How to Help Wild Birds in Autumn

While Autumn starts to see a reduction in food available, our wild birds start to reduce in numbers. Many species like swallows, swifts and house martins all leave during the Autumn in search of warmer climates. There is also an influx of species who start arriving to spend Winter with us like swans and different species of geese.

August is a prime period for British birds to moult, especially species that are due to migrate soon and will usually moult just before. When the weather cools off, birds will become less active to try and save their energy. They will burn off more calories just trying to stay warm and with less food naturally available, their energy is much more valuable to preserve for finding that all important nutrition. Growing in a whole new set of feathers is also demanding of their energy so Autumn tends to be a time of very little activity while they focus on trying to save energy for what they need.

Many of the species we see a lot in the garden all through Spring and Summer will start to leave for warmer climates in Autumn. The species of birds who tend to migrate to Britain in Autumn don’t tend to be garden birds as you won’t usually see a swan or geese passing through your garden to see if there’s any food available!

While some species stay all year around, you might notice that their visits to your garden tend to be fewer and further between as there are fewer daylight hours. To avoid predators, they only go in search during the day so through the colder months with fewer daylight hours, you will notice that they appear later and disappear earlier in the day to avoid being out in the dark. Smaller birds will roost in hedges and trees for shelter and to stay warm throughout the Autumn and Winter months. If you have some evergreen trees or hedges available then you might catch a few sightings but if your garden doesn’t offer the shelter they’re looking for, visits will be rare.

During autumn they won’t venture out as much to look for food to conserve energy, they will visit places that usually provide a steady supply of food instead of trying new places to see what they come across. Autumn is all about energy conservation and surviving the colder weather.

One of the most helpful things you can do in Autumn to help local birds is to make sure they don’t have to struggle to find food. Providing that all-important nourishment means they have to spend less energy searching for increasingly scarce food naturally. Providing extra calories to keep them fed and healthy when it’s getting colder means they have the extra energy necessary to keep warm.

Peanuts are a great source of food in the Autumn but should be given unsalted and unsweetened. Crushing or grating them to break them down into smaller pieces for smaller species of birds will keep everyone fed and happy. Fat balls are great at replenishing lost fat as birds need to use more calories to stay warm when it starts to get cold. They can also be a great premigration meal for several species. Varieties of tits, starlings, blackbirds and sparrows all enjoy fat balls. Sunflower hearts are rich in oil and very easy to limit the mess in your garden.

Many species of birds might vanish from your garden inAautumn but robins will remain all year around and are especially fond of mealworms which make a great addition to your bird tables. If you’re concerned about other wildlife that might want to venture to the garden when you leave food out like rats then keeping everything off the ground as much as you can with bird feeders and tables will help. You can also provide little and often to make sure there’s no wasted and rotting food left in the garden.

Autumn can be the perfect time to spruce up the garden with some new ways to feed your local wildlife while not attracting the local pests along with it! There are so many different options that can make the perfect addition to your garden’s aesthetic while still helping the bird population through Autumn.

Bird tables or houses are a great addition to the garden and can make a fetching feature to show off. They generally need less refilling than bird feeders and give a nice solid area for birds to have a rest while they feed. They’re usually covered too which protects the food you put down from getting too battered by any rain before the birds can get to it.

The Cheeko Ashford Deluxe Bird Table is a great option with plenty of room and shelter for feeding birds. If you want something more discreet, then the Cheeko Hanging Bird Table takes up very little room.

Bird feeders are equally as stylish and come in such a wide range of designs, you’re bound to find something to fit seamlessly into your garden. The style you get depends on the type of food you want to feed. Smaller seeds will need smaller holes so you don’t lose them to your lawn while fat balls can be placed in larger feeders. The Peckish Natural Balance Energy Ball Ready To Use Feeder is a great heart-shaped design that will make any garden stand out!

Providing bird fountains or bird baths are another great option for making sure they get lots of water and can easily keep clean even when there is less fresh water available to them. As Autumn turns to a freezing winter, this can be especially helpful.

To help turn your garden into a beautiful bird paradise on a budget for the local population, find everything you need for your feathered friends in store.