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Birds in winter: How to turn your garden into a refuge!
The annual “Hour of the Winter Birds” started on January 7, 2025. Help for garden birds is important now – find out more!
Birds in winter: How to turn your garden into a refuge!
As part of this year's “Hour of Winter Birds”, which took place from January 4th to 6th, around 28,000 people in Austria took part in the nationwide bird count. This campaign, which has now become the largest data collection on the country's bird population, has steadily grown in popularity since its inception 16 years ago. The enumerators were asked to observe the birds in gardens, on balconies and in front of windows for an hour. How ORF reported, BirdLife Austria analyzes the data collected to gain valuable insights into the changes in the bird world.
The survey shows an alarming trend: the average number of birds per garden has fallen from 48 in 2008 to just 32 last year. However, Evelyn Hofer from BirdLife Austria notes that this does not necessarily mean that the birds will disappear. Rather, the mild winters and the abundant food supply in nature are due to climate change. The hot summers in particular lead to increased seed production in various tree species. This means that many birds, such as house sparrows and titmice, have to visit fewer feeding places in gardens because they find enough food in nature Birds in the garden explained.
Support for garden birds in winter
However, the cold season brings challenges, especially for local garden birds. The lack of food and protected nesting sites makes it difficult for the birds to survive. Birds such as sparrows, tits and blackbirds often stay in Austria all year round and rely on people's help to get through the winter. In winter, the birds can be specifically supported by setting up feeding stations, shelters and water sources. A well-filled feeding station, like Birds in the garden reported may be crucial for the survival of these species.
It is also important to design the garden so that it provides living space and protection. An easy way to do this is to create hedges and shrubs that act as hiding places. Watering holes are also essential as frozen water sources often cannot quench the birds' thirst. With these measures, garden owners can actively help ensure that feathered guests lead a happy life in their gardens, even during the cold season.