As birds struggle to survive the autumn chill your garden can become a haven.  Fiery colours sweeping through parks and woodlands, complete with leaves crunching underfoot mean autumn is here. But the colder nights and bitter winds mean garden birds will struggle for food and shelter – and the RSPB is appealing to people to help our garden birds survive the winter.

Nature looks beautiful in autumn but as we start digging out our cosy scarves and gloves the countryside is being stripped of the food sources birds rely upon. At the same time, birds need more energy to stay warm and have less daylight time to find food.  Wildlife charity, RSPB, wants people to become stewards of their gardens this autumn and help protect their feathered guests. The RSPB says the key things birds will need this winter are food, water and shelter.

RSPB Wildlife Advisor, Charlotte Ambrose, said: “Up until now birds have been able to feed on insects and seeds, but the cold weather means they move into our gardens to find refuge. You can make a real difference and improve their chances of survival, as well as being rewarded by great views of wildlife in your garden or outside space.”

Take it easy– kitchen scraps like mild grated cheese, bruised fruit (not mouldy), cooked rice, unsalted bits of hard fat, roast potatoes and dry porridge go down a treat with garden birds. You can provide an excellent full-fat winter food by making your own bird cakes or fat balls. The RSPB also suggests calorie-rich foods like mixed seed, Sunflower seed, Nyjer seed and good quality peanuts.

Read more at: https://www.rspb.org.uk/about-the-rspb/about-us/media-centre/press-releases/autmn-feeding/#Hs2UrwiCIostBP7J.99