Hang your fat balls out in the cold weather

[Foxy1]

what a lovely little bird! Never seen a picture of one of those before

[Gort]

Hung fat balls out today and filled the feeders with nuts and noticed that the squirels must have been using claw hammers to burst the mesh on the nut holders.

[Libby]

This is the problem we have in our garden! Pigeons on the bird table scaring off the other birds!

[Muz]

Air rifle

[Gort]

I get magpies and crows scaring off the better stuff

[cathy]

I feed the birds all summer and winter. It's surprising how many people are convinced they shouldn't be fed during the warmer months and will argue the point until they're red in the face. They seem to forget the birds need help to build up strength and condition before they start breeding, during breeding and after breeding. It's blooming hard work rearing a family in a few short months you know!

[Gort]

In winter where temps get down below -0 small birds can lose up to half their body weight over night

[Foxy1]

I miss living in the countryside hearing you all talking about feeding the birds

When i was little we used to hang 1/2 a coconut outside the window where we had breakfast. My sister and i got to know all the different birds and name them. I still remember 'Greedy Great', he used to stuff himself till I could swear he was about to throw up!

[cathy]

It doesn't matter where you live you can still feed the birds.

Even people who don't have a garden could hang a seed or nut feeder outside a window.

[Libby]

Quite right Cathy! We feed the birds all year round too! I live in a big city and am amazed at the birds i see in my garden. We have starlings, tits (no funny comments here folks lol!), the odd robin and sparrow (where have all the sparrows gone?!). I even saw a chaffinch the other day!

We have a bird bath, various bird feeders and a bird table. Also wicker bird houses around the garden for them to nest.

The secret is the more you cater for birds the more you will see, it really is lovely to watch them! ;D