Gardeners urged to leave one item in garden for blackbirds in September

Gardeners are being urged to leave one item in the garden in September to attract one of the most beloved birds. The blackbird is one of the most familiar and widespread birds in the UK, easily spotted throughout the year in gardens, parks and woodlands.

While the majority of blackbirds are resident and remain in the UK year-round, some do migrate south during the colder months. Interestingly, the overall population actually swells in autumn, as vast numbers of blackbirds from northern Europe arrive to take advantage of Britain's comparatively milder winters.

To keep attracting these British classics, gardeners have been urged to put suet balls in the bird feeders as they love high energy and high-fat food.

Scientific Officer at RSPCA, Dr Rebecca Machin, told The Express: "Wild animals visiting our gardens will appreciate any extra food we can offer them during the autumn, and it will cheer us up to see them too.

"As the colder weather sets in, many birds are building up fat reserves to get them through the winter when food is harder to find, while hedgehogs need to put on weight to prepare for hibernation.

"There are lots of different options for feeding wild animals in your garden, but also some things to be aware of to keep wild animals and pets safe."

According to the expert, the blackbirds also prefer suet pellets. Suet pellets are an excellent choice for feeding blackbirds, especially during colder months when natural food sources become scarce.

She explained: "High-energy, high-fat food is good for garden birds during the colder months.

"Net-free fat or suet balls placed in bird feeders attract a wide range of species and provide a great boost of calories. Ground-feeding birds like blackbirds will also eat suet pellets."

Suet pellets can be scattered on the ground, placed in feeders, or mixed with other bird foods to attract species like robins, tits and sparrows as well. While they are safe for birds, they are not suitable for pets like dogs or ducks and definitely not intended for human consumption.