Gardens provide cosy cafes for birds throughout spring, summer, and autumn, when trees are filled with fruit and plants are speckled with berries and insects buzz through flower beds.

But winter is a season of leafless trees and colourless foliage, when fruit and flowers fade from our gardens and many insects enter diapause - a hibernation-like state that sees their bodies shut down so they can survive the chilly weather. 

Although birds have adapted to survive these challenging conditions, they no doubt appreciate finding a freshly-filled feeder at the bottom of a garden. Here we consider the relationship between birds and feeders - and explore additional ways you can transform your garden into a bountiful banquet. 

Feasts for Feathered Friends

Bird feeders provide guaranteed meals on the harshest of winter days - particularly on mornings when the ground has frozen over or been covered in snow, making winter-hardy bugs and berries harder to spot.

Many feeders come prefilled with seeds or mealworms - and can easily be topped up once they’ve run out. Some seeds are designed to attract specific species, like robins or blue tits, while others contain a more generalised mix aimed at bringing a range of birds into your garden. 

Mesh feeders are perfect for peanuts or larger seeds, whilst cage feeders can be filled with suet balls - a crucial source of energy for birds during the winter months. You could also invest in a table feeder, which allows birds to seek shelter from the weather whilst having their snack. 

And if you’re feeling particularly crafty, it’s easy to make your own feeder at home with items as simple as pine cones, coconut shells, or yoghurt pots! 

Remember to clean your feeders regularly to prevent the growth of mould and to stop any diseases being spread amongst visiting birds. 

A Help – or a Hindrance?

There has been an ongoing debate over whether feeders can impact a bird’s natural ability to forage for food. 

Although recent studies have shown that birds are ‘unlikely to develop an unhealthy reliance¹ on feeders, a 2021 study in the Biological Conservation journal² found that feeders can be linked to population increases of certain species - which drives competition with other types of bird.

The study found that feeders primarily attract species such as blue tits and great tits, whose numbers can be boosted in areas where feeders are readily available. This then affects the populations of birds in natural competition with blue tits and great tits, such as willow tits and pied flycatchers, who may struggle to access food or nesting material due to the increase in competitor species.

Gardens filled with feeders also become particularly attractive to larger birds like pigeons and magpies, who can intimidate smaller birds out of the area. Both of these factors can affect the natural hierarchy and organisation of bird communities, creating a rise and fall in local populations.

The Conclusion?

In an ideal world, we’d have even more research at our fingertips to inform our decisions about feeding birds. That’s why submitting records to Staffordshire Ecological Records is helpful, it can support us in monitoring different wildlife populations around the county. For now, providing food for birds on days when foraging may be challenging is a benefit, as well as increasing the biodiversity of your garden by attracting species that wouldn’t ordinarily visit.

Birds boast a range of benefits for gardens - and surrounding areas. They eat pest insects like snails and slugs, which can keep your plants healthy during the summer months, and help with plant dispersal through eating berries and seeds. They’re a crucial part of our local ecosystems - and we can help support them through the winter.

Supplement your bird feeders with long-term solutions using our handy tips:

• Introduce native plants that produce berries in the winter - like holly and ivy
• Add plants that attract pollinators  - or even add a couple of bug hotels! 
• Relocate feeders to different parts of your garden regularly 
• Alternate the type of seed you use to attract a variety of birds 
• Scatter seeds or fresh berries around your garden to encourage more natural foraging
• Don't forget to add a source of water in a safe place for birds to access.