Lots of people help the birds by throwing out stale bread for them to eat. Although this does elevate the birds hunger, bread isn’t a very nutritious food source.

Most garden bird’s staple diet is usually, fruit and berries, nuts and seeds, insects, worms and grubs, Very tasty.

To really help the bird out this winter you could string p some monkey nuts. Buy some peanuts in their shells and thread a sharp wool needle with a length of wool with a knot in the end of it. Push the needle through the middle of the peanut shell and out of the other side, it’s a bit like threading beads. Thread on more monkey nuts in this way until the wool is almost full. Unthread the needle, make a loop in the wool that is left and tie a knot to keep the nuts and the loop in place. Use the loop to hang the nuts from the bird-table or tree.

You could also make a tasty bird-cake…
Add to a bowl some chopped up bacon rind, leftover chicken bits from Sunday dinner, a few peanuts, a few raisins and frozen peas, some shelled sunflower seeds if you have any, some diced apple and a couple of heaped table spoons of flour and mix well. Add some water and mix to create dough.

Mould into a ball shape and leave it over night on the kitchen windowsill to dry. By morning it will be hard and ready to leave out on a bird table or lawn for the birds to peck at.

It’s just as important the water is left out as well as food. In the winter, water turns to ice and the birds do not have access to drinking water. Leave a dish with fresh water in it out in your garden for the birds, and check it on really cold mornings to make sure it hasn’t turned to ice.

Some of the UK’s bird population are becoming endangered, this means that their population numbers are falling. Organisations like the RSPB do valuable work to protect and monitor endangered breeds of bird. You could monitor the birds yourself during the winter months, spend an hour each day for a week recording all the birds that visit your garden or bird-table. Bird watching is also known as twitching.

There is a chart on the website, a list of UK winter birds that you may see. Each bird has an illustration to help you to identify which breed it is, and there is some information about each birds preferred habitat. Some birds are residents of the UK, which means they like here all year round, others just visit for the winter.

Some birds on the list are endangered, so some of the birds are rarer than others; but you may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of them. Maybe you could tempt them into your garden with a bit of tasty bird-cake.

By S. Roberts

S. Roberts writes for santaspostbag.co.uk a website offering Christmas information, education and tips and advice to help your Christmas be the greatest ever. Plus correspond with Santa for FREE http://www.santaspostbag.co.uk/your-letter-from-santa.php In association with http://www.bigboystoyz.com
Visit the winter bird chart http://santaspostbag.co.uk/UK-winter-Birds.html

This Winter, Provide Water For The Birds

Even the most novice bird watcher places a bird feeder out in winter, what strikes me, is the number of experienced bird watchers who do not provide water for the birds during winter.

The energy expanded looking for a fresh water source could be better used for staying well and surviving the winter.

All wildlife needs water, Summer or Winter.

Birds, like humans, need water all year. By investing in a heated bird bath or by adding a bird bath heater to your existing bird bath, you’ll be providing the greatest resource birds need in order to survive.

Bird bath heaters are usually available wherever bird feeding supplies are offered. Check local hardware stores, large discount stores, and online.

Heated bird baths are most commonly found on-line. These are complete bird baths with the heater built into the bath.

When using either of these types, make sure your power source is safe. If you are unsure, hire an electrician to check it out or to install a GFCI outlet on the outside of your house. These types of outlets provide saftey for outdoor bird baths and any other electrical tools used in the yard.

Place your heated bird bath near your feeders for easier viewing. Even birds that don’t normally visit your feeders will visit your bird bath. All backyard birds need water. Also, when placing your bath, make sure there is cover for the birds. Water on the feathers make birds easy targets for prey.

Do not place the bird bath too close to cover, otherwise cats can hide and attack the birds more easily, a few yards will be adequate.

The recommended type of bird bath, is the pedestal style. These give the birds more security by being 2 or more feet above ground. This height allows birds to view their surroundings and any would be predators. Any bird bath can be used.

By providing water for birds this winter, you’ll not only be providing a service to our winter birds, but you’ll have a greater diversity of birds and more of them to watch. And…

Isn’t that what makes bird watching so much fun?
By Wild-Bird-Watching.com

Wild-Bird-Watching.com Offers bird watching information on common North American backyard birds. Visit to learn about your favorite birds.

Here in Michigan and other temperate climates, winter survival is everything for wild birds. The search for food starts at dawn and continues till dusk. If a bird is able to eat enough, it will store enough energy to survive a cold winter’s night. It then starts all over for another day.Wild birds or backyard birds depend on every seed, berry or insect it may find. With the continual decline of natural habitats, birds
need our helping hands.
Caring and feeding for wild birds helps them to survive the winter and
also gives you a sense of doing good. Helping out nature instead of taking from her.
Birds require food, fresh water, shelter from the elements and
protection from predators.
FOOD: 

High energy food is important. Suet, peanuts, black oil
sunflower seed all high energy food high in fat and protein. Nyjer thistle is a high source of energy for finches as well. Cage feeders are designed to hold suet cakes, Tube and hopper
feeders are designed to accommodate a variety of birds. Platform and peanut feeders are also available. Pack down an area and toss some cracked corn and white millet
for the ground scratching birds to enjoy.
FRESH WATER: 

I emphasize FRESH WATER here. With a lack of
natural water sources available in cold winter months, water can be scarce. Fresh water even more so. While birds will and do eat snow, this drives down their body temperature and uses valuable energy to
melt the snow and warm back up.
Offer up some water with a heated birdbath or put a heater in your
current bath. heaters cost no more to run the a light bulb and can save a birds life. Look for heaters that come with a minimum three
year guarantee.
SHELTER: 

From the harsh winter winds and a place to snuggle. Use
your old Christmas tree, or hang a roosting box. Plant lots of bushes and trees for your birds to roost in. Evergreens work wonders here as
a wind brake and protection from snow fall. Most birds will die at night from a lack of food, water and
protection Food and water are life’s essentials, protection helps your birds to conserve vital calories.
PROTECTION: 

Birds need to feel safe from danger and offering
protection will keep your birds coming back. Place your feeders and Fresh water source near trees and bushes. Out in the open.
Enough for your birds to see if hawks are around and away from
places where cats might hide.
By placing your feeding stations 10 to 20 feet from trees and shrubs,
your birds have an open view and can escape most attacks from the air or the ground.
Research shows that birds get 25% of their food from human sources.
How important is that 25% on any given winter’s night?

Backyard birding is a healthy hobby for all and just about anyone
can feed the birds. A hobby that can last a lifetime.
By Ronald Patterson

Ron Patterson has been more then 40 years of experience and knowledge csaring for backyard birds.Along with his bird knowledge, Ron is a Michigan Certified Nurseryman. Ron Has combined his expertise to help others enjoy wild birds more and teaches how to garden for birds. Get Ron’s newsletter at: http://www.backyardbirdingtips.com/