Feeding Birds In Your Garden During The Colder Months
Greenfinch at a bird feeder
During the cruel Winter months many birds struggle to find food when trees are bare, and invertebrates are difficult to find. These conditions mean that these usual food sources which sustain birds during the rest of the year are scarce and many of them find themselves struggling to survive. Birds also have a higher metabolism than many mammals meaning that they need to consume higher levels of calories to maintain the energy needed to live. Smaller birds such as robins, sparrows and wrens as well as many varieties of finches and tits find Winter particularly difficult. To help the avian visitors to your garden during the winter months putting up bird feeders is a good option.
Many helpful websites such as Birdwatch Ireland provide expert advice on where to place these feeders and what you should put out to attract birds to your feeders in Winter. Some of the foods which are recommended for garden bird feeders are listed below:
| Peanuts – high in calories |
| Sunflower Seeds – high in calories and easy for birds to break open |
| Fruit (apples, pears etc.) – many fruits are high in water and natural sugars providing a vital source of hydration and energy |
| Raisins |
| Sultanas |
| Suet Balls – provide a source of fats – available at most garden centres, co-ops and pet stores |
Leaving bird feeders out in the Winter months also provides a great source of entertainment, watching the birds in their natural habitat from the comfort of your home – all you need is a pair of binoculars or a feeder placed close to a suitable viewing point. This article contains a comprehensive guide to beginning bird watching.
Bird Feeders are a relatively inexpensive way of putting out valuable sources of food for birds in your garden and they are specially designed to allow birds alone to access the food. Feeders are available in many co-ops, garden stores or any other home supply store and usually cost between €8 – €20.
Homemade feeders are also very effective and only require a few easy steps and household materials to put together:
| Materials needed to make a basic feeder |
| 1.A plastic bottle with the lid |
| 2.A pin – to make drainage holes |
| 3.A scissors – to make larger holes for string and feeding hole |
| 4.A stick |
| 5.A piece of string |
| Steps to make a feeder |
| 1.Take your plastic bottle with the lid off. Make small holes in the bottom to allow for drainage |
| 2.Carefully use the scissors to make 2 level larger holes in the middle of the bottle |
| 3.Push the stick through the larger holes you just made |
| 4.Again, using the scissors, make 2 more level holes in the neck of the bottle |
| 5.Thread the string through the holes in the neck of the bottle |
| 6.Make one final hole in the side of the bottle a few centimeters above the stick. This should be about 3 centimeters in diameter. |
| 7.Finally add the feed of your choice and replace the lid |
