Regardless of whether you’re a wildlife enthusiast or a city dweller, every little helps when it comes to taking care of the UK’s beautiful birds. One of the ways you can do your bit for the bird population, is by feeding them all year round with the family.
Another way is, like us, unintentionally finding out you have a nest in the roof of your kitchen where the vent leads out, until some newly hatched chicks leave you wondering if your new washing machine is breaking down, until you finally discover where the noise is coming from. And for the record, they make an alarmingly loud amount of noise!
There’s a common misconception that it’s only beneficial to feed birds in winter, as this is the time of year when natural food stores are scarce. Anything from nuts to suet for birds is appreciated by them. However, food shortages can occur at any time of year, so it’s important to keep your bird feeder topped up year round, to help keep Britain’s birds fluttering around for as long as possible!
To help, Kennedy Wild Bird Food have put together a handy 12-month bird feeding guide, so that you and your family know exactly what to feed your birds and when.
If you and your family are new to bird feeding or ‘birding’, not to worry! Kennedy Wild Bird Food are also offering their top tips to help you get your whole family involved in this adventurous activity. Read on to learn more.
1. Get outdoors
It’s great to get outdoors with the whole family. Not only does this help you stay fit and healthy, it also provides ample opportunities for you to spot some birds!
Whether it’s a short walk around the blog or a high-energy hike, keep an eye out for the wildlife around you and don’t forget to take some tasty seed with you, so that you can entice the local birds.
2. Make a bird cake
If you and the kids aren’t afraid of making a mess, making a bird food cake is a great activity that the whole family can get involved with. You’ll need a mix of seeds, suet and dried fruit to make your cake, as well as some string to hang the finished product in your garden. For extra protection from pests to ensure only birds enjoy these treats, you should consider investing in a squirrel proof bird feeder for best results.
Discover the recipe and instructions on the RSPB website.
3. Buy or make a nest box
A nest box provides a little shelter for your garden birds to rest in, and these can be placed in tall trees so that they’re easily accessible.
It can be difficult to put together a nest box from scratch, so you’ll need to give the kids a helping hand, but the end results will be extremely rewarding!
