Throughout the year many wild birds will fly in and out of UK gardens. Each of these birds rely on high energy food to survive and thrive throughout the year. Are you looking to attract more birds to your garden? From the food you put out to the types of feeders you use, here are our top tips for feeding wild birds.
What type of food should I put out for wild birds?
Choosing the right type of food is crucial to ensure that you're providing a nutritious and appealing diet to wild birds. From seed blends to suet treats, each type of bird food attracts different species. Our guide well help you select the suitable feeds for which birds you are looking to attract.
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Sunflower seeds - well used by Greenfinches and tits, they have thinner shells than the traditional striped sunflower seeds
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Sunflower hearts - a favourite with most garden birds, these are best used with a feeder. The shells have already been removed making them an easy feast
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Nyjer seed - suited to birds with smaller bills such as Goldfinches, Siskins and Lesser Redpolls
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Peanuts - high in oils and protein, put them out in small quantities to stop them from going mouldy. Best used in a mesh feeder, nuts are loved by tits, starlings and woodpeckers
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Seed mixes - A good quality wild bird seed mix typically contains a variety of seeds that cater to the diverse preferences and nutritional needs of different bird species. Svoid those with a high proportion of filler seeds like red millet or wheat, as they are less nutritious and often go uneaten. Wild bird seed mixes often attract a wide range of wild birds.
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Mealworms - a versatile food loved by many garden bird species, particularly Robins, Starlings and Blackbirds
Which bird feeder should I use?
Choosing the right bird feeder can encourage birds into your garden more frequently and for longer. With various styles and designs available, selecting the best feeder depends on the types of birds you want to attract, the food type and the conditions in your garden.
- Provide seed to birds easily with a hanging feeder, either as part of a mix or on its own. Choose a feeder that's well made and can be easily taken apart to be cleaned. The more feeding ports a feeder has, the more birds will be able to feed at the same time. We recommend a Peckish All Weather Giant Seed Feeder.
Tip: Metal bird feeders are less easily damaged by squirrels, making them a better choice than plastic versions.
Bird tables are perfect for those looking to elevate their garden as well as providing a safe choice for birds to feed away from predators. Choose one that's robust, has drainage holes and can be opened easily for cleaning.
Tip: Brush bird tables down every evening to remove any uneaten food as well as droppings - this will also help to reduce the attractiveness of your garden to rats.
Where to place bird feeders
It's better to place several feeders in different areas of your garden, rather than having one large feeder; this will help more birds feed and enable you to use a different type of food in each feeder.
Tip: Position feeders close to a bush or shrub so that birds can quickly get cover if a predator appears. Avoid placing feeders low to the ground, where cats could access them, or near to a nest box that's been occupied.
Tip: Move bird feeders around each day - not only will it reduce the chances of birds picking up diseases from droppings left near the feeders, but it'll make it more difficult for predators to predict where birds will be feeding each day.
Ground feeding
Species such as Dunnocks and Robins prefer to eat food from the ground rather than hanging feeders. Use a ground feeder rather than placing food directly on the ground, as this will help keep the area clean.
By following these top tips, selecting a diverse range of high quality bird foods, choosing the right feeders, and maintaining a clean feeding environment you can ensure that your garden becomes a welcoming haven for a variety of bird species.