Feeding birds in winter helps our winged friends survive the long, cold, snow-covered winter. If we feed birds in the garden, they will reciprocate in spring and summer by ridding us of harmful insects. However, it is important to feed them the right food and in the right way, otherwise we will do more harm than good. Find out how, when and what to feed birds in winter so they survive the long winter safely.
Is it necessary to feed them?
Opinions vary widely on the necessity of feeding birds in winter. On the one hand, birds should be able to find their own food, but on the other hand, during a hard winter many birds get sick, freeze or starve to death. Therefore, it is worth providing birds with nutritious and energy-dense food. Before we start feeding, we should make sure we know what food is suitable for them.
What to feed birds in winter?
Bird food should always be properly chosen, and if you choose to feed them, you should do so regularly throughout the winter, as they will get used to always finding the food they need from you. However, the wrong food can do them a lot of harm or even kill them. So choose wisely. The top 10 food ideas for wintering birds include:
- various cereal grains (wheat, barley, oats, millet),
- pumpkin and sunflower seeds or corn, natural oatmeal,
- cooked semolina, rice and vegetables, fresh fruit,
- nuts of all kinds, bacon, ready-made mixes for the birds, and a great tip at the end is to place a water bottle near the bird feeder, as birds often lack water in the winter.
Source: Pixabay.com
Remember that the food you feed is not the only food for the birds. If you really want to help the birds, plant plants in your garden that will sustain fruit or berries and that will feed the birds throughout the fall and winter. This could be elderberry, cranesbill, wild rose, viburnum, hawthorn, barberry or sloe. Birds should not be fed bread or table salt. Both are very dangerous for them!