Feeding garden birds: simple rules that really help
What to put out, what to avoid and how to keep feeders clean so the birds you attract stay healthy. Plus how to learn who is visiting.
Choose your practice guideExplore birds by regionStart with a few reliable foods
Sunflower hearts are popular and leave no mess. Black sunflower seeds, unsalted peanuts in a proper feeder, fat balls or fat blocks and mealworms attract different birds. Choose food made for wild birds from a reputable supplier, and offer small amounts so nothing goes stale.
What to avoid
Salty or processed food such as bacon, salted nuts and chips is a bad idea. Milk is hard for birds to digest, and bread has little nutrition, so it should not be the main meal. Never put out mouldy food. If you use fat balls, avoid nylon nets: feet and beaks can get tangled.
Keep it clean
Dirty feeders spread disease, including trichomonosis, which has hit finches in parts of Europe. Wash feeders regularly with hot water and a mild disinfectant, rinse well and let them dry. Move the feeding spot now and then, and sweep away old droppings and food.
Water matters
A shallow dish of fresh water for drinking and bathing is just as valuable as food. In winter, replace frozen water with a splash of lukewarm water. Keep the dish clean, because birds drink from it and bathe in it.
Place feeders safely
Put feeders near shrubs or a hedge where birds can escape, but not so close that a cat can ambush them. Birds can fly into glass, so put markings on the outside of nearby windows. A quiet corner gets more visitors than a busy path.
Count and learn who comes
Watch for ten minutes at the same time each day and write down who visits. Many countries run a national garden bird count, often in winter. It is a fun way to learn the regulars: great tits, blue tits, blackbirds, robins and more. Practise the same birds in Lore.