Winter Feeding

As the ground hardens and the snow falls, it will become much more difficult for birds to source food. Therefore, it is very important to leave out ample bird feed for the birds to survive. A variety of wild seeds and nuts will provide them with fibre and fat which will see them through the winter. You may find that your local birds favour one type of seed over another. In order to avoid wastage, try different types of wild seed and nuts to determine what it is the birds are looking for. Here are a number of products Topline recommends which may satisfy every bird which visits your garden.

The snowfalls that have hit Ireland over the last two years have proven to make it increasingly difficult for birds to find adequate water to drink and bathe in. As mentioned earlier, feeding stations and a bird bath are essential additions to your garden. They will provide a sanctuary for your birds and are also paramount to their survival.

To prevent the bird bath from freezing over, place a small light rubber ball in the bath. The ball will move in light winds preventing the water from turning into ice.

We also advise that you clean the bowl as often as you can to prevent build up of algae or bird droppings which could harm the birds.

Most importantly, do not clean the bird feeders or bird baths with chemicals as this could poison the birds.

As the harsh winter weather begins to thaw, you can begin to think about the coming nesting months for your well-fed feathered friends. With nesting usually taking place in february, follow these tips below to keep every new generation of bird coming back for years to come.

The location you choose is vital for both the birds’ well-being as well as for your own viewing pleasure. You should put up your nesting box (at least two metres off the ground) well before the nesting season begins. The box should be kept in a sheltered spot facing between north and south-east to avoid exposure to strong sunlight and harsh winds and rain. Remember not to expect instant results as it may take a year or two before the birds become aware of the box. When birds do begin to nest there, we strongly advise that you do not try to look into the nests as this could scare the parents into fleeing the nest leaving the chicks to die.

In order to avoid problems from your nesting birds, you should do the following:

Similar to feeding stations your ideal nesting boxes should be placed free-standing (as high as ten to twenty feet if possible) in order to keep predators such as cats and squirrels from attacking any feeding birds or eating their food.

While feeding during the winter is vitally important for a birds’ survival, the months between April and October can be just as important as they struggle to set up their nest and prepare to feed expected chicks.

Long grass, dead leaves and bushes all attract birds to your garden as these provide ample nesting material which is both local and familiar to them. Filling a garden with exotic, non-native plants will see your garden void of any native birds as they will be scared off by its un-familiarity. If you are creating a garden from scratch, you could make a tiered design. For example, planting a tree surrounded by shrubbery and subsequently layered with flowers and grass is a great attraction to birds while also being pleasing on the eye.

Most importantly, a regular source of food will be a bird’s main priority so we would suggest purchasing some of our wide variety of wild bird seed. Why not compliment this with some garden plants and shrubbery which both brightens your garden and keeps the birds well-fed. Plants that produce berries such as Ivy, Honeysuckle and Cotoneasters would provide a steady source of food for all different varieties of birds.