In this bitter cold and wintery weather I feel so much for my birds - a little wren is complaining like mad in the workshop - it has made a roost with moss, straw and goose feathers in the corner of a shelf in the shed where I work, and doesn't want the noise of me chiseling and moving stone around, and doesn't want to go out either! Other birds follow me waiting for fresh seed and nuts - they really need their water too and happily stand in the birdbath, even when bathed - must be warmer than the snow and ice for their little feet. When snow is on the ground and frozen, foraging becomes difficult for small birds and unless they get food they just don't survive the winter.
New bird feeders ready to hang
Today I thought I would help them along, and make a special winter treat to ensure they were filled up with plenty energy for the long, cold night. Smelling lardy, but worth it.
Treat for my garden birds - winter recipe bird food
I've mixed up seeds, peanuts, berries, dried mealworms, breadcrumbs and grated cheese with lard and squidged it all together and then spooned it into coconut halves. I attached some string hangers and suspended them from branches near the nut feeders.
Blue-tit at the feeder
Almost immediately the birds were feeding from them - the Blue-tits seem to boss the feeders here - so I put some on the bird table too, so everyone had a chance to get some.
What sort of mix do you put out for your birds in Winter - do they have a favourite food?
A robin visits the bird table hungry for a meal
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