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Especially during the winter many of us like to feed the
wild birds, and with good reason. Many species of birds rely on a
good supply of nourishing food to see them through the cold winter
months, and whether you have a lush garden or a simple arid border,
putting out food for garden birds can be fun and rewarding.
However, it is very easy to inadvertently fatten-up some not
so welcome visitors . . . .
Brown rats are on the increase and are quick to take advantage
of an easy meal; especially one made up of "leftovers". So, when
feeding the birds, please ensure that you only put out enough food
for them to eat that morning or afternoon. If you find that
yesterday's titbits are left on the bird table, it may be that you
are putting out too much. Old excess food should always be cleared
away. This will help to stop the spread of disease amongst garden
birds and will help to avoid attracting rats that may be keen to
investigate your garden, and even your home.
Therefore, it is very important that if you employ the
services of a Pest Control company to rid your property of rats,
you must ensure there is not an alternative food source. If the
rats can get better food than the bait laid down for them it will
become very difficult to eradicate them from your property, if at
all. If you must feed the birds keep the feed above ground level,
on a bird table, out of the reach of rats; clean up surplus feed
before dark; do not overfeed, stale rotting food can cause death if
eaten by birds
The food that we provide can have a very positive influence on
the bird populations using our gardens, helping them through the
lean times of winter and supporting adult birds that are busy
finding food for their young.
We also have a responsibility to ensure that the food we
provide does not harm the birds that we are trying to help. This
can be achieved by adopting some sensible precautions and by making
sure that we do not provide foods that are inappropriate.
Hygiene is also important, since the spread of disease can be
facilitated by the crowding together of birds at feeding
stations.
Some simple guidelines
Ensure that you keep surfaces on
which birds feed clean. Ideally, brush surfaces daily to avoid
heavy faecal contamination. If you feed on the ground, do not
put food in the same place every day but move it
around.
Provide food at several sites within the garden so that large
numbers of birds do not gather in the same place. Move
hanging feeders periodically and keep the area beneath them clean
of droppings, spilt food and seed husks.
Clean feeders and bird tables on a regular basis, ideally
using a recognised cleaning agent designed for the purpose. Rinse
feeders thoroughly after cleaning and ensure that they are dry
before refilling with food.
Ensure that any water you provide
is clean, and that birdbaths are cleaned and disinfected
regularly. Some bird diseases can be passed on to humans, so
it is essential that you should observe scrupulous personal
hygiene.
- Only put out as much food as can be consumed in a day or two.
Never allow food or detritus to accumulate. Reduce food at quiet
times.
- Keep feeders reasonably clean and move them around the garden
periodically to avoid infectious droppings from building up in one
place.
- In the nesting season avoid presenting whole peanuts. Either
chop them up or provide them in a mesh peanut feeder from which
adult birds can only take small fragments.
- Try to have reasonably clean water available at all times for
bathing as well as drinking. Never add salt or any chemicals to the
water.
- Do NOT put out salty snacks, highly flavoured foods, uncooked
rice, whole bacon rinds or unsoaked desiccated coconut which can be
fatal to birds.
- Keep food away from cover in which a cat could hide. Consider
using electronic cat scarers - these should be moved
regularly.
- . ... but if Sparrowhawks are present, place feeders next to
shrubs to allow birds to escape. Clip the shrubs back hard at the
base so cats cannot hide.
- Provide a wide variety of different foods in different
positions and types of feeder.
- Cereal grains, such as wheat, attract pigeons. Use better
quality pure foods such as black sunflower seeds or peanuts.
- Stick to natural foods, rather than chemically altered or
processed foods such as margarine.