Gardening expert Monty Don urges people to keep feeding birds during nesting season. In his April 2024 blog, Monty Don said that most birds will be nesting and laying eggs and hatching young over the course of the month, and he urged people to keep putting out food if they have any. According to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), bird feeders can be placed almost anywhere, but it's best to choose a quiet, low-traffic spot where birds won't be disturbed, ideally safe and sheltered from strong winds.
The RSPB explains that bird feeders should not be too close to bushes where predators could hide, but close enough to cover so birds can dart away, and birds like to have a view all around while feeding. The RSPB added that wherever you place your feeder, make sure you can see it from indoors to get the most pleasure, and it can take time for birds to get used to a new feeder. For cleaning, the RSPB suggests cleaning bird feeders by brushing off debris each time you refill, scrubbing with mild disinfectant weekly, moving feeders occasionally to prevent droppings buildup, and rinsing water containers daily in warm weather.
Most birds will be nesting and laying eggs and hatching young over the course of the month. Keep putting out food if you have any.
Monty Don explained that there's no need to buy specific bird food, as suitable options like flakes of cheese and breadcrumbs are likely already at home.
Flakes of cheese and breadcrumbs are good if you do not have access to conventional bird food.
Most birds are nesting and laying eggs this month, and many will start rearing young. So this is a time that puts great demands on their energy when there is not much natural food around. So keep feeding the birds all month, concentrating on high-energy items such as fat, peanuts and sunflower seeds.
Not too close to bushes where predators could hide in wait, but close enough to cover so that birds can easily dart away. Birds like to have a view all around them while feeding.
Wherever you place your feeder, make sure you can see it when you’re indoors so you can get the most pleasure from it!. Bear in mind, it can take a little bit of time for the birds to get used to a new feeder, so don’t be disappointed if not many birds visit at first.