Feeding Wild Birds in New Zealand's Autumn

This is the time of year when New Zealand’s native birds need all the extra energy they can store in order to prepare for the coming cold. Keep the seed feeders topped up to ensure they know there’s a regular, reliable food source.

Autumn is the season for ripe fruit so berry-loving birds like the kererū will be very active. 

While there’s plenty of fruit on the trees at this time of year it’s always good to attract birds to your place with additional treats of your own. Leave any older fruit or uneaten bits from inside out either near or in your bird feeder. This will draw in the nearby tūi, bellbirds and silvereyes. If there are any local kaka and hihi they too might stop by for a snack.

Many native birds are seasonal specialists, moving from food source to food source as needed. Keep your wild bird nectar feeder topped up with nectar to fill the gaps. As temperatures drop, they start to look further afield so late autumn is a good time to start putting out Energy food – small birds will soon need the extra fat and protein.

As autumn winds down it is time to really step up to help out the local birdlife. During this period healthy food is becoming scarcer. So leave out some energy cakes, or some logs or truffles in the handy Truffle Feeder.

Birds in this time require extra fat and protein, and this wild bird energy feed is certainly helpful here.

As for birds that feed on seed and grain, top up feeders regularly to let them know it’s a consistent food source or tie up sprays of Sorgham or Red Millet for birds to enjoy. It can take a while for busy birds to find it. 

We love this idea from Topflite too - the Wild Bird Coconut Feeder filled with nutritious peanut flavoured energy food, which we’re sure your garden birds will love. Hang it in a tree near you and watch them flock to feed.