Winter Garden: Bird Survival challenges with our guardian action

Dear friends, when the bitter wind blows and the snow covers our garden, the picture of winter unfolds before our eyes.  This season is the toughest time of the year for garden birds, who are facing a brutal challenge to survive.  Today, let's dive into the story of garden birds in winter and what we can do for them.

The outline of the season: a picture of birds in four seasons

Spring: the budding and renewal of hope

In spring, the garden wakes from its slumber and is full of life.  Birds are busy finding mates, building nests and starting new lives.  Flowers and trees provide nesting materials and abundant food, insects are active, nectar is sweet, it is a season full of hope and vitality.

Summer: a feast of exuberance and vitality

In summer, the garden is lush, like a green kingdom.  Rich in fruits and insects, it is a paradise for birds.  Although the heat is a challenge, they have plenty of water and shade to make it through the busy season.

Autumn: a time of transition and reserve

In autumn, the garden is tinted with colours.  Migratory birds prepare for migration, while native birds prepare for changes in food.  As temperatures drop, they begin to rely on fallen fruit and seeds to build strength for the coming winter.

Winter: Struggle and fortitude in the cold

· Food scarcity: the number one problem of survival

The winter garden is like a pause button hit by nature.  Most plants go dormant and insects disappear.  The birds' usual food sources have been drastically reduced, and every seed, every bit of fruit left on the branches, has become invaluable.  They have to spend more time and energy searching for food, and often have to travel through the garden in the cold, enduring the double test of hunger and cold.

· Cold invasion: A huge drain on energy

Cold is the main theme of winter, low temperatures make birds need to expend a lot of energy to maintain body temperature.  Their bodies are like a small stove that needs to be continuously fueled.  To keep warm, they fluff their feathers and reduce heat loss, but that's still not enough to protect them from the cold.  Therefore, food is not only for them to fill their stomachs, but also a source of calories to sustain life.

· Natural enemy threat: Danger is everywhere

In the winter, when food is scarce, birds not only have to contend with the harsh natural environment, but also be vigilant against the threat of natural predators.  Some birds of prey may increase their frequency of hunting in winter, and the lack of vegetation cover in the garden makes the birds more exposed to predators, whose every foraging may be accompanied by danger.

 

Garden owner's guard: for the birds to hold up a warm umbrella

· A steady food supply: warmth in the midst of snow

As garden owners, we can set up multiple feeding points in the garden, such as placing simple food plates or hanging feeders in sheltered corners.  Fill it with food suitable for winter birds, such as sunflower seeds, crushed peanuts, balls of grease, etc.  The smart bird feeder is especially useful at this time, it can automatically drop food according to the set time or conditions, even if we are not in the garden, but also to ensure that the birds have a stable source of food, like creating a "restaurant" for them.

· A warm perch: a haven from the cold

It is necessary to build small bird houses for the birds or set up shelter in the garden.  We can build simple wooden huts and spread hay in them to create a warm and comfortable "nest" for the birds.  These havens help them reduce heat loss, shelter them from snow and predators, and allow them to rest peacefully on cold nights.

· Clean water: the source of life

Although the water may freeze in winter, we still need to provide the birds with drinking water.  You can use a heated birdbath or change the water regularly to prevent the surface from freezing.  Water is not only a thirst quencher for birds, it's also key to preening and keeping their bodies clean, which helps them keep warm.

Dear friends, although the winter garden may seem bleak, every action we take can be a light of hope for birds in this cold winter.  Let us help to create a warm and safe wintering environment for these lovely creatures, so that they can still sing happily in our garden when spring arrives.