Feed the birds....
02/01/2008
With snow and freezing temperatures forecast to arrive in some parts of the country this week, the RSPB is appealing to people to feed the birds in their gardens during the winter.
The reminder comes as the Met Office forecasts cold and snowy weather, with temperatures predicted to fall below freezing in some regions and snow showers expected.
When temperatures fall below freezing, our birds struggle to find the food they need to survive the winter in healthy condition, vital for breeding in spring.
David Hirst, of the RSPB's Northern England Region based in Newcastle where the cold snap is expected to be particularly severe says: “The mild winter so far has provided relatively easy pickings for many birds that visit our gardens. However, if the forecasters are correct and winter arrives with a vengeance this week, then our garden birds could be in for a nasty shock. Insects become harder to find and seeds and berries can be locked away by snow and frost.
“Freezing weather is a potential death sentence for many birds but by feeding the birds in your garden, people can help them survive the worst of the winter weather. Just a little water, food and shelter can turn your garden into a vital haven for birds in the freezing winter months.”
The RSPB is asking people to follow a wild bird winter survival plan that will help wildlife during the harshest weather.
1. Put out feed regularly, especially in severe weather. Set up a bird table and use high calorie seed mixes. This can also be used to put out kitchen scraps such as animal fats, grated cheese and soaked dried fruit.
2.Put out hanging feeders for black sunflower seeds, sunflower hearts, sunflower-rich mixes or unsalted peanuts.
3.Ensure a supply of fresh water every day. If it is very cold use tepid water but DO NOT use any antifreeze products.
4.Put out fruit, such as apples and pears, for blackbirds, song thrushes and other members of the thrush family.
5.Food bars or fat hung up or rubbed into the bark of trees is a great help for treecreepers, goldcrests and many other species.
6.Put up nest boxes to provide roost sites for the smaller birds. They will then be used for breeding later in the year.
Leftovers from Christmas or New Year meals can also provide a welcome boost for wildlife - cake crumbs, pastry and cheese are all readily eaten by wild birds.
More information about helping garden wildlife is available at www.rspb.org.uk/hfw