Tips on Feeding Wild Birds
Articles from Best Garden Bird Feeders
Feeding wild birds is most beneficial during the winter when natural food may be in short supply but food shortages can occur in any season. Put out food for the birds all year round to help when shortages do occur. Temporary food shortages during the breeding season will affect the young so providing suitable food during this time will be especially beneficial for the wild birds.
Spring and Summer Feeding
Birds require a source of high protein foods during the summer and especially when thet are moulting. Some good examples of food to place in your garden bird feeder or bird table are black sunflower seeds, raisins and currents, grated cheese, soaked sultanas, mealworms and special summer seed mixes or mixes for insect eating birds.
You could also put out fruit for the fruit loving birds. Bananas and grapes and apples and pears cut in two can be sued. Do not use bread, fat or peanuts during the summer as they can be harmful to baby birds. Also avoid the use of home made fat balls as they will quickly become rancid in the warm weather. Purchased fat bars are much better but need to be checked to make sure they are not rancid and will only last for about three weeks before they must be discarded.
If the weather is unseasonably cold or very wet during the breeding period there may be a shortage of insects. A dry spell can make it difficulty for wild birds to feed on earthworms when the soil is hard. If there are young birds in the nest the parents will e tempted by food on birdtables so it is esential that the food you supply is suitable for the parents to take back to their young. This is why you should never put out food such as loose peanuts, hard, dry food or large pieces of bread or fats during the summer. These foods may be taken back to feed the chicks and can prove lethal.
Fall and winter Feeding
During the fall and winter put food out for the birds regularly, twice a day during severe weather if possible. During these months birds need high energy foods so put out foods high in fat to supply energy during the cold weather. Only put out good quality food and make sure any uneaten food is removed.
Image by Wade Franklin