The UK is braced for a chilly week ahead, as the country is set to be hit by freezing temperatures bringing snow and ice.
Gardeners are being called upon to take action to mitigate the impact on their gardens’ wildlife. The Met Office has forecasted not only heavy winds but also snow in parts of the UK, increasing the likelihood of frosty gardens.
While summer usually brings birds to our gardens, January sees many winter birds struggling to survive in the cold without migrating or hibernating, competing for limited resources. One critical resource is water, which, despite seeming abundant, often freezes over and becomes inaccessible to birds during winter.
Many familiar bird species in the UK, such as sparrows, starlings, pigeons, robins, owls, magpies, and thrushes, neither hibernate nor migrate. This is why those with birdbaths are encouraged to prevent the water from freezing to help birds endure the cold.
A simple trick is to place a ball in the birdbath, which can stop ice from forming and keep the water liquid, reports the Express. Songbird Survival has issued a warning: “Water can be difficult to come by in the winter months, even though it feels like it does nothing but rain to us!”
The RSPB advises: “Provide your birds with fresh, clean water, and take care to check daily that it has not frozen over. To try and stop available water from freezing, you can place a ball in the container.”
They also suggest clearing snow from lawns to help birds forage for food, explaining: “If we have been blessed with some snowflakes, make sure to clear away patches of snow so that birds can access the soil underneath. Many birds feed on invertebrates in the soil and clearing the snow can be a small task that is very appreciated by our feathered friends.”
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