Feeding the Birds

• Encouraging birds into the garden can begin immediately, gradually the feeders, bird baths and nest boxes can be added.....
  
• The best times to feed the garden birds is in Winter and Spring, when natural food is scarce
• Need to supply Food AND Water - running water is great
  
• Feed in the early morning and early afternoon
• Adjust the amounts of food you put out to match the demand you get
  
• Use a variety of feeding sites. Keep ground level trays clear of cover
  
• If you scatter the ground, vary the site where you put seed out
  
• clear away unwanted food (to avoid vermin / seeds taking root)
• Dont allow a build up of old food (think restaurant again!)
  
• keep the feeding receptacles clean: sweep, empty, disinfect and rinse carefully the feeding trays and mesh on feeders regularly.
  
• Clean the receptacles outside to avoid infection - use rubber gloves and wash hands thoroughly afterwards.
  
• In spring and summer the good hygiene rules are even more important
• Because there are a lot of pigeons about, feeders are better than an open bird table, because the mesh used is too fine for pigeons to feed from.
• other options could be Fat balls and cakes or pastry with seed pushed into a pine cone
• beware in case people have peanut allergies
• Seed can be expensive - shop around locally for a good deal on seed mixes.
  
• Results wont be instant - you need to keep at it!