As the big freeze arrives in the UK with a vengeance, the RSPB is urging everyone to spare a thought for their garden birds which don't have the ability to dig out their woolly hats and scarves like we can!
Finding food - and enough of it - is the greatest test for wild birds in winter and its not over-egging it to say that the little extras we provide could be the difference between life and death.
Many parts of the country are already experiecing several inches of snow and some of my regional colleagues in the North have been snowed in since christmas. The news reports tell me its now heading my way so I'm braced for the same but birds don't have the luxury of professional knowledge and will be taken by surprise!
In freezing temperatures, natural food is covered in snow and ice, berries, acorns and seeds will be buried, water birds may be forced to leave iced-over lakes and rivers,and the ground becomes too hard for birds like thrushes and lapwings to probe.
Birds will start to come to gardens for sanctuary so we need to do what we can to help them.
We can help improve their chances of survival by providing 'bird food' like meal worms, fat balls and seed mixes as well as some of our own leftovers like grated cheese, porridge oats, soft fruit, cooked rice and unsalted bacon.
And as hideous as a soak in ice cold water may be to us, its imperative that we keep bird baths unfrozen too. Birds need water to drink and keep their feathers in good condition and by placing a small floating obejct like a twig in water it should keep the water circulating a little longer.
A small effort can go a long way and a little water, food and shelter will turn your garden into a vital haven for birds at this difficult time.
With hard frosts throughout the day (except for today when it is starting to thaw) it is difficult to keep water for birds unfrozen. A couple of days ago I saw a female blackbird have a 'bath' in the snow. Also I've seen many birds eating snow.