Birds need food and something to drink in cold weather

Winter has finally arrived in full force: biting temperatures well below zero and icy winds are putting a halt to spring. The first green leaf tips are once again covered in snow.

Birds need water too

For birds, this sudden cold snap is life-threatening: in a single frosty night, a small bird the size of a tit can burn up to 20 percent of its body weight. “Since natural water sources such as puddles are frozen over, birds need not only food but also an extra dish of water,” says Eva Goris, press officer at the Deutsche Wildtier Stiftung.

There is no need for an expensive bird bath at the feeding station; a flower pot saucer or an old soup plate works perfectly as a water source. “Make sure the water level is around two to three centimetres deep and does not freeze over,” advises Eva Goris. “Place a flat stone in the centre of the dish to serve as a landing island for the birds.” Cleanliness at the water station is particularly important! “Change the water daily and clean the feeding station with a brush.”

The right food in cold weather

On top of all this, the coming weeks bring the energy-intensive and demanding courtship and breeding season right in the middle of this food-scarce period. When snow covers the ground, many a beak goes empty. Plant-based fats from nuts and seeds act as fuel to help birds through the icy days. Fat-rich food with plenty of oats has a high nutritional value and provides the energy needed. A high proportion of sunflower seeds, hemp, and peanuts in the feed is important. Halved fruit, berries, and raisins are also a welcome treat, especially for blackbirds and robins. “Kitchen scraps and food leftovers, on the other hand, are absolutely off limits. Birds are not rubbish bins,” says Eva Goris. More on wildlife and Environment and Nature Conservation.