Wildlife

Supporting Migrating Birds in Gardens

Garden habitat can provide critical refueling stations for migrating birds, with simple improvements making meaningful welfare differences.

Key Facts

Migratory birds require high-energy food at stopping sites to complete journeys of thousands of miles
Berrying shrubs including hawthorn, rowan, and elder provide critical autumn fuel for migrants
Continuous clean water sources provide essential hydration for birds after long flights
Thrushes, redwings, and fieldfares arrive from Northern Europe in October requiring berry-rich habitats

Welfare Considerations

Migrating birds arriving at stopping sites with no food or water face energy crises that can prevent completion of migration. A bird that exhausts its energy reserves mid-journey dies. Garden habitat that provides high-energy food in autumn and spring contributes to the welfare of individual migrants that may have traveled from breeding grounds thousands of miles away.

What You Can Do

Plant a berry-rich native hedge including hawthorn, holly, elder, and rowan
Keep fresh water available year-round, especially during cold or dry weather
Avoid tidying fallen fruit from trees in autumn — windfall provides critical food for migrants
Leave ivy to fruit — ivy berries ripen in winter providing food when other sources are exhausted