When to stop feeding birds?
Seem to be mixed messages coming from TV & Radio programmes. I
have never fed birds in the garden after end March and before late
November. -Is it right that once you start you should not stop or is
this a ruse to make you continue buying bird food?
I have 12
Blue Tits/10 sparrows/2 Great Tits and 2 Robins plus a droopy winged
lady Blackbird in the back garden whom I call 'The Rabble' and 3 Blue
Tits/2 Coal Tits/1 Robin and a Moorhen in the front garden whom I call
the 'Quiet Crew' -They all know exactly when I am going to put food out
-should I stop or not soon?0
Posts
I used to follow the general advice years ago of mainly autumn through till spring, but the birds were visiting with youngsters, and still appearing even when there was other food available, so I continued feeding all year round.
Our spring can be a long time coming too, so I feel it benefits them.
When the chicks fledge and leave the nest they learn the garden too, feed and grow strong and entertain and repeat the process the following year. It's a win win.
There are periods when they eat less and some when they seem insatiable but it all helps with wildlife diversity.
If you feed all year round the birds will stay close to your garden.
Apparently birds don't rely on garden feeders exclusively and just visit as part of the rounds they do in gardens.
There are times when my feeders need filling a lot and others when nothing visits.
The birds know what they are doing!!