Feeding
Garden Birds
by Margaret Cooper
Whenever
there is a questionnaire, why do people always tick
‘Yes’ when asked if they like the theatre,
when the last time they went was 37 years ago to see
Gracie Fields? If however, you genuinely do like theatre,
why not have a live show every day of the year, with
an ever-changing cast, from old ham actors to others
just days old, cameo appearances, gratuitous sex and
violence, births, deaths, courting, a script that
changes by the minute, all ad-libbed, and only costs
a few pence.
The
best place to start bird watching is from your garden.
Buy some birdseed, make yourself comfy, brew a nice
hot cup of tea, and settle back for the rest of your
life. It will never disappoint. This comes with a
lifetime guarantee.
Here
together with her photographs, Margaret will give
some tips on feeding and attracting birds to your
garden. (The only point of difference is that I would
not feed meal worms. I do not like live-baiting, even
worms, but realise that I am sad and in a minority.)
It
is critical to feed throughout the year. Unlike mammals,
birds do not reveal that they are emaciated, due to
their feathers, but it was discovered that more Greenfinches
die from starvation during the month of May, than
any other month.
Seed-eating
birds such as finches, do feed their young on caterpillars
in spring, because of the protein, but seeds are a
bonus. Most of us think that birds only require help
during the cold winter. Think about it. Probably the
month of the year with fewest seeds, is May. So, if
the birds have relied upon you, do not let them down
and suddenly stop feeding.
It
is crucial to keep your feeders sterilised. You can
shop round and buy special eco-friendly brands for
this. It was discovered that the poor old Greenfinches
(again), were dying from salmonella caught from well-meaning
people, who were never sterilising their feeders.
Finally, if you are able to move around your bird
table and feeders, then do so.
If
you suffer from stress, do not splash out on a self-help
manual or employ a motivational guru; buy that birdseed.
Help those who bring us so much joy and colour through
the grey winter. Birds such as Goldfinches, which
have suffered so much due to herbicides, are once
again flourishing thanks to our gardens. You will
be helping yourself and helping our feathered companions.
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Garden
Birds
Want
to watch birds but not sure where to start! Well,
why not your own garden? You don’t need to know
a lot about birds nor do you need expensive equipment.
Feed
the birds
The easiest way to encourage the birds is to feed
them. Food can be bought from pet stores, online or
even at your local supermarket.
To
start, get a general purpose seed mix that can be
scattered on the ground and on bird tables, as well
as peanuts, which can be fed from a feeder or crushed
on the ground. Blackbirds and blackcaps like apples.
Always ensure there is water. Use a large container
as birds need water to bathe as well as to drink.
A large flower pot saucer will do but a pond is better!
You can feed all the year round as stressed parents
will appreciate the food during the breeding season,
as well as the birds in winter. You may find that
there are fewer birds around in autumn, when natural
food is more abundant. Adjust the amount of food you
put out according to need.
Bird
feeders come in different varieties, according to
the food. Have a browse online at www.birdfood.co.uk
or at
www.rspbshop.co.uk,
both give a wide selection of foods, bird tables,
feeders and plenty of ideas for building your own
bird feeding stations! Fat balls and peanut cake squares
are another favourite. You will need a mesh feeder
for the cake square. The balls can be tied in bushes
or from a bird table. Of course you can also make
your own. Melt some lard and pour over bread (cut
into small squares) peanuts and sultanas in a margarine
or similar container.
 |
Put
out a small quantity of food at first, as it may take
a while for the birds to discover this new supply.
Uneaten, the food will go mouldy and feeders become
clogged. A less used seed feeder, nearer my house
has been known to sprout after getting wet! Once the
birds arrive you can then try other foods. Nyjer seeds
are particularly good for attracting goldfinches.
Meal worms, which can be served up in a small smooth
sided dish, are loved by blackbirds, robins and pied
wagtails in my garden. They are a useful supplement
for nestlings and juveniles and I have been amazed
by the number of worms a blackbird can carry off for
its young. Sunflower seeds are a firm favourite with
finches and tits but the shells can cause a mess.
You can buy them ready shelled, but this is more expensive.
You will need to keep your feeding areas swept regularly
to prevent disease. Periodically, wash down your tables
and take
empty feeders in for a clean. Before you know it,
you will be enjoying the antics of blue tits, the
territorial behaviour of robins and experience the
occasional rare visitor such as a brambling. The birds
enjoying your banquet may also provide a meal for
a sparrowhawk – a mixed blessing this! He is
on my bird list every week but I rarely see him catch
one of my birds.
Bird
Counts
Talking of bird lists, you may wish
to keep your own. It is fascinating to see how things
can change from week to week or from season to season.
I keep a weekly list of the highest number of each
species seen at one time. I started this when I took
part in the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds’
(RSPB) ‘Great Garden Bird Watch’, which
takes place on the last weekend in January each year
(information on their website: www.rspb.org.uk). Now
I do a weekly count for the British Trust for Ornithology
(BTO - membership fee required). It is easy to do.
I keep a notebook in my kitchen and jot down the birds
as I see them and change the numbers seen at one time,
should they increase during the week.
You can spend as long as you like watching the birds,
as long as you are consistent from week to week. Results
can either be sent quarterly by post or entered online
at www.bto.org. The postal, computerized forms can
take a bit of getting used to and if entering results
online, don’t leave it too long or it can become
time consuming. When you have been entering results
for a while, you can get some interesting information
about your birds, for example: the total number of
species seen (41 in my garden now), as well as a graph
to show how the numbers of species using your garden
changes during the year and from year to year. The
website also gives useful information on identifying
different birds, as does the RSPB site.
Where
to next? Why not try the Local Park or nature reserve.
Two local reserves in my area are Anton Lakes (grid
ref.SU356466) and Rooksbury Mill Park (grid ref. SU358443),
both in Andover and worth a visit.
Margaret
Cooper
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