Feed the birds

So here are some benefits of feeding the birds in your garden:

1. Enjoy watching them feast on the food you've given them - you're helping them and caring for them.  It's a very restful and enjoyable way to spend an hour or more or less... In fact, it's like having access to your own nature show only better because you've made it happen and you're having a direct impact on the birds and wildlife in your garden
   
   
2. Enjoy discovering which birds come to visit your garden - we love working out which bird species is which!  Build your knowledge about which birds come to visit - you'll be well prepared to take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch in January for the RSPB (you only need an hour to take part). 
   
   
3. We've found the greater the variety of food you put it, the greater the variety of bird species come to visit!  We've had sparrows, wood peckers, robins, blackbirds, blue tits and even a barn owl come to our garden
   
   
4. You can escape from your world into the world of wildlife - watching them can help you forget the irritations and worries of life.  And you're really helping wildlife and our feathered friends. 
   
   
5. Everyone can get involved whatever age 
   
   
6. You don't need a garden to feed the birds - you can do it with a window bird feeder! 
   
   
7. It can be a great way to introduce children to the joys and wonders of wildlife and to caring for them.  

"Whats that bird?" is available
from the RSPB Shop for £9.99 
- it's ideal for birdwatching beginners.  Find out more

You can easily order bird feed, bird nesting boxes and bird water baths online at a number of online retailers such as the RSPB's online shop, Garden Wildlife Direct,and Zooplus (who also cater for pets if you want to combine your shopping). 

If you want to feed ducks, please don't give them bread - it isn't good for them. The Canal and River Trust says you can give them corn, left over lettuce, left over rice, seeds, frozen peas and sweetcorn (defrost them first), Flapjacks, rolled oats and even instant porridge oats

Just starting out with bird feeding? 

There's no need to make all this complicated - you can start with a simple bird feeder and wild bird feed.  Fill up your feeder and hang it somewhere cats can't reach it, then wait for the birds to come.   You can always get more adventurous later e.g. with coconut halves/shells from Garden Wildlife Direct  which the birds in our garden adore - they certainly encouraged the woodpeckers in. 

Most bird sites will have advice to help you get started and Garden Wildlife Direct has starter kits to get you going.

It all becomes very addictive - I can't wait to see who's visiting the feeders in the garden when I get home!  (Yes, we've graduated from one bird feeder to a feeding station and we're absolutely loving the impact it's having on wildlife.)
 

Who's Who?

The RSPB have a Bird Identifier which will help you work out exactly who is visiting your garden.   And they also have a great range of books - many for children to introduce them to birds and wildlife, flowers and gardens - after all, children are nature's guardians of the future. 

Make your garden wildlife friendly 

You can also get info on making your garden wildlife and bird friendly.  Don’t forget that as well as birds, lots of animals may visit your garden:  badgers, rabbits, butterflies, toads and frogs, earthworms, snails, mice, hedgehogs – it’s a real underworld out there! 

You can have the most magical evening watching your own safari at home in the garden, on your balcony, from your window or in sitting quietly in a country lane

Must dash - the feeders are empty again!