“Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s Party!”
We love watching birds grace our garden throughout the year however, Spring welcomes a whole new hive of activity. As the days get lighter, birds across Britain start to get ready for the breeding season – which means they’ll need a little bit of extra help from us to make sure they have all the resources they need to raise their chicks.
But what can you do to help care for birds in spring? From nest boxes, bird baths to bugs and grubs our handy guide will allow you to lend a helping hand.
Nest Boxes
With the destruction of natural habitats like hedgerows, suitable nesting places are scarce at the start of the breeding season. One of the best ways that you can help care for your garden birds is to put up a nesting box in your garden.
Springtime is when your nest box will be busiest; there’s no need to kit it out with nesting materials, as birds will move this in themselves, however, you could leave nesting materials nearby in sheltered spots so they can help themselves as and when they need it.
Where should I hang my Nest Box?
Nest boxes should be placed in a safe and comfortable environment which allows them to protect birds from predators and any bad weather. If you do decide to place your bird box on a tree, just make sure there is no foliage blocking the entrance. For an in-depth guide on hanging your nest box read our how to install a nest box?
Spring Bird Feeding
Similar to the declining natural nesting places, food sources may be scarce during this key period in the garden birds’ lives. The ground may be too hard to get to those delicious insects for one thing – so the birds will be grateful for whatever helping hand you can give them. If you’ve already been feeding birds through the winter, keep on doing so, as they will already trust you as a source of food.
What should I feed garden birds in Spring?
There’s a variety of seed mixes to choose from, but high energy things like suet and fat balls are the ideal choice to give your garden birds the boost they need.
While things like aflatoxin tested peanuts are a good choice because of their high oil content, remember to always offer them in a mesh feeder. Smaller birds and chicks can choke on the whole nut, so if you offer it from a mesh peanut feeder it forces the birds to peck off smaller chunks.
Bugs, Grubs and Insects
It might sound like many people’s worst nightmare but, for birds, they are a tasty treat! During nesting season it’s great for garden birds to have a plentiful supply of nutritious bugs and grubs.
You can help where you can by using Mealworms to substitute throughout the spring. Soak them in water overnight to offer a real treat to the birds, or you could try crushing them up so small birds can enjoy them too.
Bird Baths
Birds deserve a pamper too! A bird bath will not only be a wonderful focal point for your garden, but it will also offer the birds a wonderful source of water to bathe in. A water tray will be a welcome addition for garden birds to drink. Remember to ensure that the water is nice and clean so as to prevent the spread of disease; you may need to keep it topped up during warmer weather, too.
This source of water will also mean that the garden birds won’t have to travel further from their young, potentially leaving them vulnerable to predators.
Share Your Spring Snaps
With a hive of activity in your very own back garden, we’re sure there are plenty of photo opportunities. Share your Spring Snaps with us to be in with a chance of winning a 12.75kg bag of feed!
It’s so simple to enter! Just share your photo with us on any of our social media platforms, using the hashtag #SnappyBeaks. You can enter via Instagram, Facebook, Messenger or X. As long as your photo is related to bird feeding or wild birds in some way, we’ll consider it as a valid entry. Click here, to find out more!
