Feeding Birds over the Winter

Skimming through the Derby Telegraph, I noticed a piece on not feeding birds bread so checked on the best stuff to leave out in our gardens, take across to the pond by the curly bridge or the pond at the top of Markeaton Lake. Obviously, it is great to have berry bearing bushes planted out ready for the birds as well as buying in food,

The RSPB does indeed say that we should not leave bread out and there are some other things to avoid:

Avoid

• All salted foods, as they dehydrate birds

• Cooked food, as this can attract unwanted visitors, such as rats

• Loose peanuts. Keep peanuts in a feeder so small chunks can be nibbled

• Dry, hard foods or bread during the spring or summer months. Parent birds might take these back to their nests and their young can choke on it

Poor quality peanuts can carry the aflatoxin fungus, which kills birds if they eat it. Make sure you buy peanuts that are guaranteed aflatoxin-free from a reputable supplier.

On the positive side, at this time of year we should be feeding fat for high energy alongside sunflower hearts, peanuts (in feeder, never loose or in mesh), fruit such as apple slices, berry nibbles and seeds.

The swans over by the curly bridge benefit from salad vegetables when the pond is frozen alongside a wide range of other foods during the winter.