Winter

Snows and hard frosts are a real killer for birds, but relentless cold rain can be just as bad, and of course winter days are so short for foraging. Garden birds are focused on survival and getting enough calories to see them through each day and night.

Most in need of help All birds need you, but watch out especially for unusual ones such as redwings, fieldfares, bramblings and waxwings coming to gardens for food.

Your feeding regime Put out a full spread, including scraps such as grated cheese and crumbled pastry, plus fat from unsalted cuts of meat.

Seasonal checklist Ensure you provide a fresh supply of water, defrosting frozen bird baths daily. This is the main season to put up new nest boxes ready for the breeding season ahead. Plant bare-rooted trees and shrubs – they are the song posts and nesting sites of the future.

Put out scraps for winter visitors such as robins

A homemade seed cake is full of the fat, protein and carbs that birds need in winter