How to Care for Your Wild Garden Birds
Author: Victoria Newcombe
Some wild birds will spend the majority of their lives in our gardens and some will spend seasons in our gardens so it is vital we provide our lovely feathered friends with healthy and nutritious food.
We should change our bird feeding routines with the changing seasons. Many people think birds should only be fed during the winter, however, birds do come very dependent on the food we provide and with declining natural sources of foods available to the birds, it is just as important to provide food for your garden birds throughout the year. During the Summer, young birds still very strongly rely on their parents for food. We recommend providing high energy foods for the parents. Providing a fresh source of water for the birds for them to drink, clean and cool off is important, especially when very dry or hot. What to Feed Birds Seeds Bird Seed provides birds with a vital source of nutrition and energy. There are wide varieties of seeds available, all aimed at different types of wild birds. Seeds can be fed to birds on bird tables, in seed feeders and by scattering. Please take care when choosing your seed feeder that you choose a feeder suitable for the types of birds you are feeding.. There are many different types of seed feeders available for all areas of your garden. Peanuts Peanuts are attractive to birds due to their high fat content. Peanuts are best fed through peanut mesh feeders, or chop them up into very very small pieces. Please do not leave whole peanuts out for birds as they can be fatal, especially for young birds, and can also damage the birds beaks. Suets and Fat Treats Suets and fat products are a wonderful treat for wild birds and provide an excellent source of food and energy, especially during the winter months. Suet treats can be bought or home made, they mainly consist of fatty substances such as lard, peanuts and seeds. What Not to Feed Birds Birds will be attracted to almost anything edible however there are many foods which are harmful to birds, including: - Salty items such as salted peanuts, crisps and bacon rinds. - Mouldy foods - the toxins in mouldy foods can be poisonous to birds. - Please take care when feeding peanuts to your garden birds as many nuts which may be safe for humans can be fatal to birds. We suggest only using nuts from a supplier who regularly tests to natural toxins which could harm or kill your garden birds.Important Hygiene Information - Keeping your bird feeders, tables, baths and other garden accessories clean and disease free is extremely important. When birds share these items, disease can spread rapidly. - Ensure water is changed regularly and kept free of any harmful substances. The baths should also be cleaned regularly. Never let bird feed accumulate and sit uneaten in your garden for more than a few days. - Don't feed mouldy food to your garden birds. - Regularly move your bird feeders around your garden to prevent accumulating bird droppings. - Always wash your hands after handling any bird products from your garden. Plants Plus UK | Online Plants Nursery and Garden Centre http://www.plants-plus.co.uk Please visit our website for a wide range of BSA and BTO approved wild bird food and feeders.