Topic: Feeding Garden Birds - all year

[Carol]

I have fed the garden birds all year but I think the vast majority of folk stop feeding once the better weather comes along.  Below is the advice of the RSPB for feeding.



Although winter feeding benefits birds most, food shortages can occur at any time of the year. By feeding year round, we are giving birds a better chance to survive the periods of food shortage whenever they may occur.

Spring and summer
Only selected foods should be fed at this time and good hygiene is vital, or feeding may do more harm than good.

During the summer months birds require high protein foods, especially while they are moulting.

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, RSPB food bars and summer seed mixture can all be used.

Soft apples and pears cut in half, bananas and grapes are also useful foods. Some people use soaked dog or cat food and tinned pet foods, but these may attract magpies, crows and cats. Avoid using peanuts, fat and bread at this time, since these foods can be harmful if brought to nestlings. If you feel you must put out peanuts, only do so in suitable mesh feeders that will not allow sizeable pieces of peanuts to be removed.

Home-made fatballs can go soft and rancid in warm summer weather, and should be avoided. Commercially produced fat bars are suitable for summer feeding but discard any remains after 3 weeks.

Temporary food shortage can occur at almost any time of the year, and if this happens during the breeding season, extra food on the bird table can make a big difference to the survival of young.

Birds time their breeding period to exploit the availability of natural foods, in the case of blackbirds and song thrushes, earthworms; in the case of tits and chaffinches, caterpillars. It is now known that if the weather turns cold or wet during the spring or summer months, severe shortage of insect food can occur, and if the weather is exceptionally dry, earthworms will be unavailable to the ground feeders because of the hard soil.

Natural food shortages

If food shortage occurs whilst birds have young in the nest they may be tempted by easy food put on birdtables to make up the shortfall in natural food, initially to feed themselves, but if the situation gets bad enough, they will also take the food to the nest. If the food offered on bird tables is not suitable for the young chicks, it can do more harm than good, and can even be lethal to the chicks as they can choke on the food. It can be difficult for a human to gauge when food shortage in the wild occurs, and hence it is best not to put out food that is likely to create problems during the breeding season. Therefore, never put out loose peanuts, dry hard foods, large chunks of bread, or fats during the spring or summer months.

Autumn and winter
Put out food and water on a regular basis. In severe weather, feed twice daily if possible: in the morning and in the early afternoon. Birds require high energy (high fat) foods during the cold winter weather. They need to maintain their body reserves to survive the frosty nights. Use only good quality food and scraps. Always adjust the quantity given to the demand, and never allow uneaten foods to accumulate around the feeders. Once you establish a feeding routine.

[angle shades]

:)

I've fed the birds all year round for the last two years, as the weather in May has been cold .

the upside of this has been house sparrow nests in our roof for the last two years :)( 6 broods)

we now have 30+ house sparrows in the garden every day ;D

this year I'm hoping our blackbirds will nest, last year they nested elsewhere and brought the young to us to feed ::) / shades x

[JRP]

 ;D Hi Carol,what a good point you raised about putting loose peanut out for the birds,I never thougt of the perants feeding them to their young.
May you and yours and what you grow live long and happy. John. J.R.P.  ;D

[cocopops]

What a lovely post.  When I lived in the Uk my parents often went on holiday, and I was left to feed their cat, and the wild birds (using my dad's own mix). 

Since moving to Brittany I have discovered a love of watching birds in my garden.  For some wierd reason all the glass overlooking the garden was obscured.  We changed this in November, and I started hanging fat balls, and a have a pot of seed londged in a tree in front of the now clear front door.  There is a blue tit with a misformed foot, day by day I have watched it become fatter, and now look out for him.  Watching the birds has become really theraputic. 

I am glad to know the guidelines to be able to feed them, and enjoy them all year.  Thanks for the information.

[carolinej]

I've got a blackbird in my garden with a deformed foot. It bends backwards. When she ( I assume, and have named her Holly) was younger, there didnt seem to be a problem. As she has grown, walking , well, hopping, seems to be more difficult for her. I have become really attatched to her, so I hope it doesnt get to be too much of a disadvantage to her.

I read this thread, and have started breaking the peanuts up into small pieces.Some birds feed from the feeders, but the robins ( a pair I have named Batman and Robin) only feed from the table, and I want them to get high energy food. Batman, the biggest and now REALLY big,is probably the female, but it seemed better to name the smallest one Robin.

It's amazing how much fun I get watching the birds feeding, but I tend to get a bit too involved. I had a sparrow I called Curtis. I always knew it was him, as he had a funny wing. Unfortunately, I havent seen him for a few weeks now, so I think 'survival of the fittest' has taken its course :'(

cj :)