Millions of households in the UK help our birds by providing them with food, natural foods provided by selective planting of trees and shrubs which produce fruit, berries and seeds, or flowers that attract insects which in turn are fed on by the birds, or by providing food in feeders, on bird tables or simply scattered on the lawn. Our gardens make up a large area in the United Kingdom and the habitats and food they provide are very important for the survival of many of our native species.

Many of our native birds are threatened due to changes in habitat and more efficient methods of farming, this means less spilt seed and fences instead of hedgerows and in turn less food and nesting sites for our birds. Many species like Sparrows and Finches depend more than ever on food put out by humans.

Some species, like Dunnocks and Wrens are shy and like to feed on the edge of cover and prefer to feed on the ground. They are less likely to feed in the open so provide them with food on the ground near or under cover. Robins and Thrushes are bolder and happier to feed on the ground in the open. Tits, Sparrows and Finches will feed from your bird table or feeders; a variety of food will attract a variety of species. Food in several different locations may also enable more birds to feed at one time, since some birds will chase off others that are nearby. Ideally use seeds and nuts purchased as bird food, salted nuts and desiccated coconut should never be supplied.

Be aware that a concentration of birds around your feeding station could also attract predators. Cats and Sparrow hawks are often a threat to garden birds. Think about the location of your feeders. Food or feeders placed in or near the cover of trees and bushes will give your birds a place to bolt to if the threat of a Sparrow Hawk presents itself. However, be aware that vegetation could also provide an ideal place from which a cat can conceal itself, and patiently lie in wait ready to mount an ambush. Try to get the balance right or consider the most likely threat.

Water is important

Try to have water available at all times for drinking and bathing. This can be in the form of a birdbath or pond. Keep it topped up in the summer and defrosted in winter, these may be the times when a natural source of water is most difficult to find. Use clean fresh water in a birdbath and do not add chemicals.

Hygiene is important

Avoid allowing food to rot or droppings to build up. Don't put out more food than will be eaten within a few days, and clean out and disinfect feeders regularly.

Perhaps the best and easiest food to feed to wild garden birds is a seed mixture especially meant for British wild birds. Avoid cheap mixes that may be bulked out with peas or uncooked rice, personally I avoid mixes that contain a lot of oats, if these become wet they are unnecessarily messy. Many mixes also contain other seeds such as millet, oilseed rape, wheat and canary seed. Other popular foods are listed below.

Peanuts

Whole peanuts are best avoided, as they are large, hard and may be hazardous to young birds. Besides that, they are one of the more expensive foods and will quickly be consumed by pigeons in large quantities. Peanuts are better fed crushed or chopped, or from within a wire mesh feeder. Plastic mesh feeders are best avoided, birds can become trapped in them by their feet or beaks.

Tiny black seeds that are sold under various names, often called Thistle seed it is not the seed from thistles at all, it is in fact higher in calories and oil and a favoured food of finches like Goldfinch, Siskin and Redpolls. Tits and other British birds will also readily take Nyger seed. It can be scattered on the ground or bird table, or fed from specifically designed feeders, normally a plastic tube with tiny slots for the birds to extract the seed.

Sunflower seed, black sunflower seeds and sunflower hearts

Sunflower seeds are popular with a wide variety of birds, they are rich in protein and oils, finches and tits will readily remove the husk or kernel from whole seeds. Black sunflower seeds are better since they are higher in oil than the stripped ones. Sunflower hearts are popular with almost all birds and because the shell has been removed there will be a lot less mess under your feeder. Sunflower hearts are often the most popular food at my bird table.

Hi in energy and fat these specially prepared foods can be a favourite food for Tits and Woodpeckers particularly in the winter, bird need to keep there fat (energy) levels high to keep warm through the cold of the winter. Remove the plastic mesh netting that fat balls are often supplied in.

Live foods, Mealworms and wax worms

Hi in fat and protein live insect larva of this sort are a popular life food, and will be relished by many birds particularly in the spring, when they make an easy food source for young birds and are often collected by adult birds with hungry chicks to feed. Mealworms are often available dried.

Fruit

Raisins, sultanas and other fruits like apples are popular with Robins and Thrushes, particularly in the autumn and winter. Blackcaps can also be attracted to garden to feed on fruit in winter.

There are many varieties and elaborate bird table designs available, sum more attractive than others. Appearance is a matter for personal taste but a practical design is more important. Anything to complicated will be difficult to keep clean; a bird table with a roof can be useful to keep food dry but is not essential, a simple tray will do. A ridge round the edge will keep food inside, but will also hold water, so either make or buy a bird table with the corners missing for drainage or holes drilled in the bottom. Feeding trays are available these days, which are a simple wooden frame with a wire mesh bottom, the mesh keeps the seed in but water goes straight out.

Many types of hanging feeders are also available, and will be slightly different in design depending on what sort of seeds or other foods they are designed to make available to your birds. A steal mesh feeder is best for peanuts. Plastic tube type feeders with holes and perches mounted on the sides are popular for dispensing sunflowers seeds and seed mixes. A similar feeder with tiny holes is used to allow tiny nyger seeds to be pulled out by the finches that are likely to feed on them.

Nest boxes should normally be positioned above six feet and should not be south facing to avoid the heat on summer days, but they should also be somewhere sheltered to avoid the wind and rain as much as possible, and ideally in a position inaccessible to cats. Roosting pockets should be placed in a secluded spot out of direct sunlight.