As we start to spend more and more time indoors out of the wet and cold weather, snuggled up in our nice warm homes with our fully functioning heating system that Gloucester Boiler Service company http://www.hprservicesltd.com/gloucester-boilers/boiler-service-gloucester/ checks for us each year, it can be easy to forget about the wildlife that visits our gardens.
More and more people are enjoying feeding birds in their gardens and watching them happily eating away during the warm summer sun. But once the weather starts to turn colder it is more important than ever that you make sure that you are regularly topping up the bird feeders. During the winter months birds find it harder and harder to find natural food sources such as berries and they rely upon those kind natured individuals to keep them stocked in fat balls.
Here are a few tips on things you can do to help our little feathery friends navigate the winter in a more comfortable fashion.
Food
As well as your normal seed mix that you will have placed outside in bird feeders all year round it is worth adding some extra food types including:
- Mealworms – these are a great source of protein for the birds that help to keep them healthy and full of energy all winter long.
- Peanuts – these are a great source of fat and help to provide energy for the birds. It is important to select the right type of nuts to ensure that the birds do not choke on them.
- Suet – again high in fat these balls are usually a mixture of suet and seeds – you can find these in balls or in squares that you can place either in a bird feeder or flat on a bird table.
- Fruit – if you have some overripe fruit left over, cut it in half and place it underneath any hedges and bushes in your garden. These will be popular with thrushes and blackbirds.
Shelter
If you are keen to help birds looking for shelter during the winter, you can purchase some lovely birdhouses that will help to protect them from the elements and keep them nice and dry and warm. There are a few tips you can follow:
- Buy your birdbox a few months before winter sets in so that it gives birds somewhere to look at and settle into before the bad weather hits.
- Stick to the traditional wooden boxes as newer versions can be more concerned with aesthetics than being fully functional in terms of protection from the elements.
- The entrance to the box should be directed away from the direction that the sunlight enters your garden as well as sheltered from the wind as much as possible.
- The entrance should also be accessible to the birds and on a natural flight path, they won’t want to have to navigate around any obstacles in order to settle in for the night.
