Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Feeding our feathered friends
As the chill winds blow across Harringay, you may have noticed a lot more frantic bird activity in the neighbourhood as the hunt for food begins. This morning in my garden, a bunch of teenage starlings are raiding the mealworm balls and the blue and great tits are nabbing peanuts every few seconds.
The RSPB offer some good advice for feeding the local bird population including:
1. Put out feed regularly, especially in severe weather. Set up a bird table and use high calorie seed mixes. This can also be used to put out kitchen scraps such as grated cheese, pastry and porridge oats.
2. Put out hanging feeders with black sunflower seeds, sunflower hearts, sunflower-rich mixes or unsalted peanuts.
3. Ensure a supply of fresh water every day. If it is very cold use tepid water but DO NOT use any antifreeze products.
4. Put out fruit, such as apples and pears, for blackbirds, song thrushes and other members of the thrush family.
5. Birdfood bars or fat hung up or rubbed into the bark of trees is a great help for treecreepers, goldcrests and many other species. (if I saw a treecreeper in my garden, I think I'd faint)
6. Put up nest boxes to provide roost sites for the smaller birds. They will then be used for breeding later in the year.
Also raid your green scraps box for leftovers, including grated cheese, porridge oats, soft fruit, unsalted bacon, cooked rice, pasta and the insides of cooked potatoes which are also good sources of energy for garden birds.
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The RSPB offer some good advice for feeding the local bird population including:
1. Put out feed regularly, especially in severe weather. Set up a bird table and use high calorie seed mixes. This can also be used to put out kitchen scraps such as grated cheese, pastry and porridge oats.
2. Put out hanging feeders with black sunflower seeds, sunflower hearts, sunflower-rich mixes or unsalted peanuts.
3. Ensure a supply of fresh water every day. If it is very cold use tepid water but DO NOT use any antifreeze products.
4. Put out fruit, such as apples and pears, for blackbirds, song thrushes and other members of the thrush family.
5. Birdfood bars or fat hung up or rubbed into the bark of trees is a great help for treecreepers, goldcrests and many other species. (if I saw a treecreeper in my garden, I think I'd faint)
6. Put up nest boxes to provide roost sites for the smaller birds. They will then be used for breeding later in the year.
Also raid your green scraps box for leftovers, including grated cheese, porridge oats, soft fruit, unsalted bacon, cooked rice, pasta and the insides of cooked potatoes which are also good sources of energy for garden birds.
Read more
Tags for Forum Posts: birds
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by pamish on
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(if I saw a treecreeper in my garden, I think I'd faint)
that would be Clive on his way back from the car wash.
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Permalink Reply by Alison P on
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Anyone cracked the scavenger squirrel problem? Was wondering if they (squirrels) would be put off it we put out seeds vs peanuts - anyone know?
(Pamish, lol!).
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Permalink Reply by Liz on
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Yes Pam, let's hope Clive doesn't get giddy over all this talk of great and blue tits or even Robin Redbreasts and start sharing more of his photo links.
I have two squirrels that visit reguarly and one has destroyed one of the plastic feeders I bought (so avoid plastic). I found this article on how to squirrel proof your feeders and have so far taken their advice about putting the feeders on a wire. This does seem to deter them from attacking the feeders (for now). I haven't yet sprinkled the feed with chilli but it might have to be an option.
On the other hand, the kids think the squirrels are great and I get into trouble for rushing out and trying to thwack them with tea towels.
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