Garderns have been advised to put the popular dish on their bird feeders along with other odd leftovers
Longer daylight hours and milder weather hails the start of a spring and a new season for birds.
Spring is typically the time our feathered friends begin to breed, nest and feed their young offspring after a cold and harsh winter. In recent years, birds have had to overcome numerous struggles, such as climate change, habitat loss, and lack of food, so it’s now more vital than ever that gardeners use their bird feeders effectively. So, these common food scraps can help alleviate such struggles.
Among the seeds regularly placed into feeders, plain cooked pasta also offers a sustainable source of carbohydrates, which helps these birds maintain a balanced diet during this crucial period. This means if you’ve overdone it with the pasta one night at home, your plain leftovers can actually be put to great use in the garden. Gardeners are also encouraged to add cooked rice and plain boiled potatoes to their bird feeders. However, ensuring that all these foods are left unseasoned and without cheese or sauces is crucial.
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When adding these leftover carbohydrates to your bird feeders, ensure they are only put in small quantities as they are perishable and can quickly spoil or dry out. Additionally, try to break the pasta into smaller pieces to ensure they are easily digestible and won’t become a choking hazard. All of these foods, which we often leave as leftovers or scraps, are perfect for birds, which can help reduce household food waste. Moreso, these carbohydrate-rich foods are high in calories, supplying much-needed energy to nesting birds.
The RSPCA states that birds enjoy appropriate seeds and grains like Nyjer, millet, oats, and sunflower seeds. Additionally, leftover foods such as cooked pasta, rice, boiled potatoes, cheese, and uncooked, unsalted bacon rinds are excellent options! The RSPCA also highlights the need for fresh water, and adds: “Fresh, clean water is essential for birds, so keep water bowls full of clean water and make sure you place bowls and feeders far away from bushes and other areas where predators might hide. Many garden birds die each year through the transmission of diseases, so it’s important to clean all water containers daily and feeders weekly, drying them before refilling.”
Additionally, bird feeder owners are urged to position their feeders in a specific location to guarantee that birds can feed without interruptions. Gardeners World suggests that bird feeders should be strategically placed and hung close to roses to lure in hungry birds, which will also help eliminate other pests getting to the food before the birds.
While, if you have a flat bird table, remember to clean it regularly and dispose of any leftover food. The RSPB has recently stopped selling flat bird tables while they investigate if these tables, when exposed to the weather, might contribute to disease spread.
