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Be a wildlife chef and feed the birds

27th Oct 2011

Wildlife lovers are being asked to help out the birds in their gardens this winter as the weather turns colder and food gets scarcer. Cheap and easy treats for birds can easily be made from ordinary kitchen leftovers, says the RSPB.

The charity’s Feed the Birds Day on 29 October aims to remind people that now is the ideal time to start feeding the birds for the winter.

Come Dine with Me

Calorie rich foods like mixed seed, nyjer seed and peanuts as well as kitchen scraps like mild grated cheese, cooked rice and pasta, unsalted bacon and cooked potatoes are great for birds, and provide them with energy in the winter months. The RSPB have created a video on how to whip up some tasty treats for your feathered friends – complete with a voiceover by Come Dine with Me’s Dave Lamb. View the video at www.rspb.org.uk/feedthebirds.

A supply of clean fresh water is also vital for birds when canals, rivers and ponds freeze over. As well as drinking, birds need water for bathing and preening, to keep their feathers in good condition. You can help by putting out a bird bath or bowl of fresh water. Break the ice regularly, or help prevent it from freezing by putting a stick or ping pong ball in the water.

Help wildlife on a budget

Elaine Holderness, Feed the Birds Day manager said: “You don’t need to spend lots of time and money to provide a slap up meal for garden birds – in fact, providing them with tasty, beneficial food couldn’t be easier.

“A mixture of seeds, some leftover kitchen scraps and some water is our equivalent to a three course meal and it’s a lifeline when the seasons change and food becomes scarce.

“And you could attract all sorts of dinner guests – in addition to the more common species you could see things like fieldfares, redwings and blackcaps as they leave their usual countryside feeding areas to come to gardens with good supplies of natural and supplementary food.”
More tips on feeding the birds.

Last updated: 27/10/2011

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