Nyfywildlife next door: a guide for quiet observers

An independent guide to watching wildlife near your home. It is not a news outlet, a zoo or a veterinary service, and it has no connection to the previous website on this domain.

Guides

Practical guides

The first article in this section is about the winter feeder. It is the easiest way to get to know the birds in your backyard and help them through the cold at the same time. But a feeder only does good when it holds the right food, stays clean and is refilled regularly. Below, step by step, is how to achieve that.

A feeder is a promise. Birds get used to it quickly, so only start when you are ready to keep it going until spring.

— Editor's view

What to prepare in advance

  • A decision on who in the household will look after the feeder and cover for you when you are away.
  • A simple feeder with a roof against snow and a rim so the wind does not blow the food away.
  • A spot you can see from the window but that cats cannot easily reach.
  • A supply of unsalted seeds and unsalted fat for several weeks ahead.
  • A shallow water dish that is easy to wash and refill.
  • Gloves and a brush for cleaning the feeder regularly.

  1. Choose the spot

    Hang the feeder where birds can fly in without fear: near trees or shrubs they can quickly dive into for cover, but not right next to a branch a cat could easily jump from. Ideally there should be no large uncovered windows nearby without curtains or decals.

    Sample scenario: the feeder is hung on an apple-tree branch a few steps from a lilac bush, rather than on a windowsill by a floor-to-ceiling window.

  2. Protect the food from bad weather

    Wet food spoils quickly and clumps together. A roof over the feeder and a small rim around the edge help keep it dry even in a snowfall and stop the wind from scattering seeds on the ground.

    Sample scenario: a piece of plastic is fixed at a slight angle over an open tray so that snow slides off to the side.

  3. Put out suitable food

    In winter, unsalted seeds and unsalted fat are suitable for birds. Salty, fried, spicy and spoiled food is harmful to them. Do not put table scraps in the feeder, however tasty they are for people.

    Sample scenario: a handful of unsalted seeds goes into the tray, and a piece of unsalted fat hangs from a wire next to it.

  4. Do not forget water

    In freezing weather birds struggle to find liquid water. A shallow dish of clean water next to the feeder can be just as valuable as the food. Change the water when it freezes or gets dirty.

    Sample scenario: morning and evening, the dish is rinsed with warm water from the kettle, the ice is shaken out and fresh water is poured in.

  5. Refill the feeder regularly

    Birds quickly learn where they can eat and come to rely on that spot. An empty feeder in a hard frost forces them to waste energy searching. Put out a little food every day rather than one huge portion once a week.

    Sample scenario: the family agrees that whoever leaves the house first in the morning tops up the feeder.

  6. Keep the feeder clean

    Old food, droppings and husks build up quickly and can spread disease among birds. Clear out debris regularly, and every so often wash the feeder with hot water and no household chemicals, then let it dry.

    Sample scenario: at weekends the feeder is taken down, the husks are shaken out, it is scrubbed with a brush and hung back once dry.

  7. Watch from a distance

    A feeder is a great place for observation, but birds need peace. Watch from the window or from a distance, do not tap on the glass and do not approach while visitors are at the feeder. Note down who comes and at what time.

    Sample scenario: a notebook lies on the windowsill, and the children write in every new bird they spot at the feeder.

Common mistakes

  • Putting salty, fried or spicy table scraps in the feeder.
  • Leaving soggy, mouldy or spoiled food instead of throwing it away.
  • Starting to feed birds in autumn and stopping during the coldest spell.
  • Hanging the feeder where cats can easily reach it.
  • Going months without cleaning the feeder or changing the water.
  • Walking right up to the feeder to photograph the birds and scaring them off.

Other options

  • If you have nowhere to hang a feeder, you can plant shrubs and trees in the garden or by the house that give birds berries and shelter.
  • A shallow water bowl in summer helps birds in the heat just as much as a feeder does in winter.
  • If you are away often, it is better not to start feeding at all and simply watch the birds in the park.
  • A feeder will not help a bird that looks sick or injured: in that case, look for wildlife rehabilitation specialists.

Check yourself

  • The feeder hangs in a quiet spot that cats cannot reach.
  • There is a roof over the food, and it stays dry.
  • The feeder holds only unsalted seeds or unsalted fat.
  • A dish of clean water stands nearby.
  • Food is topped up regularly, even in a hard frost.
  • The feeder is regularly cleared of husks and leftovers.
  • You watch the birds from a distance and do not disturb them.
  • Someone can cover for you if you go away.

Article catalogue for English-speaking readers

This is where standalone articles about the wild animals and birds living near your home will appear: on observation, gentle help in winter, found animals and safe walks. We write them specifically for the English edition of the guide, with readers in different countries in mind, and aim to make every tip something you can use on your next walk.

What we are working on

  • Hedgehogs in the garden: making your plot safe for a night-time visitor.
  • A bat in the house: how to calmly let it back outside.
  • Backyard birdwatching through the seasons: who to look for and when.
  • Walking your dog where wildlife lives: lead etiquette for parks and woods.
  • Reading tracks in mud and snow: working out who crossed your yard at night.

Editorial rules

  • Articles in this catalogue are written separately for each language version and are not translations.
  • Some articles link to third-party websites, including gaming services; we do not control their content, prices or terms.
  • We do not publish advertising for pet shops, feed, optics or tours, rankings, prices or reviews.
  • Questions

    Short answers about birds at the feeder, fledglings, hedgehogs, squirrels, encounters in the woods and bites.

  • Collections

    Reading paths: helping birds through winter, exploring nature with children and who comes out in the park at night.

  • Reference

    An observer's glossary: fledgling, nesting season, migration, hibernation, den, burrow, tracks, disturbance distance.

  • Sections

    Four sections: birds outside the window, animals in the park and garden, found animals, and quiet observation.

Sources

  • Popular zoology and ornithology handbooks for nature lovers (general information)
  • Rabies prevention leaflets (general guidance)

This guide describes watching animals and birds in general terms as of the date it was prepared. We do not give treatment advice for people or animals: if a wild animal bites or scratches you, see a doctor right away, and leave injured or weakened animals to wildlife rehabilitation specialists.