These decorations are great stocking fillers, but if you put out bird food, it is important to try to put it out all year. Although winter feeding benefits birds most, food shortages can occur at any time of the year so summer feeding is also important. And don’t forget to provide water. Birds like a drink with their food.

For blackbirds, song thrushes and other members of the thrush family, put out fruit, such as apples and pears. Put the fruit on a bird table or suspend it in a fruit bird feeder.

Sunflower seeds can be used to feed parent birds and their fledglings, unlike whole peanuts which can choke small birds. Sunflower seeds are valuable all year round but particularly during the summer months when birds are moulting.