By offering a year-round supply of food and water in your garden, you can help compensate for the loss of wild birds’ natural habitats, which has led to a decline in species that were once abundant. Song thrushes are disappearing, and house sparrows and starlings have seen such dramatic drops in numbers that they are now listed on the Red List of Birds of Conservation Concern.
You can help garden birds by planting trees, bushes, and shrubs that produce fruits, berries, or attract insects, or by providing food directly, such as kitchen scraps or special bird food mixes.
Birds enjoy a wide variety of foods, and here you can learn about the types of food they eat, as well as where to buy seeds, fats, and live food. Some foods will attract a range of species, while others are tailored to specific birds.
To best support garden birds, offer a diverse range of foods and use a variety of feeders placed at different levels. Remember, although feeding birds is especially important in winter, they can be fed all year round. Once you’ve attracted birds to your garden, be sure to feed them regularly and avoid suddenly stopping their food supply.
