molly_issue34_winter

Dry biscuits – birds may choke on the hard lumps.
DO FEED YOUR GARDEN BIRDS:
Mealworms - dried or alive, both are
enjoyed by insect-eaters like robins,
starlings and others.
Sunflower seeds – these are full of
beneficial oil and protein. Sunflower hearts
(seeds with the husks removed) are less
messy and give quick access to the food
for birds adapted to seed-eating like blue
tits, siskins and house sparrows.
Leftovers - Chopped pears and apple
feeders will feed blackbirds, song thrushes,
and maybe redwings and fieldfares.
Cooked potatoes and pastry, suet,
chopped (unsalted) bacon and cheese are
also bird-friendly foods.
Peanuts - a bird superfood: full of
energy. If you’re lucky you may even see
nuthatches stealing them and burying
these snacks in your flowerbed for later.
Bird cakes and food bars – fat balls
and suet bars are excellent winter foods,
perfect for building up fat reserves and
keeping birds warm, whether you buy
some or make your own.
PHOTO: Blue Tit
and Great tit,
Nigel Blake
(rspb-images.com)
DON’T FEED YOUR GARDEN BIRDS:
PHOTO: Great Tit on coconut feeder,
Chris Gomersall (rspb-images.com)
PHOTO: Robin, Andy Hay
(rspb-images.com)
Cooking fat – cooked fat from Sunday roasts and
Christmas dinners merges with meat juices during
cooking. This combination can stick to bird’s
feathers and stop them being waterproof.
Desiccated coconut – this swells up inside birds
and makes them very unwell.
Milk – bird’s guts aren’t designed to digest milk
and can result in serious stomach upsets.
Cooked porridge oats – these stick around their
bills, although uncooked oats are fine.
Salt – garden birds are practically unable to
metabolise salt. It is toxic to them in high quantities
which includes a bird identification chart, plus RSPB shop voucher and
text BIRD to 70030 or visit www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch
www.mollysguide.co.uk
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