*URGENT* Frozen Bird Alert! (General Garden)

Member Name: Aspen

Product:	General Garden
Date:	25/12/00 (85 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: They need you

Disadvantages: A little bit of work, but it's worth it

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UPDATE

It's January, and I'm writing this in the frozen north :(

Okay, it's not actually frozen here right now, but at this time of year, it could well be minus 10 tomorrow.

Birds don't like sub zero temperatures any more than you or I, and worse than that, they can't come inside and warm their little cockles by the central heating. Or should I say, cosy peat fire (thinking of my image!)

Our feathered friends are pretty well adapted to cope with the cold, but even so, a hard winter takes its toll.

However, I'm taking a long time to get to the point. (Nothing new there, then, you may say.)

The point is water.

Frozen water, AKA ice. Everywhere, and not a drop to drink.

Birds can survive days without food, but very little time without water. And we all forget that, don't we? We crunch over the frozen grass, chip the ice off the bird table, and scatter some tasty snacks.

Great, say our finches and robins, but we can't drink ice.

So if all around you is frozen, put a shallow dish of water on the birdtable, or on the ground nearby, or preferably both. And change it when it freezes.

This is even more important than food. Lives are in your hands. Don't let them down.

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Spring is sprung, the grass is riz
I wonder where the birdies is?

If they’re not it your garden, it may be because they’ve found richer pickings elsewhere. Or it may be that there are simply less birds to go round these days. Believe it. Many of our once common garden birds are in decline. We gardeners can do a great deal to help our feathered friends through the cold, hungry days of winter.

(Sorry, did I say Spring has Sprung? Just trying to be ahead of the game!)

November is the most important month to start feeding, when nature’s autumn harvest is beginning to wear thin. Bu
t if you start (and I hope you will), you must continue until at least April, when they tend to disperse to their favourite breeding grounds. Meantime, they have become dependant on you. Don’t let them down.

However, it is now generally recognised that feeding beyond April is important, and indeed there is much evidence to support year round feeding. Supplementary food in the breeding season can sometimes prove vital.

Traditionally, birdfood has been scraps and wasteproducts. But more recent research has shown just how harmful this can be. Some products sold were (and still are if you buy the cheap stuff) toxic to birds. Our feeding must emulate nature as closely as possible – ie natural products without chemicals which are already doing so much harm to our native bird population.

When feeding, in practical terms, remember that there are two distinct feeding types. Clinging feeders (Tits and Finches, for example), and ground feeders like Thrushes, Blackbirds and Robins. Obviously, then, you need to provide for both – by scattering food on the ground, and providing hanging feeders for the “clingers”.

A compromise is the old traditional bird table, which offers a platform for ground feeders (above cat height, which is an advantage!), but is also accessible by virtue of height, to clingers. A useful point to remember, though, is to site your bird table, or your hanging feeders, in an open location, not within the spread of shrubs or trees. Birds will feed more happily in an open location, where they can keep one eye out for predators.

There is such a wealth of information and advice on this subject, I could write a book. But I’ll resist the temptation, and instead suggest you visit these two websites.

The RSPB (obviously) offers a wealth of information, not only on garden bird feeding, but on birds in general. Go to www.rspb.org.uk.

And if you want to buy good quality bi
rd food online, and also get some great information on the subject, visit C.J Wild Bird Foods, at www.birdfood.co.uk.

It’s a sad state of affairs, but please remember that our natural bird population now depends on unnatural assistance (you and me) for its survival. Think about that. Please.

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