Gardeners are being urged to put out a certain kind of food on bird tables to help them out during the vital fledgling season – and it’s a food everyone is likely to have in their cupboards already
Green-fingered Brits are being encouraged to scatter pasta on their bird tables, in a bid to support our feathered friends during the crucial fledgling season. The thought of providing food for birds can be daunting for many garden owners, with the assumption that it requires costly, specialist mixtures from garden centres or DIY shops, and is a hobby reserved for those with spare cash to splash on feeding local wildlife.
However, the RSPCA assures us that anyone can contribute to bird feeding without splashing out on specialist grub – all you need are some common, budget-friendly kitchen staples. Alongside rice, potatoes and cheese, cooked pasta can be served up on bird tables.
It’s important to note that the pasta must be cooked, never raw, as uncooked pasta could pose a risk to birds, so ensure it’s properly boiled and cooked beforehand.
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This is because raw pasta is difficult for birds to digest. In some cases, it can cause bloating, discomfort, or even internal damage if it expands after being ingested.
Numerous bird species are facing threats due to habitat loss, dwindling food sources like the decline in insect populations, as well as climate change and pollution.
This is why we’re being called upon to lend a hand by supplying food for our avian neighbours, which will also aid them in nourishing young fledglings come August, reports the Express.
Fledglings are juvenile birds that have recently left the nest. Their tender age means they’re still novices at foraging for food, and they require ample nutrition for growth. The RSPCA suggests leaving out fruits, seeds, unsalted chopped peanuts and food scraps for garden birds.
The guidance states: “Birds love to eat: fruit – apples, pears and soft fruits; Suitable seeds and grains – like nyjer, millet, oats, and sunflower seeds; Peanuts – must be unsalted, fresh and that they don’t contain aflatoxin (a poison caused by fungus mould).
“Young chicks might choke on whole peanuts, so always put them in feeders with a smaller mesh; Food scraps – cooked pasta, rice and boiled potatoes or cheese and uncooked and unsalted bacon rind.”
The advice emphasises clearing away any leftover food each evening and maintaining clean feeding areas consistently. This guidance comes after the RSPB temporarily withdrew flat bird tables from their shops whilst examining potential disease transmission risks linked to exposed food left on flat surfaces.
The charity now advocates for regular cleaning of feeding stations and nesting boxes, alongside prompt removal of any unconsumed offerings.