Wild Birds in May: Nesting, Hatching, and Spring Arrivals

May is a truly magical month for observing wild birds. As the weather warms and the natural world bursts into life, our feathered friends are busy with a flurry of activity. From intricate nest building to the first fluffy chicks emerging, and the exciting arrival of migratory birds, there’s so much to witness in your garden and local green spaces. At Harvest Wildlife Products, we’re passionate about supporting these incredible creatures, so let’s delve into what’s going on with wild birds in May.

How do birds build their nests?

Across the UK, many garden birds are in the thick of building nests. You might spot robins diligently carrying moss and twigs, blue tits exploring nooks and crannies for the perfect nesting site, or blackbirds lining their cup-shaped nests with soft mud and grass. This intricate process is crucial for providing a safe and secure environment for their precious eggs. Keep an eye out for these industrious behaviours in hedges, trees, and even climbing plants around your home.

Top Tip: Look to the skies in May and you might see some swifts who have made the long journey from Africa. If you live in an old building, you may find them nesting in holes. If not, you can install swift boxes or swift bricks high up on your house.

How do birds incubate their eggs?

Once the nests are complete, the important task of incubating eggs begins. Parent birds, often the female, will sit patiently on their clutch, keeping the eggs warm and protected until they are ready to hatch. This period requires dedication and can last anywhere from a couple of weeks to over a month, depending on the species. The parent not sitting on the eggs will go foraging for food, feeding both themselves and their nest mate. It is important to keep bird feeders topped up to give birds all the energy they need. Try to observe without disturbing, giving the nesting birds peace and reassurance.

Find out what is the best bird food to attract garden birds in the UK.

What is the difference between nestling birds and fledgling birds?

The reward for all that hard work is the arrival of tiny, vulnerable chicks, otherwise known as nestlings. The first few weeks are critical as the parent birds work tirelessly to feed their hungry offspring. You might notice increased activity around the nest as they make frequent trips to find insects, caterpillars, and other nutritious morsels. It’s a heart-warming sight to witness this dedicated caring for chicks.

Once the birds are ready to fly the nest, they are referred to as fledglings. These birds are still dependent on their parents as, although they are normally fully feathered, their wings and tails are not yet fully developed and this may affect their ability to fly. Fledglings normally move around on the ground or branches, hopping and walking. This makes them particularly vulnerable to attacks from predators or exposure to the elements.

The arrival of migratory birds in the UK

May also heralds the full arrival of many migratory birds that have journeyed from warmer climates to breed in the UK. Keep an eye out for acrobatic swifts, swallows and house martins as they swoop through the air and skim the surfaces of lakes, catching insects. You might also hear the distinctive songs of warblers and flycatchers establishing their territories in woodlands and hedgerows. These long-distance travellers add another layer of excitement to our springtime birdwatching.

When do different birds arrive in the UK?

Bird migration to the UK mainly happens in spring and autumn, with May being a peak month to see migrant birds in the skies. We have detailed a rough outline of when different bird species start to arrive below:

March: Black redstarts and firecrests can arrive as early as mid-March, whereas chiffchaffs, willow warblers and cuckoos tend to arrive towards the end of the month. Other birds you may see arrive in March include the wheatear and ring ouzel.

April: You will start to see signs of swallows, house martins and sand martins filling the skies during April. As well as that, keep an eye out for the blackcap, redstart, tree pipit, yellow wagtail, grasshopper warbler, common sandpiper, whitethroat, sedge warbler, whinchat and pied flycatcher.

May: Swifts begin to descend on the UK, along with birds like the garden warbler, turtle dove, lesser whitethroat and spotted flycatcher.

September: Although we often think about migratory birds arriving in the UK in spring, there are others that tend to come once the weather cools down again. Expect to see birds like fieldfares, redwings and snow buntings in September. European starlings also arrive to join the resident UK starlings.

October: Bramblings arrive in the UK from Scandinavia at the start of October, and Waxwings arrive in large numbers from the end of the month.

How can you help wild birds in May?

As garden birds are busy with nesting and raising young, and migratory birds are settling in, there are a few simple things you can do to support them:

• Keep feeders topped up: Providing a reliable source of high-quality bird food, like those offered by Harvest Pet Products, can give parent birds an extra boost of energy during this demanding time. Choose seed mixes, suet pellets, or mealworms to cater to a variety of species.

Top Tip: Soak mealworms in warm water for 30 minutes before feeding. This helps hydrate birds and prevents choking in nestlings and fledglings.

• Maintain a fresh water source: Access to clean water is vital for drinking and bathing, especially during warmer days. Ensure your bird bath is regularly cleaned and refilled, situating it close to your feeding station.
• Avoid disturbing nesting birds: Observe from a distance and resist the urge to get too close to nests. This will help prevent stress and ensure the parent birds feel safe.
• Provide nesting materials: You can offer small piles of dried grass, moss, or pet hair in a sheltered spot to aid birds in their nest building efforts. Some people put pet hair in a mesh feeder to stop it blowing away and allow birds to easily grab hold of it.
• Hold off on pruning: If possible, delay any major pruning of hedges and trees until later in the year to avoid disturbing active nests. Ideally, try not to do this until September unless urgent.
• Put up nest boxes: Do research on the types of birds in your area and put up nest boxes to help them out. Blue tit, sparrow and robin boxes are widely available, but you can also try housing woodpeckers if your garden is surrounded by woodland. Swift boxes or swift bricks can be installed high up on houses to help give these migratory birds a place to lay their eggs.

Struggling to find the right bird food? Take our Wild Bird Food Quiz to learn which food types are best for different bird species, how to attract a wider variety of birds and tips to keep your garden bird-friendly.

May is a fantastic time to connect with nature and appreciate the joy that wild birds bring to the garden. By understanding their behaviours and offering our support, we can all play a part in helping them thrive.