Gardeners are being urged to put a bowl of water in their gardens this winter, even in the cold weather.
That’s because there are several British birds which don’t fly south for the winter, instead choosing to stay local and fight for food and drink in our green spaces just as they did in the summer.
But many gardeners forget about their outdoor spaces in the colder months, making life more difficult for the robins, blackbirds, magpies, sparrows and other non-migratory bird species.
Bird protection charity the RSPB is calling on gardeners across the UK to provide drinking water for birds, stressing that it is ‘particularly important’ in the winter.
The RSPB says: “It’s good to provide a regular supply of clean water for birds. It’s particularly important in the winter and in dry weather. Shallow containers, like dustbin lids or plant saucers, work well, but make sure you clean them regularly.”
Website Songbird Survival adds: “You may have seen little birds drinking by dipping their bills into small ponds and puddles to drink from. How much water they need depends a lot on their diet; insect-eating birds will need less water than ones that have a dry diet of seeds.
“Providing somewhere for birds to drink fresh, clean water from a container that is regularly cleaned is a great idea… birds are more than happy to use a shallow dish or container to drink and wash in. For example, a plant pot saucer or shallow bowl are ideal.
“An important point to remember is to not make the water too deep to prevent fledglings from drowning. During very warm weather many birds may attempt to access water they may not usually risk, such as deep-water butts.
“Another useful tip is to place some bamboo canes or long sticks into the water, protruding above the water level. They make a simple escape route for birds and could prevent drowning.
“If your container/dish has smooth sides, consider placing clean gravel in it to give the smaller birds something to grip onto.
“You could also include a wobbly rock to help both as a perching spot, and to keep water from icing over in winter.”
