Feeding Feathered Friends

Feeding birds near your house gives you a chance to see wild species close up.

When and why: Feeding birds in the winter can help them survive when normal foods may be in short supply or hard to find because of freezing conditions. Feeding them in spring and summer is thought to enhance their breeding success.

What: Scraps of bread, cake, biscuits, cooked potatoes, chopped bacon rind, suet, cheese, seeds and dried fruit can all be popular. If you have pocket money to spend, mealworms or maggots from a fishing shop make a treat for many species.

Where: Bird tables, window-sills, wall tops. Try and choose somewhere safe from cats but which you can see from inside! Keep a list of visitors to your garden. Keep any bird feeding stations away from nest boxes or no bird will be able to defend the box to breed in.

Water: Birds need water in all weathers. If you have no pond, put out a shallow bowl of water where birds can drink and bathe. You can do this too if your pond is frozen for a day or so.

Keep it clean: We know that keeping the feeding area clean can stop the spread of disease. So give your bird-table a good scrub with hot water and disinfectant every couple of weeks (wear rubber gloves) and, if possible use a variety of sites for your feeders. Make sure you wash your own hands well after touching feeders.