Feeding our Feathered Friends

During cold spells it is important to feed the garden birds and by offering a variety of foods you can attract many different species. Goldfinches are becoming more common in urban areas and are often seen at garden feeders especially where there is nyger or black sunflower seed. 

Long-tailed Tits, although small, are very fluffy allowing them to trap lots of air amongst their feathers for insulation from the cold. Recent footage on BBC Winterwatch showed a group of these huddled together whilst roosting to keep warm. They enjoy feeding on peanuts and suet.

Less common and being a farmland bird, the Tree Sparrow prefers to feed on red millet although in this weather any seed will do!

Starlings will eat just about anything although their favourite seems to be fat balls and scraps! If you look carefully you can identify males and females with the naked eye as their bills are coloured ready for the breeding season: blue on the males…

and pink on the females!  A clear indication that Spring is on its way - somewhere…