The State of Nature scientific report on Scotland’s nature shows a 15% decline in species abundance since 1994. In the last decade alone, 43% (172) of the species have declined strongly. Over 35% of all vertebrates in Scotland are threatened, with some of the worst declines in familiar songbirds such as the greenfinch.
Winter can be tough for songbirds. As temperatures drop, cold winds pick up and we start to see regular hard frosts in our gardens, songbirds need to find extra energy to keep warm. As a result, birds need to use up their stored fats. They must remain lightweight to be able to fly and so cannot carry much fat reserve. Sometimes small birds only have enough reserves to get through the night. This means birds must forage successfully and consistently, to maintain their weight, which is problematic when food supply is limited during a cold snap.
As many plants die back over the winter months and levels of insects are much lower, the natural food supply becomes limited. Even this may become inaccessible when sub-zero temperatures freeze the ground and access to soil invertebrates becomes impossible. Water sources are also scarce as small bodies of freshwater freeze and the energy that birds need to expend to try to melt them is too high a cost.
The charity SongBird Survival is working to change the future of songbirds by funding research into the causes of their decline and creating solutions. This winter they are sharing top tips to help songbirds in your garden, based on the latest science.
Sue Morgan, Chief Executive of SongBird Survival said, "This winter, we are supporting gardeners to take small, low-cost actions at home to help our threatened songbird population. By giving food, water and shelter in your garden, you can make a real difference.”
The charity has four top tips for all gardeners, regardless of the size or nature of your garden:
Songbirds eat a variety of foods, with different species favouring and needing different things: what you choose will determine which birds you will attract. Buying a small bird mixture or high protein mixture will attract the largest variety into the garden.
To attract more specific species, here are a few ideas:
One fun way to help is to stir up a seed cake to make seed go further, adding fat, mixed nuts, and fruit. You can also save your table scraps to feed hungry songbirds. Pop out soft fruit, uncooked oats, grated cheese, cooked pasta, raisins, biscuit and pastry crumbs, meat fat (unsalted), or potatoes.
To help long-term, plant wildflowers and sunflowers to provide a natural food source. Winter is a great time to plant native trees and shrubs like hazel and crab apple which will provide excellent food and shelter for years to come.
Put food out at the same time each day so that birds do not have to waste energy wondering when they will be able to access it. Refreshing food twice a day is a good rule of thumb. Once first thing in the morning to help the birds replenish fat supplies lost overnight, and then again late afternoon to get them through the cold night ahead.
Water can be difficult for birds to come by in the winter months, even though it feels like it does nothing but rain! Provide your birds with clean fresh water in your garden all day. When it is freezing, place a small ball in the dish to help prevent ice forming. Think carefully about where to place the water so it is not easy for predators to access.
Almost anything can become a bird bath. Why not simply try an upturned plant pot with a plant dish on top?
Birds need shelter from the cold, especially on cold, winter nights. An old Christmas tree, or a pile of branches or foliage can be placed on the ground to provide shelter from wind and snow.
If you have space and permission, install a bird box. Some birds, including tits and wrens, will shelter in empty nest boxes, snuggling together for warmth.
You will also be acting now to help attract more birds to your garden in the spring. When deciding on where to place your nest boxes, think of the sunlight it will be exposed to. The best direction is either north or east. Birds will need a clear flight path to the entrance and if you tilt the box slightly forward, it will help stop rain driving into the nest. If the ground directly below the box is bare, consider planting a shrub underneath.
For more advice and tips on attracting birds to your garden, visit SongBird Survival’s website or social media accounts, and join the charity to mark National Robin Day on 21st December to celebrate a love of songbirds.
The charity has also launched a free Ruby Robin Award for children aged five to eleven years old to help more families connect with nature this winter. Children can gain their award by taking part in fun activities like crafting a festive pine-cone feeder, learning more about birds, and taking part in a bird spot challenge to receive a certificate and a pin badge for completing the challenges.