Feeding the birds that visit our gardens is one of life’s great joys. It brings them closer to us and is a great way to engage with nature – but it’s also essential. With birds’ natural food-sources in decline, supplementing them helps to support birds through the breeding season and is crucial for their health and survival through hot summers and harsh winters.
But with so many different types of bird food available and from so many sources, how do we know we are giving them the right food? Bird food is available from an enormous range of places, from garden centres, pet shops and supermarkets to online stores and market stalls.
Quality can vary hugely, with some feeds bulked out with cheap fillers, and although budget bird foods appear to be good value you may end up with wasted food that the birds won’t eat.
