Introducing the Fledglings and Feathers Blend

3 min read
Introducing the Fledglings and Feathers Blend

By late summer, the chaos of breeding season is winding down. Young birds are becoming independent, while adults are starting to recover from the exhausting job of raising their chicks. This is also the time when many birds begin their annual moult, shedding old feathers and growing fresh ones in preparation for autumn and winter. You can learn more about how your garden birds' needs change throughout the year in our blog post.

Moulting is energy-intensive. Feathers are made from keratin - just like our hair and nails - and growing new ones requires a lot of energy. At this time of year, they'll be more secretive, hiding away while they're vulnerable to predators and finding it harder to fly. At the same time, natural food sources can be unreliable. The bounty of autumn hasn’t arrived yet, and many birds find themselves in a bit of a gap between summer insects and autumn seeds.

Introducing the Fledglings and Feathers Blend

The Fledglings and Feathers Blend from A Little Bird Co. is designed to help birds through this transitional season. Sunflower hearts provide an easy-to-eat energy boost, while extra suet pellets offer the fats birds need to stay strong during the moult.  We’ve also included hempseed, another powerhouse for protein which mimics the diet birds rely on in the wild. You can learn more about hemp in this blog post. Goldfinches, woodpeckers, blue tits and sparrows love hempseed. Every food is chosen because it's quick for the birds to grab from the feeder at a time of year when they're feeling a lot more vulnerable to predators. We leave out the dried mealworms, because they can dehydrate young fledglings, who get all of their moisture from their food.

You’ll attract robins, who appreciate the high-energy mix for their busy days of foraging, and sparrows, who thrive on sunflower hearts. The suet pellets are a favourite of woodpeckers, helping them maintain their energy levels during the cold snap. Greenfinches, with their strong beaks, enjoy the hempseed for its protein-packed goodness, while blue tits and great tits are drawn to the smaller seeds that they can easily peck at.

Which birds can I see this season?

Late summer is a quieter time in the garden, but there’s still plenty to see. Young blue tits and great tits often form small flocks, moving together as they explore new food sources. Goldfinches flock to niger seed feeders, their bright red faces and tinkling calls adding a splash of colour and sound.

This is also when we say goodbye to summer visitors. Swifts are among the first to leave, followed by swallows and house martins as they head back to Africa. Meanwhile, some early autumn migrants, like wheatears and spotted flycatchers, stop off in gardens and fields on their way south.

Order a bag of seasonal bird food today!

Late summer can be a tricky time for birds, and the Fledglings and Feathers Blend from A Little Bird Co. gives them the nutrition they need to stay strong and healthy. Whether they’re finishing their moult or preparing for migration, this mix ensures they have the right balance of protein, fat, and energy.

If you’re a subscriber, your blend has already switched automatically. If not, now’s a great time to start! Keep your feeders topped up and enjoy watching birds transition into the next season.

All you need to do is sign up for a subscription - we'll take care of the rest!

Meet the author!

Clare Cahill is an enthusiastic bird lover with a passion for observing and learning about the incredible variety of birds around us. While she doesn’t have a formal degree in ornithology, Clare has dedicated countless hours to reading birding books and exploring nature, constantly expanding her knowledge and deepening her love for wildlife.

For Clare, birdwatching brings a sense of calm and connection to the world, offering a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. She believes that the more we connect with nature, the more we can do to protect and conserve it. Through her writing, Clare hopes to inspire others to take a moment to pause, look up, and appreciate the wonderful birds that share our spaces.

Meet Clare

The seasonal bird food brand

We're a little company, supporting little birds. Find out more about what sets us apart.

  • Seasonal

    Birds have different dietary needs throughout the year, from nesting to moulting and surviving colder months. To support these changes, we’ve created seasonal blends – order a Seasonal Bird Food bag, and we’ll adjust the blend to match the season, making it easy to do something great for the birds.

  • Sustainable

    Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. We don't farm, process, and transport cheap filler ingredients that birds simply kick to the floor. Instead, we focus on premium ingredients they love. Our packaging is compostable, and our bird feeders and nest boxes are tested for durability and longevity.

  • Songbird

    We design our food and select our range of feeders with little birds in mind. Every ingredient in our blends is chosen because small birds love it, simplifying your bird feeding routine. Our feeders provide safe access to food while helping to keep out larger, more dominant species. Look out for robins, blue tits, wrens, finches and more visiting your garden for our food.

  • Support

    With birds in your garden, you’re never alone - they’re the friends who always visit. Feeding them supports wildlife conservation while bringing joy and calm. Whether spotting a new species or simply watching their daily routines, just ten minutes a day strengthens your connection with nature and boosts your wellbeing.

When life feels busy, the birds keep it simple.

There’s something lovely about how feeding the birds becomes part of the rhythm of your day. A scoop of seed, a clean dish of water - and then a pause, just to watch who turns up. It doesn’t have to take long, but those moments can be surprisingly grounding. A little burst of mindfulness, fresh air, a chance to notice your garden as it changes throughout the seasons, and the cheerful flutter of wings - it’s good for the soul.

Join our flock of bird enthusiasts who share a passion for sustainable and thoughtful bird feeding.

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From our popular seasonal bird food to the Squirrel Buster squirrel resistant bird feeder, our range is designed to help you to create a haven for little birds in your garden.