Table of Contents 1.

In the United States, February is celebrated as National Bird Feeding Month and in recent years, several organisations in Britain have jumped on the bandwagon. National Nestbox Week also falls in February each year, and although it is best to put nestboxes up in the autumn if possible, now is perhaps your last chance to do so if you want to see them in use this year.

As well as drawing your attention to these National and International schemes though, I wanted to explain why February is an important month for your garden birds and how getting involved can help give them a boost.

National Nestbox Week traditionally begins on 14th February, known to many as Valentine’s Day. This was originally the feast day of St Valentine who was martyred on this date, but during the 14th and 15th centuries it grew to be associated with the “lovebirds” of early spring and so with romantic affection. Those “lovebirds” were not the colorful parrots we’re familiar with today but garden birds courting one another, singing, displaying and building nests. I believe that people had a greater connection with the natural world back then. Indeed, in an era when many couldn’t read, birds were often depicted in religious art which would have been widely seen, and even the illiterate masses would know of the meaning intended by their inclusion, for each species had its own symbology.

For example, you might well be aware that the Dove symbolised peace which persists even today, but did you know that the Peacock represents everlasting life? Its flesh was believed never to decay and so it became synonymous with the Christian belief in the eternal. Or that the Goldfinch symbolises redemption and healing? This is from the Biblical story when a Goldfinch plucks a thorn from Christ’s head while he’s on the cross. The red on the Goldfinch’s head is reputed to represent a drop of Christ’s blood that fell on the bird. There are others too, but I digress…

What I was trying to say, before we got distracted by the wonders of birds in history, is that for centuries February has been associated with the beginning of the nesting season. That said though, it’s still early for many of our garden birds to actually start laying eggs, even with climate change. There are a few that begin this early in the year, Wood Pigeons and Tawny Owls among them, but most of our smaller garden birds will still be busy seeking nesting spots, finding mates and building those all-important nests.

 All of this takes extra effort and in this busy period, our birds need to be on the top of their game. But February is still not technically spring, there could yet be snow and frost, meaning that water and food sources may be harder to come by. And with colder temperatures, many of the species that prefer insect prey will have less food available to them as those insects won’t have emerged after the winter months. So, maintaining a food supply is key in later winter, even if you think the weather has warmed enough.

 Ensure that you offer a variety of food types and try to feed in a mixture of ways – Robins prefer to eat mealworms or suet pellets from a bird table or ground feeder than a hanging feeder for example, while Goldfinches love Sunflower hearts or Niger seed. All birds love a good bath or just a fresh drink so having a clean supply of water in a shallow container is a must. Make sure the water is changed regularly so that disease is not spread between birds and that feeders are washed thoroughly too.

 St Valentine may not have had a direct association with birds but I for one hope that the idea of “lovebirds” in February lingers on and that these tips will help boost the arrival of the next generation.

 

Alice Hunter