Choose simple, clean feeders for winter birds
Monday 9th November 2026 on 11:15 in
Austria
Birds need clean, reliable feeding stations rather than elaborate birdhouses, according to advice from BirdLife reported by ORF. Keeping food dry and preventing birds from walking through it are key to reducing the risk of disease.
Traditional feeders with large platforms can allow birds to move through the food and leave droppings in it, potentially spreading pathogens. BirdLife cites the greenfinch as an example of a species whose population fell sharply because of a disease spread at feeding stations.
Feed silos made of plastic or metal, with small openings that let birds take individual seeds, are a better option. Feeders with only a narrow opening can also help keep birds out of the food.
Feeders should hang in an open, visible spot where cats cannot approach unseen, with nearby cover where birds can shelter from predators such as sparrowhawks. The number of feeders should reflect how many birds visit: several feeding points can help reduce competition when activity is high.
Food choice also matters. Birds with strong bills, such as tits, can crack sunflower seeds in their shells, while goldfinches need hulled seeds. Blackbirds, which eat soft food, are better suited to raisins or pieces of apple than nuts.
Food should look fresh and have no rancid smell. Nuts and hulled sunflower seeds can spoil quickly, and moths may get into them. BirdLife advises against buying large containers of 10 or 15 kilograms at first. It also recommends starting with small quantities of fat balls and buying more only if birds eat them.
Feeding can begin when nights turn cold and the first frost appears. Once people start, they should continue regularly so birds can rely on the food source.
BirdLife’s annual winter bird count has also attracted more participants. About 27,000 people across Austria took part in the previous count. The next count is scheduled for 8 to 10 January 2027: participants watch birds for an hour, record the highest number of each species seen at one time and submit their results.