Winter, spring, summer, fall - when do birds need food and our help?

Feeding wild birds in the garden is a great way for many families to experience nature up close. We like to put out feeders, especially in winter, but what about in spring, summer and fall? Should we only feed birds in the cold season - or should we feed them all year round? In fact, the topic is controversial: While winter feeding is widely accepted, feeding in the breeding season and summer is hotly debated even among experts. However, it is also clear that real bird protection involves more than just feeding. Good living conditions in the garden are crucial - from suitable nesting sites to natural food sources. At the same time, proper bird feeding can be a help for the birds and a great nature experience. The Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU) emphasizes that, if done correctly, bird feeding is a valuable support and nature education at the same time, especially in winter. Children in particular can learn a lot about bird species and make exciting observations by feeding native wild birds. Modern technology such as a bird feeder with camera even makes it possible to observe the feathered visitors at close range without disturbing them - a fascinating experience for young and old in everyday family life.

Below we take a look at seasonal differences: When do birds need food and our help in winter, spring, summer and fall? In 5 steps - from December frost to fall harvest - there are practical tips on how you can help the animals. (And if you want to know which food is best for which bird species, you can find information on this in the blog article "Which bird food suits which bird species?“ 😉).

1. winter - saving lives in the cold season

Wintertime is feeding time. In Germany, many people start putting up a bird house or feeding silo in late fall. By the time the first frost and snow arrive, feeders are a welcome lifeline for birds. A thick blanket of snow and frozen ground make it difficult for wild birds to find enough natural food. Now we can help out with high-energy bird food. Important: As soon as you start feeding in winter, you should continue to do so until the end of spring - the birds rely on the food source, especially in severe frost.

A winter menu for garden birds contains mainly fatty seeds and nuts. Sunflower seeds, for example, are popular and eaten by almost all species - they make a good basic food. Grain eaters such as tits, finches and sparrows also like other seeds (millet, hemp, poppy seeds) and peanuts. Soft feeders (robins, blackbirds, wrens, etc.), on the other hand, prefer soft food such as oat flakes, raisins, chopped fruit or dried berries. Ready-made tit dumplings or fat food mixes combine grains with fat and help small birds in particular to get enough calories. Make sure to use unsalted nuts and seeds. Salted or seasoned food is taboo - bacon, boiled potatoes or seasoned leftovers should never be put in the bird house. Bread is also not suitable: it swells up in the bird's stomach and spoils quickly. Natural energy sources are better. For example, you can make your own inexpensive fat food by stirring grains and oat flakes into melted unsalted fat (beef fat or vegetable fat) and leaving to cool - for example as tit dumplings or in half coconut shells. DIY treats like these cost little, are fun to prepare and provide birds with important nutrients.

When it comes to winter feeding, quality is more important than quantity: it is better to offer high-quality feed in appropriate quantities than cheap mixtures that often contain a lot of filler material (e.g. wheat grains). Many birds do not eat these cheap fillers and throw them out of the feeder - which can attract pests on the ground. So only put out as much food as is eaten in a day and regularly sweep away old leftover food. Feeder silos or columns are very practical, as the seeds remain dry and the birds do not walk around in the food (this keeps everything clean). You can provide blackbirds and other ground-feeding species with separate ground bowls - but only where cats can't get to them. Speaking of which: always place the feeding station in such a way that cats have no sneaky routes. A free-standing place with some distance to dense bushes is ideal, but a few bushes or trees 3-5 m away as cover. This way the birds feel safe and can still quickly seek cover.

In addition to food, a watering hole is also useful in winter - the birds like to drink and bathe on frost-free days. In severe frost, however, the bowl freezes; you can offer lukewarm water in the morning or use special heatable drinkers. Hygiene is a little less critical in winter than in summer, but it is still important: clean feeders thoroughly every few weeks with hot water (without chemicals). Remove droppings and moist feed residues daily to prevent the spread of diseases such as salmonella. If you ever find a sick or dead bird at the feeder, stop feeding to be on the safe side and clean everything thoroughly. However, with a clean feeding place, good food and a little patience, you will usually be able to observe a lot of activity in winter. This is not only vital for the survival of wild birds, but also gives us humans pleasure - feeding birds in winter is both a help and a natural spectacle.

