Don’t neglect our feathered friends

Garden birds are facing a huge survival test this winter as they struggle with sub-zero temperatures which create huge shortages of nutritious food.

Robin in the snow © Darin Smith

To help combat the problem, Kent Wildlife Trust is calling upon residents to be mindful of the plight of birds when discarding scraps of food and, rather than consigning surplus food to landfill waste, consider what can provide a potentially life-saving garden feast.

Head of Conservation for Kent Wildlife Trust, Richard Moyse, said: “Birds lose a lot of weight overnight - more so in cold weather - and in freezing conditions small birds, such as robins and wrens are particularly vulnerable with a lack of food causing death even to a healthy bird in just a few hours.

“It takes very little effort and costs virtually nothing to provide tasty treats for garden birds. In return they will reward you with colourful acrobatic displays to brighten up the bleak days of winter. You may even attract some of the more exotic species such as siskins, blackcaps, woodpeckers, fieldfares and redwings.”

To help residents get the best out of their winter bird feeding efforts, Kent Wildlife Trust recommends the following tips:

• Widely scatter bread crumbs to reach those birds that prefer to feed on the ground, e.g. song thrush and chaffinch. Also scatter crumbs beneath bushes and hedges for the shy, foraging birds such as the wren and dunnock.
  
• Sunflower seeds in a tubular container attract greenfinches, tits
  and sparrows; peanuts (monkey nut variety) in a mesh dispenser will have the same effect and encourage siskins too. Goldfinches and redpolls adore the tiny black Niger seeds but a special holder will be necessary.
  
•  Most cooked leftover food (but not vegetables) will provide a good source of sustenance and bird cakes can easily be formed out of fat or suet.
  
•  Stale bread is best moistened and broken up to make it easily digestible.
  
•  Bacon rind is popular, providing it isn’t too salty. Likewise, avoid salted peanuts as they may be lethal to birds.
  
• Cooked potatoes and rice - not uncooked grains - in small quantities are generally well liked.
  
•  Try fruits of any kind, both flesh and seeds – dried raisins and sultanas are ideal and a favourite of the blackbird.  Thrushes, in particular, love rotten apples.
  
• A fresh half coconut hung upside down is a great favourite of the tit family.
  
• Robins are very fond of cheese, especially grated!
  
• Don’t leave food on the ground overnight – it may attract rats. Save your dinner scraps until morning.
  
• Don’t forget to give a plentiful supply of clean, fresh water. A shallow container, i.e. a plant pot saucer or a raised bird bath placed close to a safe refuge such as a tree, is fine. Be mindful of predators and ensure there’s good all-round vision. Remove or melt any ice that forms and don’t use additives such as anti-freeze as this could prove poisonous or damage the waterproofing of their plumage.
  
• And lastly, but very importantly, do continue to feed and water at least until the early spring when the first crops of weeds flower and set seed.

For further information call 01622 662012, email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

 

© Kent Wildlife Trust : the largest active conservation charity in Kent, Reg Charity No: 239992

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