Al fresco dining!
Give birds something good to eat!
Your Challenge
Many birds are dependent on insects as food. As insect populations decline, this puts pressure on healthy bird populations [1]. You can help by feeding birds in your garden or outside space.
Feeding birds in the winter:
- In winter, birds need high-energy (fat) foods to fight against the cold weather. Always make sure the food you give birds is good quality (not mouldy or full of sugar). Avoid letting uneaten food build up, as this can attract pests and disease.
Feeding birds in the summer:
- People think birds don't need feeding in the summer, but they do. This is a time when birds are feeding chicks and raising their young, so providing high protein foods is essential. At this time of year you’ll need to use different types of food compared to winter. Some good options are mealworms, waxworms, sunflower seeds and soaked sultanas, raisins and currants.
- Avoid peanuts, fat, bread and homemade fat balls, as the hot weather can make these expire quicker, and peanuts could be a choking risk for chicks.
To provide all this lovely food, find bird feeders in garden centres, supermarkets or charity shops, or make one from recycled items.
Why you're doing this
One sixth of birds in the EU have disappeared in the last 40 years – around 600 million breeding birds in total [2]. Though the decline in birds is slow compared to that of other animals, some species are declining at a faster rate than others. For example, tree sparrow populations reduced by 95% between 1970 and 1991 [3].
How you'll make a difference
By regularly providing the right food for the time of year, you can help support bird populations. By doing this all year, you will help them survive food shortages which can be particularly challenging and happen at any time.
Track your progress
in the My Footprint App
Track your progress and discover many more challenges in the My Footprint app. Available for iOS and Android devices.
