What to feed garden birds in nesting season

Between 1 May and 31 October, it’s important we all pause filling our bird feeders with seeds and peanuts to help stop the spread of trichomonosis. However, helping your garden birds doesn’t have to end here. Suet and mealworms can still be offered in moderation, alongside bird-friendly planting to create natural food sources, throughout the nesting season.

Did you know that Blue Tits need to feed their chicks 100 caterpillars per day? And with an average brood size of eight to 10 chicks, that’s a lot of foraging!

As insect numbers decline and unpredictable weather affects availability, supplementary feeding in your green space can help to support bird populations. However, we must make sure we’re all following the science and feeding seasonally and safely. 

With species like Greenfinches and Chaffinches hit hardest by trichomonosis, it’s important we work together to stop these species congregating in large numbers at our feeders, creating disease hotspots.

Finches’ diets mostly consist of seeds. If no seeds are available, they may opt for peanuts instead – so, to help prevent the spread, we advise to stop offering these foods from 1 May to 31 October. It's not impossible that finches could switch to eating suet in the absence of seeds and peanuts, so we will continue to review the science as new evidence emerges.

Even if finches aren’t a regular visitor to your garden or green space, it’s important we all follow the same guidance to help prevent the spread to other species.

It’s a busy time for birds. Along with provisioning chicks, they have another task ahead. Their breeding plumage – which hopefully helped them to secure a mate – is now well-used. Feathers can’t repair themselves, so birds undergo a moult to keep warm and waterproofed. They’re vulnerable to predators at this time, so you might notice your garden or green space is a little quieter.

However, your avian neighbours will still be on the lookout for high-energy foods, containing fats and protein, like:

• Mealworms, which are a great alternative to the invertebrates that birds would naturally find in the wild. Enjoyed by Robins, Wrens, Starlings and more, they can be soaked in water to make them softer for young birds. You can scatter a small amount on the floor but do ensure they all get eaten within one day, before dusk, to prevent any being left for Hedgehogs.

• Suet, which is a high fat food option. It can be enjoyed by Long-tailed Tits, thrushes, Nuthatches, House Sparrows, woodpeckers and more. However, in high heats, suet can melt and become rancid. Make sure to choose products resistant to melting, like our Super suet range. Our recommendation is to avoid putting out suet products that include visible whole large seeds, such as sunflower seeds, as these are more likely to attract finches.

• Flutter Butter Starter Pack
  This high-protein but low-salt peanut butter bird feed will help your garden visitors with feather growth and energy. This pack includes everything you need to get started: a specially designed feeder, with two EcoRefills. Plus, it’s all plant-based!

• RSPB Ultimate suet feeder + 3 Super suet cakes
  Our Super suet is heat-resistant and free of any cheap filler ingredients, meaning more much-needed energy for your garden birds with every beakful. In this value bundle, you’ll save £2 on our built-to-last Ultimate feeder and mealworm cakes.

• My favourites hanging bird feeder with mealworms
  This bird feeder is designed for smaller birds that cling when feeding, like tits and sparrows. Suitable for mealworms year-round, the overhanging roof protects feeding birds from the rain. You’ll save £2 by choosing this summer bundle with mealworms.