Birds, Mammals and Wildlife Gardening – Feeding throughout the year

Spring and summer

Only selected foods should be fed at this time and good hygiene is vital, or feeding may do more harm than good. During the summer months birds require high protein foods, especially while they are moulting – food size and type has to be suitable for nestlings, and rotten or infected food can kill nestlings and fledglings much more quickly than it would attack adults which have higher immunity levels. Choose from black sunflower seeds, pinhead oatmeal, soaked sultanas, raisins and currants, mild grated cheese, mealworms, mixes for insectivorous birds, and good seed mixtures without loose peanuts. Soft apples and pears cut in half make good food for many birds. Avoid using peanuts, fat and bread at this time, since these foods can be harmful if brought to nestlings. If you feel you must put out peanuts, only do so in suitable mesh feeders that will not allow sizeable pieces of peanuts to be removed. Commercially produced fat bars are suitable for summer feeding but discard any remains after a fortnight in case they have gone rancid. If the weather turns cold or wet during the spring or summer months, severe shortages of insect food can occur, and if the weather is exceptionally dry, earthworms will be unavailable to the ground feeders because of the hard soil so all year round feeding can help many species

Autumn and winter

Put out food and water on a regular basis. In severe weather, feed twice daily if possible - in the morning and in the early afternoon to allow different species to obtain food at the natural time for them. Birds require high energy foods during the cold winter weather to help them maintain their body reserves to survive the frosty nights. This means high fat, high quality food and scraps. Once you establish a feeding routine, try not to change it as winter feeders may be entirely dependent on your supplies to survive.

Birds, mammals and wildlife gardening snow photograph by Noel lee, used under a creative commons attribution licence

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