FEEDING WILD BIRDS JSPCA FACT SHEET - HOW AND WHAT

How to feed birds

Bird tables are generally suitable for many species and most foods.  However, different species of birds do have different feeding habits and some birds, such as the blackbird and the robin, prefer to eat off the ground.  Bird tables and hanging feeders help birds to feed without the worry of cats and hanging food is ideal for members of the tit family.

Feeders and tables should be sited high enough to help prevent access for cats, but if food is too exposed, the birds may be in danger from predators overhead, such as sparrow hawks.  Therefore, it is best to site feeders with cover, for example for trees or shrubs, provided nearby.

Many birds prefer to eat on the ground so food can be put out on the lawn, but make sure that it is placed away from shrubs or any shelter which may offer a convenient hiding place for cats or other predators. However, take care not to put too much food on the ground as if there is much food left over on the floor by nightfall, it may attract the rodent population.

Squirrels will take advantage of most styles of bird feeders.  The best solution to try to prevent squirrels raiding your bird feeder is to put feeders on poles away from your house or from trees, with guards on the poles to prevent the squirrels from accessing the seed. 

Remember, it is very important to keep all of your bird feeders clean.

Bird tables:  Simply using a plain tray, with or without a roof, can make an adequate bird table.  (A roof to the bird table helps to keep rain off but is not essential.)  It needs a raised rim to retain the food and ideally a gap at each corner of the rim to allow rainwater to drain away and allow you to clean away droppings and any uneaten food.  Traditional bird tables can be purchased although the best type of support pole would be one made of galvanised steel, to deter cats from attempting to climb the pole.  All bird tables must be kept clean.

Position the table in a fairly open area so that cats cannot jump onto it.  However, remember that many birds like to arrive via various stopping off points on fences, bushes and trees, so that they can check that the area is safe.  Birds are often happier if readily available cover from overhead predators is provided nearby.

Seed feeders:  These are transparent tubular containers with holes, through which birds are able to access the seed.  These are designed for sunflower seeds and seed mixes labelled feeder seed.  They will attract tits, siskins and greenfinches.

Nut feeders:  Nut feeders are made of steel mesh and are the only safe method of offering nuts to wild birds.  The mesh size needs to be large enough to prevent beak damage and small enough to prevent large pieces of nut from being removed.

Simple fat bird feeders:  A variety of simple feeders can be made:

Home made devices:  Half coconut and tit bells filled with fat, bird cake, etc, can be hung from your bird table, a tree or from a bracket on a wall. They will attract greenfinches, house sparrows and tits.

Other ideas:   Fill the holes and cracks of a post or suspended log with fatty food, such as suet, for agile birds, such as tits, nuthatches, woodpeckers, treecreepers and even wrens.  Thrushes and dunnocks prefer to feed on the ground.  For these birds, scatter food on the lawn or use a ground feeding tray but remember to place the food clear of cover or nearby shrubs so as to avoid lurking predators such as cats.

Remember to change the area you scatter the food over every few days, and never put out more than is eaten the same day to avoid attracting rodents.  If you put food such as apples and bread on the ground, space it out in different places in the garden. This will reduce competition between birds so that more birds can feed at anyone time.  If there is snow on the ground, clear small areas before putting down the food.  If you have a garden, consider planting items for wildlife to feed on or take shelter in.

Mesh bags:  CARE:  Peanuts and fat balls are regularly sold in nylon mesh bags.  Never put out any food for wild birds in mesh bags.  These may trap birds’ feet and birds with a barbed tongue, such as woodpeckers, can become trapped by their beaks.

Make sure that all feeders drain easily and do not allow for the build up of old food which can create health risks.

What to feed garden birds

Different species of bird feed on different types of food.  Therefore, try to identify and recognise the types of birds that you commonly see in the garden, so that you can offer them the appropriate food.

Bird seed mixes:  These are widely available for garden birds, with specific food mixes being made for bird feeders and mixes for ground or table feeding.  Good mixes for birds are those that contain flaked maizes, sunflower seeds and peanut granules.  The bird mixes that contain chunks of nuts or whole nuts are only suitable for winter feeding.  Seed mixtures that contain split peas, beans and dried rice or lentils to add bulk to the mixture should be avoided as only the larger species of birds can eat them dry.  Any mixture containing green or pink ‘lumps’ should also be avoided as the lumps are usually dog biscuit, which can only be eaten by birds when soaked.  Try to feed seed mixtures that do not contain too many cereals if you wish to attract smaller bird species.  Pigeons and doves may eat cereal grains if left on a table or on the ground:

Small seeds eg millet – attract mostly House Sparrows, dunnocks, finches and collared doves.

