Help birds to survive winter

But in winter, the garden is not always such a friendly space. Plants go dormant and those birds that don’t migrate, like the chatty bulbul species, barbets, doves and robins have to work harder to get a meal. Relying on people to feed them can determine their survival.

Local producer, Elaine’s Birding Products, recommends a high fat and protein feed, such as suet, for most birds to maintain their energy levels and keep them warm during the frosty nights.

Elaine Reed’s suet slabs, balls or suet pudding in tubs and bags are available at garden centres and hardware stores along with a wide variety of holders.

A nectar feeder is another way to boost the bird’s energy in winter. Bottles and nectar sachets are easily available and each of Reed’s bottles has a nectar recipe attached, consisting, simply, of five parts water to one part sugar.

Suet gives the birds energy to survive winter. Pictures: Supplied.

One of two drops of food colouring may be added because the birds respond to colour but once the birds find the nectar bottle, adding colouring is no longer necessary.

Seed is always a staple and attracts a huge number of birds, especially sparrows, weavers and doves that can keep other smaller birds away. Experienced bird feeders advise having two seed feeders, one in the open for the “bully” birds and another in a more secluded, overgrown area for shyer birds, like the waxbills.

Once again, hygiene is very important, especially if the seed gets wet, because wet seed can ferment and be a source of disease. Clean the feeders once a week with soap and water. Choose a bird feeder with a roof to keep the seed dry or opt for a seed bell or heart on a rope that is hung on a branch. A bird seed tower with seed block is probably the best option because the seed is not loose and can’t be blown away or spilt.

Grow your own birdseed. Dwarf sunflowers
are ideal. Pictures: Supplied

Fruit in winter is a real luxury for the birds and Go-away birds, barbets, bulbuls and mousebirds will appreciate a meal of banana, pawpaw, apple and orange. The fruit should be fresh and scraps cleaned away, along with bird droppings. To prevent disease, sterilise the fruit feeder once a month with a diluted bleach solution and rinse well before putting out fresh food.