2. spring - let it fade away and support the breeding season

In spring, nature finds more food again - should we still feed? The traditional recommendation was to stop feeding birds after winter. Today, however, experts advise that feeding should be phased out slowly in March/April. The reason for this is that late winter or early spring can bring another food shortage. If, for example, it suddenly snows or freezes again at the end of March, migratory birds that have returned early and weakened winter birds will be glad of any feeding help. So have some food ready in case the weather goes crazy. Otherwise, you can gradually feed less in spring so that the birds can help themselves to more food in the wild again. Many winter visitors will now move on and the native bird species will find insects, buds and seeds in the awakening garden.

The breeding season places special demands on bird parents. From around April to June, our garden birds are busy building nests, incubating eggs and feeding hungry young birds. Do birds need food in spring? In principle, native birds can get through the breeding season without additional feeding if their habitat provides enough. However, you can help selectively: for example, in bad weather (constant rain or cold spells), when insects and worms are hard to find. In such phases, you can offer food again - preferably not just grains, but protein-rich food. Young birds only grow up healthily on protein-rich food, which in nature is mainly insects. If the parents are only given grain food and pass it on to the nestlings, there is a risk of malnutrition or digestive problems. It is better to provide live food in spring: Live or dried mealworms, for example, provide protein and calcium. Special insect food or mixtures with dried insects can also be offered - many wild bird food manufacturers offer "summer food" or "year-round food" with insects. If this is too expensive for you, you can alternatively offer soft food such as oat flakes, finely chopped peanuts and raisins. Important: Only offer whole peanuts or coarse hard grains in a fine-mesh peanut dispenser so that the birds have to crush the nuts first. This prevents parents from accidentally feeding their chicks chunks that are too large, which could then get stuck in their crop. Alternatively, you can crush peanuts yourself using a mortar and pestle - this makes them easier for adults and young birds to digest.

Another aspect in spring: nesting boxes and garden design. Birds "need our help" now, especially in the form of suitable nesting sites. Support the peeps by hanging up nesting boxes in February/March (for tits, sparrows etc.) or cleaning old boxes. Simple wooden nesting boxes can also be built DIY - a great project to do with children on a weekend in March! Make sure to hang the box where it is protected from the weather, cat-proof and has a clear approach path. Some bird species also use nesting materials provided: for example, lay out some natural cotton ribbon, sheep's wool or animal hair (brushed pet fur) in a net bag in the garden - tits and sparrows like to pick soft material for their nest. Even more important is a natural garden: In spring, this means not using pesticides and avoiding "tidying" as much as possible. Every bug and weed in the garden is potential food for young birds! Flowering native plants attract insects, which the bird parents eagerly collect. In short: with a bird-friendly garden design, you create the best conditions for the bird families to get through the spring - feeding is then just the icing on the cake.

3. summer - feed with care & offer water

Many people stop feeding in summer at the latest. Nature has enough to offer now, doesn't it? In fact, birds usually find plenty of insects, berries and seeds in summer. Nevertheless, more and more birdwatchers are advocating year-round feeding, as our cultivated landscape is impoverished in many places (pesticide use and tidy gardens reduce the natural food supply). After the breeding season, there are also significantly more feathered mouths buzzing around than in winter - all the young birds from spring are now looking for food. A summer feeding site is therefore often even busier than in winter. This can be a great spectacle in the garden and it helps the adult birds to keep their strength up. But: summer feeding requires special care so that it benefits the birds and does not harm them. Hygiene at the feeding place is particularly important because warm temperatures allow pathogens to flourish. In summer, bacteria, fungi or parasites (such as trichomonads) can multiply quickly on moist food residues. Therefore: clean the feeding place daily! It is best to remove old food every day, wash it out with hot water and leave it to dry. Use small amounts of food that are eaten within a few hours instead of large rations that spoil. If you notice an ailing bird (fluffed up, apathetic) or even find a dead bird, immediately remove and disinfect all feeding and drinking places - and take a break. The risk of epidemics is real in summer, so you must act responsibly.

