Gardeners are being urged to leave two cheap foods out for birds this Spring, following declining Blackbird sightings since the pandemic. The British Trust for Ornithology said in recent years and particularly since 2020, birdwatchers have reported seeing fewer birds in their gardens, especially in London.

But two cheap foods could help welcome them back, and Really Wild Bird Food suggested one that costs just a couple of pounds. It said: “Raisins are loved by many bird species, such as blackbirds and song thrushes. Raisins are most effective when fed from the ground. Soaking raisins during the breeding season helps adults to supply their young with necessary water.” One Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) member backed up the cheap solution with their own experience on a forum. 

They said: “During Winter and when they are breeding I always have a pocketful of sultanas/raisins, which they absolutely love. I find that the males are friendlier than the females, who tend to be more ‘careful’.

“The males often follow me around the garden, staying just a couple of feet away – but if my hand goes into my pocket they often run and stand at my feet.”

Another suggestion is sunflower seeds, which also cost a couple of pounds per bag. Garden Wildlife Direct said the seeds are a popular food source for birds such as tits, cardinals, finches and sparrows. 

Although a member of the RSPB urged gardeners to heed caution, having seen reports of birds ingesting too many sunflower seeds and dying as a result.

They continued: “However, these were discarded seeds on industrial sites, so the probability is that there were simply so many dumped, that the birds just over gorged themselves on them.

“Too much of anything can cause a problem. They remain an excellent choice for feeding wild bird visitors in our gardens.”