The impacts of climate change have been dramatic this year with rolling heatwaves and little to no rainfall. But our garden is managed for these conditions, with shade from trees and wilder patches, and water put out for wildlife, so what else is keeping birds away? 

The end of a busy season 

Throughout the spring and early summer months, birds are at their most vocal and vibrant as they attract a mate, find a nesting site, and spend time raising their young. When we plant and manage our gardens and green spaces with nature in mind, they become the perfect location for feeding, nesting, and roosting. As the breeding season ends, birds need to refuel and refresh, and this begins with their feathers. 

Moulting is an important process to replace worn out feathers and prepare birds for the colder months. During this time, birds expend a lot of energy and are more vulnerable as they moult flight feathers. While most of our garden birds don’t lose all of their flight feathers at once, flying becomes less effective and slow so many birds will hide away and stop singing, to ensure they don’t become a meal for something bigger.  

I spotted a dunnock this week, skulking beneath the shrubs in the garden, and it looked quite scruffy and lacked its usual smart grey plumage. If any birds do appear in your garden over the next couple of weeks look for the signs that they are moulting, such as loss of feathers.  The time taken for a full moult varies depending on the species but, for garden birds, it usually takes up to five weeks. 

Moulting on migration 

If you’re seeing fewer swifts, swallows, and house martins overhead, we’re approaching the time that these birds start their migration to warmer climes. Many swifts have already set off, while swallows and house martins can still be spotted roosting together in larger flocks with this year’s young, before they start their journeys from next month. For these aerial acrobats, the moult is more gradual as they spend almost all of their time on the wing.  

Moulting on the water 

Moulting occurs in all birds, not just our garden visitors, but the frequency and rate vary between species. Male ducks have a fascinating moult where the bright colours of the breeding season are replaced with more muted colours. This is called their eclipse plumage. It can be a bit challenging for duck identification as the males start to resemble both the females and the juvenile birds from this year’s broods. The muted colours of the eclipse plumage help to camouflage the males during the period that the flight feathers are being replaced, in the same way that duller colours keep the females safe while on the nest. 

How can we help moulting birds? 

For our garden birds, natural food sources are usually in good supply in the summer. This year, as last, the autumn fruits have ripened much earlier following the extended dry period. Putting out water is a great way to help our (scruffy) feathered friends as they preen and try to keep cool.