Feeding birds, including blue tits, is a wonderful way to support local wildlife and encourage biodiversity in your area. Blue tits are charming and active garden birds that thrive with the right food and environment. Here’s how you can attract more blue tits by providing them with a suitable diet and habitat:
1. Choosing the Right Food
Blue tits are small, insectivorous birds, but they also enjoy seeds and other high-energy foods. Provide the following:
•Fat Balls or Suet Cakes: Packed with energy, these are especially vital in winter when food is scarce.
•Sunflower Seeds: Black oil sunflower seeds are particularly good as they’re easy for blue tits to eat.
•Peanuts: Offer whole or crushed peanuts in a mesh feeder to avoid choking hazards.
•Mealworms: Dried or live mealworms mimic their natural insect diet and are rich in protein.
•Fruit: Apples, pears, and berries (like raisins) can attract blue tits, especially during colder months.
2. Setting Up Feeders
The right feeders will make it easier for blue tits to feed and keep them safe from predators:
•Tube Feeders: These are ideal for blue tits as they can cling to the small perches easily.
•Coconut Shell Feeders: These are perfect for fat balls or suet and are easy for blue tits to access.
•Hanging Feeders: Place feeders at varying heights to encourage natural feeding behavior.
•Keep It Clean: Regularly clean feeders to prevent disease spread among birds.
3. Creating a Bird-Friendly Garden
Blue tits will be more likely to visit if your garden offers food, water, and shelter:
•Native Plants: Grow shrubs and trees that produce berries or attract insects for a natural food source.
•Nest Boxes: Blue tits are cavity nesters, so install a nest box with a hole approximately 25mm in diameter.
•Water Sources: Provide clean water in a birdbath or shallow dish for drinking and bathing.
•Safe Environment: Keep cats and other predators away from feeders and nesting areas.
4. Seasonal Feeding Tips
•Winter: Offer high-energy foods like fat balls and peanuts to help blue tits survive the cold.
•Spring: Include protein-rich foods like mealworms to support breeding and feeding their young.
•Summer: Focus on natural food sources; reduce feeding slightly to encourage foraging.
•Autumn: Provide seeds and fruits to help birds build up energy reserves for winter.
5. Observing and Enjoying Blue Tits
•Be patient as it may take time for blue tits to discover your garden.
•Watch their acrobatics as they cling to feeders or flit between branches.
•Keep a bird guide or app handy to identify other species that might visit.
By feeding and supporting blue tits, you’ll not only help these delightful birds thrive but also create a lively and vibrant garden ecosystem.
