Birds will keep coming back when you fix 1 common feeder mistake – Wales Online

These tips will help your garden become a safe space for birds(Image: Trudie Davidson via Getty Images)
Winter poses significant challenges for wildlife, with natural food becoming scarce and harsh weather conditions making survival difficult for birds. If you're keen to support your local wildlife and help them flourish during these months, it's essential to set up an appropriate bird feeder.
Richard Green, a bird feeding expert from Kennedy Wild Bird Food & Pet Supplies, suggests several ways to assist birds in your garden – with understanding seasonal feeding requirements being particularly vital. Richard advises carrying out research into birds' dietary preferences.
He said: "Get nutritious seeds like sunflower, nyjer, and safflower, and avoid fillers such as bread or cracked corn. Think about the season too, as suet is good for winter, while nectar is perfect for summer."
Make sure you have the right kind of feeder(Image: Getty)
Selecting the appropriate feeder type is equally crucial, depending on which bird species you hope to attract. Richard said: "Small birds, like finches and tits, favour tube feeders, while ground-feeding birds like robins prefer platform feeders."
After determining the suitable feeder, ensure it's positioned correctly within your garden, reports the Express.
He said: "Position it in a sheltered spot, away from predators and at least a metre from windows to prevent collisions.
Make sure your feeders are sturdy and weather-protected will keep birds safe and encourage regular visits.
Robins prefer ground feeding(Image: Getty)
"Make sure the space is safe, as animals like cats and squirrels pose a real threat. Placing feeders where birds have cover and limiting access for larger predators will give birds the confidence to feed and return safely."
After you've got the appropriate food and your feeder is positioned correctly, regular monitoring is essential to ensure you're not inadvertently causing harm to the birds.
Richard explained: "A thorough clean every couple of weeks is important, as dirty feeders are a breeding ground for bacteria, mould, and disease. Birds are much more likely to visit feeders that are well-maintained."
Alongside offering food, it's crucial to provide fresh, clean water for birds visiting your garden so they can both drink and bathe.
By following these guidelines, you can transform your garden into a sanctuary for British wildlife and take pleasure in watching birds darting about your outdoor space throughout the year.
Choose Wales Online as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.
At Reach and across our entities we and our partners use information collected through cookies and other identifiers from your device to improve experience on our site, analyse how it is used and to show personalised advertising. You can opt out of the sale or sharing of your data, at any time clicking the "Do Not Sell or Share my Data" button at the bottom of the webpage. Please note that your preferences are browser specific. Use of our website and any of our services represents your acceptance of the use of cookies and consent to the practices described in our Privacy Notice and Terms and Conditions.

source