Feeding garden birds all year round provides essential nourishment during shortages of natural food, and with the UK’s erratic seasons, such shortages can occur at any time of year.

A wet and windy summer will result in a shortage of caterpillars and insects, whilst a blanket of snow will simply cover everything. Another advantage of feeding garden birds regularly is that they will keep returning to the food source whilst also feeding on naturally occurring food found nearby such as slugs, insects and caterpillars, which can only be beneficial to your garden.

Birds need variety

Birds need a variety of food, and different foods are better suited to different species. For summer feeding it is better to avoid bread and offer instead bird seed, nuts and fat balls. When buying bird seed bear in mind that smaller seeds are better for smaller species such as sparrows, finches and dunnock, whereas seed containing pulses like lentils, split peas and dried rice are more attractive to larger species like pigeons and doves. However, these larger birds will quickly increase in numbers and scare off smaller birds.

Another consideration when using bird seed is that any uneaten seeds that end up on soil may grow into unwanted plants. Consider placing seed feeders or a bird-table over a hard surface where loose seed can be swept up.

Certain kitchen scraps make great bird food too. Rice that has been cooked in unsalted water can be used and, once cooked, will appeal to smaller bird species. Beware though that cooked oats are too sticky and can cause problems with birds beaks, so only ever use uncooked oats or oatmeal.

Use cat or dog food during dry weather

Meat based cat or dog food can be put out and this is especially beneficial during dry weather when worms are difficult to find. Anything dry, such as biscuits, dried fruit and stale bread should be soaked first to prevent the food either choking birds or swelling up after eating and causing internal injury. If putting bread out in the spring and summer, turn it into breadcrumbs first because that way the adult birds will eat it rather than taking it back to feed to juveniles. Juveniles fed on too much bread might not live to fledge.

Hygiene is also an important consideration. Do not put out more food than will be eaten in a day and appreciate that during fair weather there will be more natural food available so you will need to further reduce the amounts you put out. You also need to be aware of attracting neighbouring animals with certain kitchen scraps, and some food types left out overnight might also attract vermin such as mice and rats.

Mouldy food can be fatal

Likewise if food in a seed or nut feeder or on a bird-table becomes mouldy throw it away, clean everything with warm soapy water and rinse well with clean water before putting out fresh food. Do not put already mouldy food out for birds because it can cause illness and even death.

It is also worth placing seed feeders and ground food in open areas so feeding birds can watch out for predators and other threats.