Now that bitter weather is approaching, or has arrived in many places, it’s the time of year that many folks help out the wild birds. Permanent residents or seasonal visitors, our feathered friends now count on people to set out seed and special treats to help them through the winter months. In fact, some species have become dependent on handouts from bird lovers.
But according to an article in The Daily Mail, it is actually better to let the wild birds in your garden eat cake rather than humble breadcrumbs.
Apparently, throwing bits of bread to the pigeons, birds, or ducks in the local park may actually do some harm. Each year as winter approaches, The Royal Society for the Protection of BIrds reminds bird lovers of the foods that are healthy for feathered visitors and which are not considered good snacks. (Wow, the birdeez has der own royal so-sigh-eat-tea).
But before we take a gander at the approved menu — which appears below the fold — we must pause with a brief message from the Management with the Peeps rulz:
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Is all bread bad for birds? Thee RSPB gives a qualified “no.” It’s definitely a poor choice in springtime when chicks are growing. Since bread doesn’t provide any of the nutrients a bird needs, it may impede development. And the mom and dads who are hectically flying back and forth feeding their broods needs real nutrition to keep them going as well.
In winter, when resources are scarce, a bit of bread may fill up empty stomachs in a pinch. Brown bread is better than white. Stale bread is too dry so moisten it. And never give more than the birds can consume immediately. Bread is basically a gummy filler and it can cause digestion problems, especially if it lingers on the ground and gets moldy. Bread mold is toxic to some species. Large pieces of bread stored in a bird’s crop may actually mold and lead to yeast infections. Not good.
So there are a lot of better choices than old bread. What are they?
Eat Your Fruits and Veggies
Of course, the best options are seeds and suet balls. However, there are lots of left overs from your table that can become a yummy meal for those colorful winter visitors. Most of these treats are most suitable for those table feeders, esp when combined with generous amounts of bird seed.
The best left overs are fruits and vegetables. Bits of left over fruit and tomatoes, and cooked root vegetables like carrots, pumpkin, and yams are all high-energy treats. Anyone with a garden knows that birds like their green veggies, too. Green leafy vegetables like lettuce, spinach, or bits of broccoli are welcome in the winter when local vegetation is meager. Insect-eating birds will appreciate small bits of meat as well as suet. Avoid onions and mushrooms, chocolate, unfermented dairy, or salty snacks. Yes, birds need a little salt, but potato chips is way too much.
Feed fresh fruits and cooked vegetables in small amounts, putting out just enough that the birds can consume in a short time. That will avoid the food spoiling and attracting unwanted pests into your garden.
Keep High-Carbs To A Minimum
Some grain and baked goods are also acceptable for feeding to the birds, just not bread. Even a muffin is a better option than bread. Cooked oatmeal and rice are good choices. Here’s more advice from the experts at the RSPB:
… those serious about attracting birds to their gardens should leave out tasty titbits such as grated cheese, leftover jacket potatoes, breakfast cereal and cake. It also recommends porridge oats, over-ripe strawberries, rice or scraps of pastry.
Seed cake and fruit loaf would be better than a Victoria sponge, but the sugar content would mean that any cake should be a useful source of energy.
And It Pays
One reason to augment commercial bird food is that the cost has risen dramatically. So offering your table scraps or vegetable peelings judiciously can help both the birds and your pocketbook.
So on your next trip to the local pond to feet the ducks, replace that bread with left over vegetable cuttings like carrot peels or old berries. What about the cauliflower greens that you usually throw away?
Do you feed the birds? The blog is now open.