Caring for birds

These types of feeder will attract a wide mix of birds including most species of tit, greenfinch, goldfinch, and house and tree sparrows. Fill them with a general seed mix that includes energy rich sunflower seed or suet if you want to attract robins. 

Specialist hanging feeders

Niger seed feeders

These specialist feeders are designed to hold the the tiny niger seed and will attract goldfinches and siskins.

Peanut feeders

Peanuts are an ideal winter food and should only be provided in mesh feeder as whole peanuts pose a choking hazard. Suet pellets can also be used in a mesh feeder, either on their own or mixed with peanuts.

Fatball feeder

Fat balls are another great winter food source and can be brought or made from suet or lard mixed with seed. These can be hung in special fat ball feeders, or they can be smeared into coconut shells or hung on string.

A number of garden birds are primarily ground feeders. These include blackbirds, song thrushes, collared doves, robins and dunnocks. Robins particularly love live mealworms, which are high in fat and protein. All of these birds are best fed from a bird table - find out how to make your own below.

Chose a variety of pollinator and insect friendly plants for your garden to attract a natural food source for birds.

Plants for pollinators

Also include a mixture of berry or fruit bearing shrubs or trees like skimmia, pyracantha, euonymus, hawthorn, ivy, crabapple, rowan, holly and wild cherry. 

Avoid hanging feeders within easy reach of predators such as cats by ensuring that they are not too low, or within reach of branches or fences. 

Keep your feeders filled to encourage return visits and change feed regularly to prevent mould or staleness. Clean your feeders periodically and take care to also clear up discarded food on the ground to avoid spreading pests and disease.
 

It is also important to provide a fresh source of water for birds, especially in freezing conditions when ice forms over ponds, puddles and other water sources. Water can be provided in the form of a bird bath or a simple dish of water.

Don’t put out salty food or dry bread as this can be harmful for birds. Also avoid cooking fats as these stick to bird's feathers and harbour bacteria. To avoid food poisoning, make sure to only provide live mealworm unless they are dried, and don't put out whole peanuts as these are a choking hazard. 

It is important to keep bird feeders clean to stop the spread of diseases, especially with the increasing prevalence of trichomonosis and bird flu.

Clean feeders and feeding sites regularly using warm soapy water or 5% disinfectant, especially in the months between January and May. Make sure to rinse any disinfectant off thoroughly and always allow feeders to air-dry completely before adding food.

Brushes and equipment used to clean feeders, tables and baths shouldn’t be used for other purposes. Rubber gloves should be worn and hands washed afterwards.

More about bird diseases and what to do if you find a sick bird from the RSPB

Different types of box will attract different species. Whilst most birds prefer a closed box with a small entrance hole, some - like robins, wrens, blackbirds and song thrushes - use an open fronted box. Species like swifts, swallows and house martins require a specialist box as they nest under eaves and gable ends of buildings (see below for more info).

Standard nest boxes

Place your box in a sheltered position on a tree or wall, facing north east to south east to avoid prevailing wet weather and the heat of the midday sun. Make sure your box is at least 2 meters off the ground and out of reach from predators.  

Swifts, swallows and house martins

Boxes should be positioned under the eaves of your house and face in a North Westerly or North Easterly direction to shelter them from the heat of the sun and prevailing wind. They should be at least two metres above the ground, be inaccessible to predators and have a clear line of sight to allow birds to fly straight into the nest box.

Clean out your box with warm soapy water once a year, 2-3 weeks after any birds have fledged. This will help to prevent disease and ensure that the box is ready for new occupants next year. 

If you decorate your box, make sure you use a water-based paint and not lead-based paints or creosote, as these are toxic to birds. If you need to replace part of your bird box, avoid pressure treated wood, which contain harmful preservatives and fungicides.