RTÉ 100 – Great Big Garden Birdwatch livestream is now over for the season...
A Message from Jim Wilson:
Now that spring is on the way, it's time to start thinking about gradually reducing the amount of food we put out for garden birds. As the season advances, birds will soon begin courtship, nest‑building, and rearing their young. During this period, you don’t want leftover food sitting in feeders for long stretches, where it can spoil and become of no value to the birds.
Over the coming weeks, most species will naturally switch to more insect‑based diets, visiting feeders only occasionally. The feeder setup we used for the live stream was designed specifically to showcase the different types of food you can offer and the range of species each one attracts.
Throughout the live stream, we were delighted to see a wide range of visitors, including goldfinches, chaffinches, greenfinches, house sparrows, dunnocks, blackbirds, and starlings, and among all these regulars, the arrival of a common linnet, which was a real highlight. Each bird brought its own character and feeding behaviour, from finches crowding the niger and sunflower feeders to blackbirds and dunnocks foraging beneath the table, making the feeding station wonderfully lively and diverse throughout the winter period.
We hope you enjoyed watching the live stream of the bird feeders, the bird table, and the wonderful variety of birds that visited them over the past few weeks. We’ll be back again next winter. To view more video clips of Jim's highlighted birds, click here.
In the meantime, we invite you to sit back, relax and enjoy these two wonderful videos from the Mooney Goes Wild team, filmed and edited by Dónal Glackin - Great Big Garden Birdwatch, and Wetland Birds:
Garden Birds – Why Winter Matters
This is the time of year when the days are short, often cold and wet, and garden birds face their toughest challenge. Most species can feed only during daylight hours, and they must convert that food into vital energy to keep warm, escape predators and survive the long winter nights.
That’s why so many of us choose to help. While birds can be fed throughout the year, winter feeding is especially important when natural food sources are limited.
Even if you decide not to put out food, providing water is essential. During freezing weather, natural water sources can disappear. Birds need water not only for drinking, but also for bathing and maintaining their feathers in good condition. You’d be surprised at how many species visit a bird bath daily, whatever the weather.
Good Garden Practice
If you feed the birds in your garden, it’s important to treat them with the same care you’d give a pet. That means keeping feeders clean, fresh and safe.
- Clean mesh hanging feeders at least once a week with mild detergent.
- Clear any surfaces on or under bird tables regularly.
- Remove uneaten food before it spoils — mouldy food can seriously harm birds.
- Wash the ground beneath feeders weekly to help prevent the spread of disease.
When it comes to food, freshness matters. Use unsalted pet‑grade peanuts, mixed seed, niger seed, and seed cakes or fat balls, and avoid leftover or stale food from previous winters.
Should We Feed Garden Birds?
Many people wonder whether feeding garden birds is helpful. The answer is yes — if it’s done responsibly. Feeding can greatly increase the chances of small birds surviving the winter. And at a time when wild birds are under pressure from habitat loss, pesticides, herbicides and climate change, a well‑maintained feeding station can make a real difference.
Follow the guidance above and you’ll not only be helping your local wildlife, but also enjoying the simple pleasure of watching these birds go about their daily lives.
Want to Learn More?
For more advice on garden birds, how to start feeding them and what foods to use, visit:
Jim Wilson’s Guide to Garden Birds – click here
About Jim Wilson - A Lifetime of Watching Birds
I have been feeding garden birds for as long as I can remember. I grew up in a house without a garden, yet it didn’t stop me: I put a bird table and feeders in a small patch of woodland behind our home and watched the birds through binoculars. My enthusiasm has never faded — almost 60 years later, I still get the same enjoyment from watching them.
I have been a lifelong member of BirdWatch Ireland, and in 1987 I established the BirdWatch Ireland Garden Bird Survey — originally called the Garden Bird Feeding Survey. It has since grown into one of the largest and longest‑running citizen‑science projects in Ireland, with over 1,000 people submitting sightings each winter. Even though there is just a month left in this winter’s survey, it’s not too late to join in. Visit the BirdWatch Ireland website and follow the link to the Garden Bird Survey.
You don’t need to be an expert, you don’t need a big garden — everyone can take part.