| THE
GARDEN BIRD MENU All
sorts of bird foods can be obtained from specialised manufacturers
or cooked up in your own kitchen.
But if you don’t
have the time to go out and buy or to slave over a hot stove here
are a few ideas on how and what to feed birds without much trouble
or expense.
Brown or white
bread can be sprinkled on the birdtable or the ground but moisten
it first if it’s very dry.
Cooked or uncooked
leftover pastry is great for birds especially if made with real
fats.
Fat is very
popular with birds like great spotted woodpeckers, thrushes, wrens
and the tits. Don’t put polyunsaturated fats out as they do
not provide enough energy for birds.
Bacon rind is
a favourite with robins, who like it chopped up, and tits who prefer
it suspended from string. Never put out salty bacon.
Mild grated
cheese will be scoffed by robins, blackbirds, dunnocks, and song
thrushes while wrens will eat it if spread under hedges.
Potatoes also
go down well. Open up uneaten baked potatoes, leave them to cool
and put on the birdtable or the ground. Roast and mashed potato
leftovers can also be offered, cold.
Raisins, sultanas,
and currants will be welcomed by blackbirds, song thrushes and robins.
If you don’t
have a fruit tree in your garden, supply some. Even bruised or partly
rotten apples, pears and other fruits will be attractive to thrushes,
tits and starlings.
BEWARE!
Surplus food items left around the garden for some time should be
cleared up. They may attract unwelcome rodent visitors. |
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