Jon Avon - January 2010

Feeding birds is essential to their survival as the ongoing cold weather continues. Please do you what you can while the freeze continues.

The 2009 / 2010 winter is proving to be particularly harsh one across the UK and Devon is no exception. Many birds may well have migrated south to avoid the cold weather but many birds are now at risk including resident birds, and many species arriving in Devon having been forced south by the arctic conditions.

Many cold weather movements have occurred recently and unusual numbers of lapwings, fieldfare, redwings, song thrushes, skylarks and meadow pipits are among those species on the move.

In South Devon, meadow pipits have been noted in back gardens as well as dozens of wintering thrushes and finches - all dropping in in search of food and water.

However, frozen ground and shortage of food now a harsh reality for wild birds.

You can help many birds survive this winter by providing both water and food on a regular basis: Here are some tips:

Fresh water.

Most fresh water lakes and water bodies are now frozen over and other sources of water such as streams and ditches are all becoming frozen too. Water is becoming very scarce and it is also very difficult to provide and maintain water before it freezes.

If you can provide water, do so on a regular basis and in a regular spot.

• Find a sheltered spot out of the chilling winds and slightly under cover e.g. under a garden bench, table, wall or hedge.
• Find a sunny spot where the sun will help prevent it freezing for a few hours.
• Take the water container in at night and place new water out in the mornings and check it and change it as regularly as possible.

Bird food.

Bird food can be obtained easily from shops, supermarkets, feed merchants or specialist bird seed suppliers. Many birds will change their diet and eat whatever is available in order to survive the cold weather.

Bird feed can vary but it can largely be categorised into the following types.

Grain & seed.

Black sunflower, sunflower hearts, wheat, millet, oil seed, canary seed, kibbled wheat, rolled oats, niger seed and peanuts.

Fruit.

Apples, pears, sultanas and raisons.

Miscellaneous bird food.

Meal worms, fat balls, beef or lamb suet, suet cake, bread crumbs, bacon rind, chicken carcase, grated cheese, cooked rice, fruitcake.

Where and how to feed birds.

Because of the extreme weather, birds will feed anywhere where they can find a source of food. So availability is the priority here as opposed to where to find it and when and how to provide it.

Some tips for feeding.

Bird feeders are an ideal way to feed birds as they can be placed high off the ground in a regular spot and topped up regularly. The feeders protect the seed and they enable birds to take food safely and regularly. Ensure feeders or bird table or food is positioned out of the icy winds - even better in the sun.

Bird tables also keep food off the ground and are easily topped up with feed.

Ground feeding is where the majority of birds will be feeding naturally and especially in these harsh conditions. There is a risk from cats and other predators, so ground feeding needs to be encouraged where it is relatively safe.

In these severe conditions:

• Use moveable shallow containers to hold the feed. The advantage of these is they can be brought indoors and stored overnight to avoid the food freezing.
• If food is scattered on the ground then use something to cover the area overnight. A thick piece of cardboard or cardboard box, a flat piece of timber, a piece of old carpet, or an old towel can be placed over the feed at night. This will become frosted and will protect the feed underneath. If snow is likely then when it snows an area of bare ground is available for food to be supplied after the snow has stopped.
• Apples are scarce at present and well worth providing if you can. Fieldfares, redwings, song thrushes and blackbirds are dropping into gardens daily and will soon discover and feed on any apples on the ground. Many of these species are very thin and in poor condition so are particularly in need of some additional food.

Do you have any feeding suggestions?

Here are two suggestions from members:

• Starlings like a lard / porridge oats mix - melt some lard in a bowl and mix in some porridge oats, press down and allow to set in a bowl or silver foil. Place it on a bird table or shed roof.
• Fieldfares and song thrushes have taken to feeding on Tesco value apples (65p a bag) within hours of being put out on the lawn in a garden in Kingsteignton.

Garden bird feeding is a practical way to help conserve birds this winter - please help if you can.