Breeding Season Essentials

Preparing for the breeding season

Late winter and early spring are when many garden birds begin preparing for the breeding season. Birds start to establish territories, explore potential nesting sites and build up the energy they’ll need for egg-laying and feeding young. Getting your garden ready early can make it easier for birds to settle and helps reduce pressure once nesting begins.

Nest boxes ready before nesting starts

Putting up nest boxes ahead of the breeding season gives birds time to inspect, choose and get comfortable with a safe site. In many areas, natural nesting spaces can be limited, so providing the right style of nest box, and positioning it correctly, can encourage birds to return and use it year after year.

As a guide, place nest boxes in a sheltered spot away from strong sun and prevailing wind, and position them out of reach of predators wherever possible. Different species prefer different designs, so offering a choice can help attract a wider range of birds.

Bird food to support early breeding activity

As birds prepare to breed, they benefit from reliable, energy-rich food while natural supplies are still limited. Offering quality bird food now helps birds maintain condition and supports the increased demands of breeding once it begins.

Great choices for this time of year include sunflower hearts, suet products and mealworms. These are widely taken by common garden birds and provide the energy and nutrition needed to support nesting activity and the intense feeding periods that follow.

Feeders and simple steps that help birds prepare

A few small actions now can make a big difference later. Clean feeders and feeding areas regularly, keep food dry and fresh, and place feeding stations near cover so birds can feed confidently. Consistent feeding helps birds rely on your garden as a dependable stop as the breeding season approaches.

Explore our Breeding Season Essentials to prepare your garden with nest boxes, bird food and feeders that support birds before nesting begins.