All about bird tables

Great tit feeding at bird table

A bird table will be at its most popular and valuable when natural food is in short supply; usually from October to April. At the end of the winter there are natural signs that tell you when you can stop feeding: the appearance of large numbers of insects and the buds on the trees starting to open are good guides.

At the end of the winter there are natural signs that tell you when you can stop feeding: the appearance of large numbers of insects and the buds on the trees starting to open are good guides.

The bird table can be left in position all year round, but bringing it in out of the weather during the summer will prolong its life.

If you wish to continue feeding birds during the spring and summer, current thinking is that this will cause no harm as long as hard foods are avoided.

If you enjoy watching birds, consider providing more varied feeding stations to attract more species. Unfortunately, tidier gardens and the changes in farming methods have reduced the natural food supply of species such as finches, buntings and sparrows.

Providing sunflower seeds will help them. They are eagerly taken and unlikely to be harmful if given to young in the nest.

If it takes a few days before you see any birds, don't be discouraged. Once the birds discover the food and convince themselves it is not a trap, they will visit regularly.

Last modified: 23 August 2006

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