Following recent heavy frosts and snow, with winter still creeping ahead of us, garden birds are entering the most challenging period of the year. With food scarce and temperatures falling, a little extra support can make a big difference. Eggologic shares practical advice on how to help native birds stay warm, safe and well-fed through the colder months.
Eggologic is a UK-based garden design brand specialising in modular, wall-mounted pods that support biodiversity in even the smallest outdoor spaces. Developed and tested in collaboration with biologists, botanists and ornithologists, Eggologic’s innovative system is designed to create optimal micro-environments for plants, birds, bees and beneficial insects, helping gardens and balconies become thriving mini-ecosystems all year round.
Provide safe shelter
While many birds migrate to warmer climates, a wide range of native species remain active throughout winter, including Robins, Great Tits, Blue Tits, Greenfinches and Wrens. Sub-zero temperatures, ice and snow create harsh living conditions, forcing birds to seek refuge from prolonged exposure to the cold. Freezing winds further intensify these challenges, making secure shelter essential.
For those looking for a simple, effective way to help, Eggologic’s Nester Pod (£33) offers a one-solution approach to winter bird care. Designed specifically for cavity-nesting species, it provides a warm, dry space for birds to roost overnight, protecting them from wind, rain and frost.
Developed alongside ornithologists, the Nester Pod features a protective canopy, integrated ventilation ports to regulate airflow, and textured kerf detailing to ensure safe footing while helping deter predators. Mounted on a wall or fence, it is ideal for gardens, balconies and courtyards where traditional bird boxes may not be suitable.
Cater to communal roosters
Some species, such as starlings, roost communally during winter. Flocking together provides safety in numbers and allows birds to share body warmth overnight. Supporting these species means creating dense, sheltered planting where birds can gather unseen.
Evergreen shrubs offer valuable year-round cover, while deciduous trees such as hawthorn provide both shelter and winter food, thanks to their berries and thorny branches that help keep predators at bay.
Vertical growing is an effective solution even in compact spaces. Climbing plants such as ivy create dense, tangled growth that makes it difficult for predators to spot or reach roosting birds. Ivy is hardy, low-maintenance and thrives in partial shade, making it ideal for urban gardens and balconies.
Eggologic’s Trellis Pod (£23) has been designed to support climbing plants like ivy, creating living walls that double as natural bird shelters. When paired with a Nester Pod, the trellis provides added concealment and shade, helping birds feel secure while benefiting from additional protection from the elements.
Set up feeding stations
Insects are scarce during winter and frozen ground makes it difficult for birds to forage for seeds and worms. High-energy foods are vital, so hanging suet or fat balls provides essential calories and protein to help birds cope with the cold.
Feeding stations can be created using hooks, trees or wall-mounted solutions. Eggologic’s modular system allows users to position feeders close to planting or shelter, helping birds retreat quickly if threatened. Stations should be stocked with suet, mealworms and high-oil seeds such as sunflower and nyger to meet birds’ increased energy needs.
Build a berry buffet
Winter berries form an important part of many birds’ diets, while berry-producing plants also provide shelter. Dense evergreens such as holly and yew are excellent choices, producing berries that birds love throughout the colder months. Other favourites include cotoneaster, hawthorn and sorbus.
Eggologic’s Planter Pods (£27) make it easy to incorporate berry-bearing plants into vertical gardens, even where ground space is limited. Combined with Trellis Pods and climbers such as ivy, they help create layered planting that offers food, shelter and protection in one compact area.
A catch-all solution
Even one small action can make a difference to wildlife this winter – but an option that combines shelter, feeding and planting will have the greatest impact.
Eggologic’s mix-and-match wall-mounted pods – Planter, Trellis, Nester and Hive – allow users to design a fully bespoke vertical garden that can be rearranged as needed. Crafted from non-toxic, 100% recycled as well as natural materials, each egg-shaped pod is designed to be easy to use while supporting healthy plant growth and local wildlife.
Available in three colourways – Stone Grey, Tuscan Green and Harvest Orange – Eggologic gardens are suitable for everything from city balconies to family gardens, transforming underused walls into living habitats that support birds, bees and beneficial insects all year round.
Eggologic garden pods and refills are available now at www.eggologic.com and also at Amazon.co.uk.
Pull out box
Did you know?
- Robins are one of the few UK birds to sing all year round, whilst many others stay silent to conserve energy, so they require high-energy foods to help maintain their body heat and metabolic rate.
- During the winter, family flocks of Blue Tits join up with others in the search for food. This means that a group of four or five Blue Tits at your feeder may be responsible for feeding as many as 20 or more birds.