Everyone with birds in garden urged to stop feeding immediately if they notice one thing

Attract Wildlife to Your Garden: Essential Tips for Feeding Garden Birds

Witnessing wild birds grace your garden, eagerly pecking at the bird food you provide, is a truly delightful experience. While caution might surround feeding some wildlife, offering sustenance to birds greatly aids their survival. Supplying a nest box further enhances their well-being, providing a secure haven to raise their young and encouraging their return to your garden each year. Discover the best practices for feeding garden birds and creating a welcoming habitat with bird feeders and appropriate bird food.

Enhance these enchanting moments by installing a nest box camera before the breeding season. Observe firsthand the fascinating journey of chicks, from hatchlings to fledglings, gaining a unique insight into their development.

Selecting the Right Bird Food

A diverse array of options exists concerning what to feed birds, a matter we will address shortly. Particularly during spring and summer, birds require provisions rich in protein, especially during moulting periods. Exercise caution with peanuts; although protein-rich, they pose a choking hazard for fledglings if not offered safely within a wire mesh hanging feeder.

Maintaining Bird Feeder Hygiene

Experts at the RSPB emphasize one critical reason to cease feeding birds immediately: witnessing illness amongst your feathered visitors. The RSPB advises: “Should you observe a sick bird at your feeders, halt feeding entirely, thoroughly cleanse your feeders, and store them away from the garden, perhaps in a garage or shed. Resume feeding only after a 2-4 week interval, but discontinue and repeat this cleansing process should you notice any further signs of avian sickness.”

Protecting Bird and Human Health

Maintaining impeccable hygiene when setting up and managing your bird feeder is paramount, benefiting both you and the birds. Although the risk is minimal, avian diseases can, in rare instances, transmit to humans.

“The risk remains low, yet precautionary measures are advisable. Don gloves and diligently wash your hands following any interaction with bird baths or feeders. Clean feeders outdoors using dedicated implements,” advises the RSPB. They further recommend, “Remove debris each time you replenish food supplies and scrub feeders weekly with a diluted disinfectant solution. Periodically relocate feeders to prevent waste accumulation beneath. Water containers require daily rinsing, especially during warmer seasons, and should be allowed to air dry before refilling with fresh water.”

Optimal Placement for Bird Feeders

While strict rules are unnecessary regarding bird feeder placement, the RSPB suggests considering the following factors for attracting the most birds:

• Tranquility: Position the feeder in a location where birds can feed undisturbed and enjoy peace and quiet.
• Safety: Avoid placing feeders too close to dense shrubs or trees that could provide concealed ambush points for predators like domestic cats, ensuring a safe environment.
• Shelter: Seek to shield the feeder from locations exposed to strong winds, offering protection from the elements.

Understanding Bird Food Varieties

A wide variety of foods can be offered to birds, but it’s crucial to remember that suitability varies among species. For instance, robins, blackbirds, and thrushes are unable to consume seeds with husks, according to Home and Roost. Furthermore, for other bird species, “removing husks expends valuable energy.” Husk waste accumulates on the ground, potentially attracting unwanted pests like rats.

Recommended Bird Food Choices

Home and Roost advises: “A high-quality seed mix should constitute the foundational bird food when commencing bird feeding. This will entice a broad spectrum of bird species and prove beneficial throughout the year.”

Husk-free seed mixes are available, rendering them more appropriate for frequently visiting garden birds.

Suet pellets present excellent high-energy food sources, particularly during winter. It is recommended to purchase suet in pellet form, incorporated within seed mixes, or presented in specialized feeders. Suet balls situated on bird tables might easily roll off and onto the ground.

Additional straightforward choices include mealworms and kitchen scraps such as dried fruit or fresh fruit like apples and pears, provided they are not showing signs of spoilage.

If this information has inspired you to draw more birds to your garden with a nest box and feeder, we wish you success! May it bring you abundant joy in observing and supporting local wildlife.