Feeding the birds is one of life’s simplest, but most enjoyable, pleasures. There’s nothing like sitting watching your feathered friends from the window as they fly into the garden for some food. However, this activity does come with responsibilities to ensure that our wild birds are kept as safe as possible from predators and the risk of disease. Taking a few simple measures allows you to continue supporting the birds while protecting their health and wellbeing. Here are our top tips:
Wash & brush-up
Always make sure that your feeders are kept scrupulously clean. They should be washed, dried and treated with a bird-friendly hygiene spray on a regular basis. Ensure that all feed areas such as space directly below the feeders and any spots where food is sprinkled for ground feeders are kept clear and free from food debris and bird poo.
Shop cleaning brush and hygiene spray
Keep servings small
Never be tempted to fill a feeder to the top! Doing so means that the food tends to hang around for a while in all weathers, resulting in it becoming spoilt. It is far better to put in small amounts of feed so that the birds will eat it quickly. When it is gone, you can simply refill. Doing this makes sure that the food you serve is always fresh.
Clean water
Water is an essential requirement for all birds and mammals, so make sure your garden visitors have access to it. Just take care that the dish or bird bath is cleaned and refilled on a daily basis.
Expand the menu
Evolution has resulted in different species of birds with their own unique way of feeding. Some have thin beaks designed to slip neatly into tiny spaces, such as teasles to retrieve the tempting seed inside, while others have longer, sturdier beaks brilliant for plucking out insects. By offering your birds a wide range of supplementary feeds, you are helping to sustain the wide variety of species that choose to forage in your garden.
Create space
Spread out your feeders to help reduce crowding and competition. Placing them in different areas of the garden helps to avoid large gatherings and risk factors involved in the spread of avian disease. It is also a good idea to move fixed feeders into different locations every so often for the very same reason – keeping things as clean as possible.
Location, location, location
Always take care when positioning feeders. They should be sheltered from exposed areas and placed out of harm’s way. Predators such as cats and larger birds and raptors can cause devastation, so site your feeders next to cover so that birds can get out of the way fast when danger is near.
Food to avoid
Never be tempted to treat your garden birds to a human snack. Bread – even granary – crisps and salted peanuts are a big no-no when it comes to feeding our feathered friends. Crisps have high salt content, which they will struggle to process, salted peanuts might cause serious dehydration and bread has very low nutritional value that will fill birds up and stop them eating proper food. Plus, once it goes mouldy, it can be dangerous.
Create a small bird sanctuary
Create a haven for small birds in the garden with squirrel-resistant feeders, which are brilliant at deterring large birds as well as squirrels. Tucked safely inside the “cage”, small birds can enjoy tucking into their food without threat.
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