If you have a garden or an area where birds can feed safely, then please 'do your bit' to help them survive the winter months. We can all contribute significantly to the conservation of some of our commoner species such as blackbirds, blue tits, robins, starlings and sparrows by setting up a feeding station and keeping it well-stocked until the spring.
Peanuts have long been a traditional favourite food but there are now such a wide range of specially prepared foods available, you can choose the birds you would like to attract. Many of our favourite garden guests such as robins and thrushes are not natural seed-eaters, as they prefer fruit, berries, various insects, worms, grubs and snails. However, their preferred diet is now fully catered for by most bird food producers and pet shops.
Helpful hints for setting up a feeding station include making sure your table or feeders are near to branches or perches where the bird can land and look around - they need to feel safe before feeding. Also, try not to put feeding stations too near thick bushes where a crafty cat might be hiding. Provide birds with a fresh supply of water for drinking and bathing but never use salt, antifreeze or other chemicals to melt the ice. These hazardous substances can also prove deadly to our pets.
Further information on all this can be found at www.rspb.org.uk
