60% of Brits say they put food out for the birds, according to wildlife charity the RSPB. Over the past decade, the number of householders feeding wild birds has risen by 5% and has evolved from putting out bread and scraps into buying purpose-made wild bird feeds.
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The RSPB describes the practice as "heart-warming", not to mention important for the birds' health and wellbeing.
Gardens have become vital habitats for species such as starlings, house sparrows and song thrushes, as they have lost much of their natural habitat in recent years.
Intensively farmed agricultural land has been blamed for the decline in some bird species. In addition, the birds are facing the threat of climate change, according to research carried out at the University of Reading. This has led to a long-term decline in the quality of their natural habitat.
As food becomes scarce, in terms of insects, vegetation and crops, it's important everyone does their bit to help our wildlife.
What birds are seen during autumn?
The most common bird species to appear in our garden is the house sparrow. Despite having declined in population by a staggering 65% in the past 25 years, the sparrow is a regular visitor to our garden. According to the British Trust for Ornithology, the rate of decline has slowed down in recent years.
Despite being listed as being of "concern" in conservation terms, the sparrow is beginning to make a comeback in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The BTO says the recent upturn in the species' fortunes comes after a lengthy period of decline, so there's a long way to go before it is safe. However, it's moving in the right direction. There are an estimated six to seven million pairs of sparrows in the UK today and conservationists are hopeful numbers are starting to stabilise.
Another popular species to grace our winter gardens is the starling. A familiar sight with its dark, glossy feathers with light-coloured tips; starlings eat soil invertebrates such as earthworms and this food supply has declined during dry summers, so it's especially important to feed the starlings that enter our gardens in autumn.
The acrobatic and colourful blue tit is one of our most popular garden birds. Unlike many species, its numbers have steadily increased in the past 50 years. The BTO says its conservation status is of "least concern" and it's a common sight in urban areas.
Another garden visitor, the goldfinch, is described as an "urban success story", as its numbers have increased since the 1980s. This is believed to be at least partly due to the number of householders feeding wild birds in their gardens.
The wood pigeon is another popular garden visitor. Visibly different from other pigeons, it is large in size and has white patches on its neck and wings. They can often be seen hogging the bird table and eating all the seeds!
How can you help wild birds?
In years gone by, people used to put out their scraps for the wild birds. Today, there is more interest in feeding birds much healthier foods.
Peanuts can be put out daily, as they are enjoyed by many species including finches, tits, starlings and more - never use salted or dry roasted peanuts. Birds also enjoy sunflower seeds and mixed seeds, which can be bought from supermarkets, pet stores or online. They provide energy and nutrients for all kinds of birds, including robins. Black sunflower seeds in particular are a healthy all-year-round food for birds.
Put out dried mealworms, fat balls and other fat-based bird-food bars, as these are excellent winter food to build birds up and keep them warm. You can make your own by pouring melted fat, such as lard or suet, over a mixture of nuts, seeds, dried fruit, cheese, oatmeal and even cake.
You should also make sure the birds have a clean supply of water, preferably high up on a bird table, where they won't fall victim to cats. As the weather gets colder, you need to check it hasn't frozen overnight. Change it often to avoid algae build-up.
Best places to put bird food
Avoid putting bird food on the ground, especially near bushes or undergrowth. Make sure your garden is as safe as possible.
Once you’ve stocked up on the right foods to feed your feathered friends, it’s important to make sure your garden is suitable for autumn feeding. It's sensible to have a bird table that is high off the ground and in the middle of an open area.
Keep your bird food in airtight containers with a lid, especially if it's stored in the garden shed or garage. This will stop it from attracting unwanted visitors, such as rats, and it will also keep the food nice and fresh.
If you want to attract nesting birds, put bird-boxes in a safe place such as high on your house wall, in a tree, or on your shed wall.
Seabirds in peril
While many people focus on feeding small garden birds, spare a thought for our UK seabirds too. A worrying trend this year has been the appearance of increasing numbers of starving birds on our coast.
Kittiwakes, razorbills, puffins and guillemots are among the species that have been found severely emaciated on British shores. At the beginning of September, wildlife organisations in Ellon, Aberdeenshire, were called to help after around 50 seabirds were found starving on Scotland's north-east beaches. Sadly, some perished, but the survivors were cared for by the local wildlife rescue centre, New Arc. There are more than 30 young, emaciated birds being fed there.
Scientists fear climate change is affecting our seabirds, as well as garden birds. It has been confirmed these birds haven't died of toxic poisoning or bird flu.
Researchers are looking into the theory that climate change is affecting the sea's temperature, leading to birds having to dive deeper to catch their prey. This fits with the fact that mostly young birds have been found starving, as they can't dive as deeply.
Is bread bad for birds?
A mysterious sign in a park, advising people to feed bread to the ducks because they were "starving", went viral on social media, sparking lively debate. The sign was erected in Buxton's Pavilion Gardens in Derbyshire, next to the duck-filled lake.
It advised the public, "It's OK to feed us bread," and suggested people had stopped feeding the ducks, because they had been told bread made them ill. However, the poster claimed some of the birds were "dying of starvation" as a result, concluding having empty stomachs would be more likely to kill them than bread during the winter.
A visitor posted a picture of the sign on Facebook and it was shared more than 17,000 times. However, arguments ensued among social media users on the rights and wrongs of feeding bread to birds.
The park's managers denied having erected the sign and it was taken down. However, Swan Support, a UK charity that rescues swans, geese and ducks, said many were actually starving because people were no longer feeding them bread.
Responding to the furore, the RSPB issued a statement that it was "fine to feed small amounts of bread" to birds, but to also give them porridge oats, sweetcorn, peas and bird seed, as they must eat a varied diet to stay healthy.
Can you imagine a world without some of our feathered friends? If you find this a scary thought, maybe you could help the birds out this autumn with a regular feed.