In addition to moderate feeding, the main focus in summer is on water. Drinking and bathing places are now at least as important as food! Puddles and streams often dry out, making it difficult for birds to quench their thirst. It is therefore essential to set up a bird bath: A shallow bowl (e.g. flower saucer) with 2-5 cm of water is sufficient. Place a larger stone in it so that even small birds can land safely. This simple bird bath is very popular in hot summer weeks - for drinking and bathing, which helps with plumage cleaning and provides cooling. Important: Change the water daily (preferably in the morning) and clean the bowl with hot water every time you change the water. This will prevent germs from spreading in the stagnant water. Also position the drinking trough so that it is safe for cats (free-standing with all-round visibility) so that the bathing birds are not surprised.

If you want to feed birds in summer, you can use similar feed mixes to those used in winter. However, summer feed should be as low in fat and high in protein as possible. Many bird species now have a greater appetite for smaller seeds, cereal flakes and especially insects. Special summer feed mixtures contain, for example, low-fat seeds (such as millet, oats, hemp, lettuce seeds) and dried insects. Blackbirds and other soft feeders are happy with pieces of fruit or raisins - but you will have to replace these frequently in hot weather, as fruit ferments or becomes moldy quickly. Fat food such as classic tit dumplings is less suitable in midsummer: they are too high in fat and become rancid in the heat. You should also avoid large nuts and sunflower seeds in summer feeding or only offer them in moderation. These energy-rich chunks are tasty for adult birds, but difficult for young birds to digest - in the worst case they can lead to fatal intestinal blockages in nestlings. Instead, opt for smaller seeds and insects. What must always be eliminated in summer: Bread and leftovers. Bread swells up when damp, and food scraps with salt/spices are dangerous for the bird's health (this applies at any time of year).

So summer feeding can make perfect sense if you do it right. Many bird lovers - and their children - appreciate watching the hustle and bustle at the feeding place in summer too. Whole family groups can often be seen now: fledged young birds appearing with their parents and even begging. This experience of nature is one of the main reasons why even nature conservation organizations such as NABU say that feeding is recommended for those who enjoy it. But don't forget that the best way to help the birds in summer is to make your garden bird-friendlyA structurally rich garden with native wild plants, non-poisonous insects and hiding places is better for many species than any feeder. So let the lawn grow a little, keep berry-bearing shrubs (elderberry, rowanberry, raspberry etc.) and avoid insecticides. This way, the birds will find enough natural food - and you can enjoy it without having to rinse feeding bowls every day.

4. fall - preparing for winter & natural food sources

In the fall, nature gives us plenty of fruit, seeds and berries. Now you can do a lot for the birds without feeding them at all - by gardening wisely. Don't be afraid to "leave five straight" in the garden: leave faded perennials standing instead of cutting everything off! Grain-eaters such as finches and siskins can still find plenty of food in the dried seed heads of sunflowers, thistles, teasels, etc.. Autumn fruits such as berries on rowan, elder, rowanberry or rosehip bushes are a natural feast for blackbirds, thrushes and the like. If you want to rake leaves, leave piles of leaves or compost in a corner of the garden - They are teeming with insects and worms, which in turn attract birds. Every natural garden is the best source of food now! You should leave native wild herbs, grasses and strips of old grass in the fall; insect larvae overwinter in them, which many birds eat later on. You can also leave some fallen fruit under fruit trees - juniper thrushes and robins like to peck at rotten apples. In short: use the fall to prepare a richly laid table for wild birds in the garden. If you have a near-natural garden now, you can help the birds much more sustainably than a conventional feeder could.

Towards the end of autumn, the classic winter feeding begins again. Many bird enthusiasts ask themselves: When should I start feeding in the fall? A good rule of thumb: As soon as it gets really uncomfortable outside. In October, you can slowly get out the feeders, especially when the temperatures drop. You should "open" the feeders at the latest from the first night frost or when snow is forecast. Some experts even recommend starting as early as the end of Octoberso that the birds discover the new food source in good time and get used to it. Simply observe your garden visitors: as soon as you notice that there are fewer insects to be found and the first wintering birds arrive from the north (e.g. bramblings or waxwings may appear in late fall), it's time. Initially, a small amount of food a day will suffice; you can then increase the supply as the weather conditions change during November.

