxes to attract different species.
