Wildlife

Wild Redwing and Fieldfare Winter Welfare

Redwings and fieldfares are winter migrants from Scandinavia whose welfare during UK winters depends on berry availability and hard-weather food access.

Key Facts

Redwings and fieldfares arrive in autumn to exploit berry crops in hedgerows
Holly, hawthorn, rowan, and ivy berries provide their primary winter food
During hard frosts they move to gardens seeking alternative food
Berry crop failure causes mass movements of birds searching for food
Garden apples and supplementary fruit significantly helps during cold spells

Welfare Considerations

Redwings and fieldfares in hard winters without accessible berry crops face rapid starvation - they must feed almost continuously in cold weather to maintain body temperature. Garden apples, windfall fruit, and supplementary feeding can save individual birds during winter cold spells. Planting berry-producing shrubs provides long-term winter food infrastructure.

What You Can Do

Put out windfall apples and soft fruits during hard winter weather
Plant berry-bearing hedgerow shrubs including hawthorn and rowan
Avoid stripping berry bushes of fruit before winter birds need them