Feeding birds year-round? Yes/No? Here are 5 good reasons!

As the days grow shorter and the last beautiful autumn days pass over the land, numerous birds begin their migrations. Winter is approaching, and animal lovers know what a big question awaits them. From this moment on, at the very latest, a debate erupts, dividing opinions: Should birds be fed both in winter and year-round? We've immersed ourselves in books and turned the internet upside down to compile five good reasons that clearly say "YES" to year-round bird feeding.

1. Feeding means species protection

With every grain you put out, you contribute to the preservation of species. When birds suffer from food shortages in winter, providing feeding stations increases their chances of survival. Although critics stubbornly argue that feeding has a negative impact on the natural survival of species and causes an imbalance, you are saving lives. The law of the strongest and the weaker is not overridden by a little help in the form of suet balls , seeds, and kernels .

2. Bird food is an addition rather than a replacement

The question of year-round feeding often excludes this distinction and pushes the consideration in the wrong direction. It is assumed that supplementary feeding displaces the natural search for food. However, the opposite is true: Additional feeding stations bridge the vital search for food. For the animals, the site is a good place to find water and food. However, no animal lover needs to fear a one-sided diet, as natural instinct draws the animals to other feeding sites. The German Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU) has taken a closer look at which food options are suitable.

3. Long-termism creates naturalness

To give birds a chance to find and familiarize themselves with the additional feeding stations before the first snow falls, you should start providing them in late summer. This extends the period in which the animals get used to the food sources. Even during the transition from winter to spring, you can support your feathered friends by continuing to put out food. The regeneration of natural food takes time, which you can bridge more easily this way. If you integrate the additional feeding stations into the seasonal cycle, your help will be seen not just as a temporary source of food, but as a natural place with a rich supply. Every bird species has its own preferences when it comes to food. Whether grains, seeds, or oatmeal: the selection is diverse and yet must be offered in a good mix. Let our tips inspire you on how to serve the right food in a healthy mix without much effort.

4. Help during the breeding season

Year-round feeding supports birds both during the harsh winter months and during the breeding season in spring. Even though the ground is free of frost and the first insects are already fluttering around, birds need all kinds of food for their young. The feeding stations you provide provide additional options for the parents, broadening their diet and strengthening the young as they grow. This makes human feeding an important part of the warmer months and teaches the birds in the summer where safe feeding sites can be found in winter.

Little tip:
Choosing the right bird-friendly plants in your garden can also be extremely helpful for birds. Berry bushes such as currants or blackberries are an absolute feast for birds. Rosehip and sea buckthorn berries are also among the delicious alternatives that can be grown in the garden and that birds love to feast on. Such bushes are also useful because the birds find additional shelter among the dense branches.

5. Consequential intervention in nature

It is often argued that humans are interfering with nature by feeding birds. This is true, but it is not taken into account that we are also massively interfering with nature beforehand. In rural areas in particular, agricultural monoculture fields are drastically reducing the number of insects. There, birds have difficulty finding food for themselves and their young. To repair the damage caused by agricultural intervention, further intervention in nature in the form of supplementary feeding would therefore be only logical. But therein lies the problem: It starts with food, but the bird habitat is also threatened in many places. That is why a natural garden is just as important. Leaves can be left lying around a little longer, compost offers insects safe shelter, and falling berries or seeds supplement the menu for animal visitors throughout the year. The more natural your garden looks, the better. You can place the bird food nestled between native plants and protective shrubs. This way you create the basis for new nesting sites and expand the habitat of your feathered friends.

Conclusion: What you know, you protect

Aside from the arguments for and against year-round bird feeding, it's clear that the topic is generating increasing interest and thus also fostering general interest in birds and nature. That's actually a good sign in every respect! Perhaps the "up-close" observation of the birds as they busily visit the feeding station is a real highlight for kids (and adults). Here, their feathered friends can be experienced up close. It would, of course, be ideal if this also led to a sustainable, mindful approach to nature and its creatures... fingers crossed!