I know it'sbeen a mild few days (and you know us, we LOVE talking about the weather!), but it's not staying warm for long. For us, we have the luxury of wearing an extra jumper and cosying up under a blanket, but our garden birds have less protection for the next cold snap hitting home this weekend. With chilly Arctic blizzards forecast to head through the UK this weekend, we thought we'd highlight some of the more vulnerable garden birds. The list looks something like this ...
While all wildlife struggles as temperatures drop, small birds find it really tough. Insect-eating birds like wrens and goldcrests endure a constant battle to find enough food to keep them alive. Similarly to my boyfriend (who can eat more food than anyone else i know and not put on an ounch of fat!!), birds have a high metabolic rate so use lots of energy to keep their body temperature constant. During the day they gain weight when they feed, but they lose weight overnight. In cold weather they can lose a huge proportion of their body weight at night, just by keeping warm. Mini hotwater bottles don't exist sadly!
I'm certainly not a fan of these extended cold spells myself, but they can be especially dangerous for birds, particlularly if snow cover cuts off access to food. Although tiny birds arguably suffer the most, ALL garden birds need our help at this time.
A bit like indulging in a coffee-shop stop on a chilly winter's walk, high energy handouts in gardens can make a difference between life and death for our garden birds. Putting out a range of food like suet pellets, sunflower hearts, cooked potatoes and mild grated cheese will offer them a winter treat that willkeep their energy levels high. Live mealworms and cut up fruit are also great.
A bit like me - I get really put off by long queues (i don't like waiting for my cake and a cuppa!) - some small birds get put off in a busy area so try placing food in different spots around the garden so that everyone gets a look in.
In the really cold weather, gardens are great places for shelter too. Small birds will roost in groups to preserve their body heat. Tiny birds like wrens will get together to shelter in cracks and crevices in buildings as well as in nest boxes, they really get the benefit of communal roosting; one cold winter’s night saw 61 roost in one nesting box!
To provide more shelter, you can put up ‘roosting pockets’ that offer great protection from cold temperatures.
Of course the other thing that the cold weather brings is the more 'unique' garden visitor. Cold snaps can tempt other birds into your garden, so keep an eye out this weekend. Look out for Grey and Pied wagtails, redwings, fieldfares and even kingfishers!