Fall is also the ideal time to check and clean bird feeders before the big rush arrives. If you want to buy or build a new bird feeder, use the fall to do so - then it will be ready in time for the cold snap. You may also want to invest in modern solutions, such as a bird feeder with a camera so you can watch the action live (a great Christmas present for nature-loving family members!). However, simple means also do the trick: for example, you can make feeding bells with children as an autumn craft project (fill clay pots with fat food) or string up peanut garlands to hang outside. These homemade feeders are inexpensive and fun - and the birds will love them in winter.

To summarize: In the fall, birds need less supplementary food because nature still has plenty to offer. Support them above all with garden measures and by leaving overwintering quarters for insects (leaves, old stems, etc.). Towards the end of fall, you can then seamlessly transition to winter feeding so that no bird has to go hungry when the first frosty nights arrive.

5. year-round feeding - useful or harmful?

In view of dwindling habitats and insects, many bird fans are wondering whether feeding should be done all year round. Opinions on this differ. All major nature conservation organizations (such as NABU, BirdLife Switzerland, Sempach Ornithological Institute) currently recommend not feeding in summer or only feeding very selectively. Their argument: feeding mainly benefits common species that dominate feeding sites, but does not help rare, specialized species at all. In fact, a maximum of 10-15 common bird species - sparrows, tits, finches, blackbirds, robins etc. - are usually seen at feeders. Endangered species such as swallows, swifts or rare forest birds do not come to the feeders at all and benefit more from the preservation of natural habitats. So species conservation cannot be achieved by feeding alone. Critics also emphasize that feeding beyond the winter potentially influences natural selection processes - even weaker birds survive, which could lead to more competition for territories in the spring.

On the other side are renowned ornithologists such as Prof. Peter Berthold, who advocate year-round feeding. They argue that we humans have already taken away so many of the birds' feeding habitats (through agriculture, urban development, insect decline) that we should be able to feed them all year round in return. Berthold and Co. say that common species such as tits and sparrows are doing well thanks to feeding - and without this help, they too might be in decline. Although this approach is controversial among experts, it is finding more and more supporters among the general public. Many people simply enjoy watching birds all year round and doing something good for them. And indeed: proper year-round feeding does not harm the birds. So if you feel like offering food in spring and summer too, you can do so - provided you follow the rules mentioned above (hygiene, correct food, small quantities). Especially in summer, make sure that no food spoils or harms young birds. If there is a prolonged period of bad weather, additional feeding is even expressly helpful because the parent birds then bring their young through better. Many bird keepers choose a middle way: in spring they slowly phase out feeding, in summer they only feed when necessary (e.g. in their own garden when there is an obvious shortage), but always provide water. In this way, there is no dependency on food, but still support when things get tight.

Regardless of feeding, you can do something for birds all year round - namely create a bird-friendly habitat. A near-natural garden with a variety of native plants, wild growing corners, insect hotels, hedges and old trees is worth its weight in gold at any time of year. Wild birds will find food and shelter there of their own accord. For example: If you let your meadow bloom in summer and leave seed heads in the fall, the granivores hardly need any additional food. Or if you put up nesting boxes early in the year, you will help cavity-nesting birds to find breeding sites. Conclusion: Artificial feeding is essential, especially in winter. It is not absolutely necessary at other times of the year - but it can help under certain circumstances and gives us humans pleasure. It is important to use it responsibly so as not to unknowingly harm the birds. At the same time, we should not forget that only the preservation of natural habitats and a species-rich environment will safeguard bird populations in the long term.

Fortunately, the one does not exclude the other: You can and may feed all year round and still turn your garden into a little bird paradise. 🙂 If you combine both approaches, you'll be making a great contribution - and in return you'll get a colorful hustle and bustle of grateful peeps. With this in mind, feeding birds according to the season can be a real pleasure with a little knowledge. Try out what works best for your garden and your feathered guests.

How do you do it in your garden? 🐦🌱