Flaked maize – attract blackbirds

Sunflower seeds and peanut granules – attractive especially to tits and greenfinches

Pinhead oatmeal – great food for many birds

Wheat and Barley grains – often found in seed mixes, only really suitable for pigeons, doves and pheasants, which feed on the ground and large numbers of these birds can deter smaller bird species.

Black sunflower seeds:  These seeds are an excellent all year round food and can attract a wide range of species.  The oil content is higher in the black than the striped ones, and so the black are much better.  Sunflower hearts (the husked kernels) are also popular. 

Nyjer seeds:  These are small and black and they have a high oil content.  They do require a special type of feeder, and are particular favourites with goldfinches and siskins. 

Peanuts:  Peanuts are rich in fat and are popular with tits, greenfinches, house sparrows, nuthatches, great spotted woodpeckers and siskins.  Crushed or grated nuts attract robins, dunnocks and even wrens.  Nuthatches and coal tits may hoard peanuts.  Ideally offer peanuts in a nut feeder with steel mesh so that the nuts cannot be taken whole, or crush them and leave the fragments on a bird table.  Only offer unsalted peanuts (salted or dry roasted should never be used).  However, peanuts can be high in a natural toxin called aflatoxin, which can kill birds, so buy only from a reputable dealer who will guarantee freedom from this toxin. 

Coconut:  Fresh coconuts can be cut in half and hung in the garden for tits.  However, never feed desiccated coconut to birds, as it may swell up in the bird’s stomach, with fatal results.

Live foods and other insect foods:  Mealworms are especially enjoyed by robins and blue tits and can attract other insect eating birds to the feeder, such as pied wagtails.  Waxworms are also a good live food.  Proprietary foods for insect eating birds, such as insectivorous and softbill food, can be obtained from most bird suppliers and pet shops, as can mealworms. 

Bird cake and food bars:  Fat balls and other fat based food bars are widely sold and are excellent winter food.  If they are sold in nylon mesh bags, always remove the bag before putting the fat ball out, as the soft net mesh can trap birds’ feet and injure birds. 

In addition to the methods already mentioned above, another way you can make your own bird food/fat feeder by pouring melted fat (suet or lard) onto a mixture of ingredients such as seeds, crushed nuts, dried fruit, oatmeal, cheese and cake.  It is recommended to use about one-third fat to two-thirds seed mixture.  Stir well in a bowl and allow it to set in a suitable container, such as an empty half coconut shell or tit bell.  Alternatively, you can turn it out onto the bird table when solid. 

Fat is important for providing energy for birds in the winter and helps to keep the birds warm during cold winter spells.

Household items suitable for birds:  Fat: such as suet, is enjoyed by tits, great spotted woodpeckers, thrushes and wrens.  However, do not put out polyunsaturated fats, since they do not offer the birds the high levels of energy they require in winter. 

Mild grated cheese is a favourite with robins, dunnocks and song thrushes.  It will also help wrens if placed under hedgerows and other areas in your garden where you have noticed them feeding. 

Soaked dried fruits, such as raisins, sultanas and currents are particularly enjoyed by blackbirds, song thrushes and robins. It is advisable to soak them during spring and summer.  

Fruit:  Apples, pears and other fruit, including chopped bruised and part rotten ones, are very popular with all blackbirds, thrushes, tits and starlings. 

Crumbled bread is suitable only in small quantities, as its nutritional value is relatively low.  Bread should also be offered soaked to ensure that it does not swell inside the bird’s stomach. 

However, remember, salted foods or spoiled foods can be dangerous for birds.

A wide variety of foods are commonly offered to garden birds, including seeds, nuts, fat, fruit and invertebrates.  However, none of these foods alone will provide a complete well-balanced diet.  When feeding birds the aim should be to provide a supplement to the birds’ natural diet rather than to offer a compete alternative.

 

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