If you have bird feeders in your garden make sure to change them as we come into spring and birds enter a very important part of their breeding cycle
Many of us are aware that birds need extra food during the winter, but it’s important to look out for them even as we enter spring. The brighter days and freshly budding flowers can give the illusion that birds are living their best lives once more, but the reality is that across most of the UK, temperatures are still reaching average lows of 2 degrees Celsius.
Cold weather makes it harder for birds to scavenge food. There is reduced vegetation and the hard soil means that it is difficult for birds to find insects and seeds. Plus, as birds enter their nesting period in March, it is even more crucial that they have enough nutrition to look after their young. Gardener’s World writes: “Despite longer days, more insect activity and daffodils poking through the soil, the nights are often still freezing and all the seeds and berries that birds have been surviving on throughout winter have now been eaten. Spring can therefore be the leanest time of all for garden birds, just when they need to get into perfect condition for breeding.”
The best way to help counteract this is by leaving food out for birds in your own garden. This means if you already have a bird feeder, make sure you still remember to place fresh food in it in March. If you don’t already own one, you can either buy a hanging feeder, a bird table, or simply sprinkle food onto a flat patch in your garden – like the patio or lawn.
In terms of the kind of food that you should leave out for birds, it’s recommended to feed them dense, calorific snacks like suet and seeds. Birds will also eat certain scraps, like chopped up tomatoes, grated cheese and fat trimmings.
Gardener’s World advises: “As well as calorie-rich food such as sunflower seeds and suet treats, start putting out oyster shell grit (available from all good bird food suppliers), which helps females to form their eggs. Take down peanuts as there’s a small risk to baby birds if adults take peanuts to feed to them.”
Although, it is important to take care to clean your bird feeders regularly. This can be done using a mild disinfectant solution and making sure that old food is replaced. When birds are all gathering around the same food source, it can spread serious diseases, like trichomoniasis, which causes lesions to develop in a bird’s mouth and throat and which can prevent them from eating.
