FEEDING WILD BIRDS JSPCA FACT SHEET - GENERAL INFORMATION

Feeding wild birds can encourage the birds into your garden, which can give many people hours of delight and enjoyment. 

Bird feeding is also an excellent teaching tool as not only can children be encouraged to learn to positively identify the different species of birds with the help of a field guide and by watching and observing the variety of bird visitors arriving at the feeders, it can additionally give children the responsibility of daily cleaning and filling the feeders.  Perhaps your family would like to keep a pet, but circumstances and practicalities may prevent this from being possible, by encouraging wild birds into the garden by feeding them it may present an enjoyable alternative.

By attracting wild birds into your garden, it can have a beneficial effect for the organic gardener as the birds may also start to search for other food sources in your garden, seeking out gardener’s foes such as greenfly, caterpillars and snails.  Also, by feeding wild birds, it helps combat the huge loss for many wild bird species of their natural countryside habitat; the loss of habitat has forced many birds to search out nature reserves, areas where there are surviving hedgerows and gardens that are wildlife friendly.

The best wildlife gardens are those that offer and provide a wide range of natural foods, shelter and a source of water. 

When to feed birds 

In towns and cities there may be a shortage of the right type of food to support the wild bird population and in the more rural areas the loss of hedgerows can restrict the amount of natural food available.  Therefore it is possible to help the wild bird population by supplementing their normal diet by feeding them, especially in the winter months, when the supply of natural food is hardest to come by.

Although winter-feeding benefits most birds, food shortages can occur at any time of the year.  Therefore, by feeding year round, the wild birds may have a better chance of surviving the periods of food shortage, whenever they may occur. Through spring to autumn, birds are raising their young and often smaller quantities of food will be used.

Autumn and winter:

Bird feeding is often most productive from October through to April.  Birds require high energy (high fat) foods during the cold winter weather because they will need to maintain their body reserves to survive the cold frosty nights.  In fact, in order to survive through the winter months, small birds such as blue tits must eat approximately one quarter of their body weight in food each day.  Try to offer bird feed twice daily (especially in severe weather) early in the morning and in the evening during the winter and autumn months, as this is when, in particular, wild garden birds benefit from an energy ‘boost’.  Remember to fill your winter bird feeders every day and only use good quality foods. Always adjust the quantity given to the demand and never allow uneaten foods to accumulate around the feeders.  Try to stick to a feeding routine once it has been established and remember to also ensure access to water on a regular basis.

Spring and summer:

Birds can be fed all year round, but they do have seasonal dietary needs so only certain foods should be fed at this time of year and good hygiene is very important.  Parents raising chicks seek protein rich foods, so live foods such as mealworms (if appropriate for the bird species) are particularly important during the spring and early summer.  During the summer months and especially whilst birds are moulting, they also require high protein foods.    Black sunflower seeds, pinhead oatmeal, soaked sultanas, raisins and currants, mild grated cheese, mealworms, waxworms, mixes for insectivorous birds, good seed mixtures (without loose peanuts) and summer seed mixture can all be used.  Soft apples and pears cut in half, bananas and grapes are also useful foods.  Avoid using peanuts, fat, dry hard foods and bread at this time, since these foods can be harmful if brought to nestlings by causing the young chicks to choke.  If feeding peanuts in spring and summer, only do so in suitable steel mesh feeders that will not allow large pieces of peanuts to be removed.

Food quality

Food quality can vary greatly.  Spoiled food can harbour bacteria and moulds, which can harm or even kill garden birds and can attract pests to your garden.  Therefore, it is very important to purchase foods from reputable suppliers and to ensure that foods are stored properly in a clean, dry environment, inaccessible to rodents and pests.  Try to place feeders in locations where they, and hence the food, are less likely to become contaminated with bird droppings. 

Common diseases of garden birds are spread by contamination of food with the droppings or saliva of infected birds.  The risk can increase when many birds feed at the same place every day for long periods of time.  Therefore, to help minimise the risks:

Water

Birds, like all living creatures, need access to a supply of fresh water at all times.   Fresh water should be provided in a shallow container that will enable birds to drink and bathe without the risk of drowning.  Seed eaters, such as finches, receive little moisture from their food and hence have a particular requirement for water.  Access to water is important all year round and like the bird feeder containers, all dishes should be kept clean. 

In addition to drinking, birds need water to bathe in, so as to help them preen their feathers and keep the feathers in good condition.  Birds will bathe in any shallow patches of open water.  When bathing, garden birds only splash in the water and do not soak their plumage.  They then preen and rub oil into their feathers from a specialised gland.  During winter, the requirement for good feather function is important, not only for proper flight function, but also for the warmth retaining properties of feathers. 

A traditional birdbath is ideal or can be made using a shallow container such as a seed tray buried in the lawn.  However, whatever is used, make sure that it has a sloping edge or pebbles in it so that small birds can easily use it and to prevent other animals, such as hedgehogs, falling into the water and drowning.

Place your birdbath where birds can see it, but away from cover that could offer hiding places for predators, such as cats.  A shady corner is useful as the water will dry out if the bath is placed in direct sunlight.  Fill the birdbath with clean, fresh water and remember to keep it regularly topped up.  If the bath freezes in winter, remember to check that there is still a source of unfrozen water for the birds, but do not use salt to achieve this.

 

 

JSPCA working to

“prevent cruelty, promote knowledge, provide for aged, sick, lost and unwanted animals.”

 

Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Inc.)

Founded 1868 – Incorporated 1936

89 St Saviour’s Road, St Helier, Jersey JE2 4GJ         

Tel: 01534 724331          Fax: 01534 871797

E-mail: info@jspca.org.je          Website: www.jspca.org.je

 

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