Timid birds ‘may lose out’ at feeders
Feeding garden birds in winter may boost blue tits, pigeons and blackbirds – but at the expense of more timid birds like willow tits and pied flycatchers, say scientists. Vanessa Amaral-Rogers of the RSPB says the benefits of feeding still outweigh any downsides. But she advises that wildlife-friendly planting helps all birds: “Let old flowerheads die naturally and plant berrying trees such as rowan.”