no birds

It is a common report during the winter months that the birds have stopped coming to the bird table. Even though winter does kill many birds through starvation, it is only if freezing temperatures continue without a thaw in the daytime for several days in a row, that there is a likelihood of mass deaths by the cold. Certainly the recent cold spell will of made a “seasonal” dint in the populations but this is a natural and regular process and one which numbers will inevitably recover from in virtue of their high breeding potential. Changes in winter weather often cause a disappearance or appearance of birds on feeders, which does not necessarily follow a pattern that to us humans would seem logical.

Another explanation is that many birds that come to bird tables spend the autumn and winter months traveling around in flocks. Birds are creatures of habit, and each flock will regularly visit the same feeding stations. Because of this, you will either have plenty of birds visiting your garden, or very few, all depending on whether your garden is on a flock’s route or not. If a new feeding station is set up after the flocks have established their routes, it is likely to get ignored until another regular feeding site becomes unavailable, and the birds will need to look for new ones.

If you have a few birds visiting the garden the best advice I can offer is to limit the amount of food being left out, even if this means feeders are just quarter filled. Change them regularly - every few days and only up the amount relative to the amount of birds which visit. Once a few individuals become aware of the fresh food supply other will inevitably follow suite.