Late autumn is the best time to start feeding birds
Eurasian blue tit. Photo by Cezary Korkosz
Late autumn is the best time to start feeding birds, according to the spokeswoman for the National Society for the Protection of Birds (Ogólnopolskie Towarzystwo Ochrony Ptaków, OTOP). He reminds, however: if the birds get used to being fed, you should make sure that the feed is always available at the feeding site, especially during severe frosts and snows.
If we start feeding in late autumn, the birds get used to the place where they will find something to eat during the more difficult winter period. Initially, we should leave small amount of feed, because before the advent of cold weather and snow birds will find natural food themselves and, if necessary, move over greater distances in search for food.
"We should provide food as close as possible to natural birds’ diet, taking into account the needs of individual species" - encouraged the OTOP spokeswoman Katarzyna Groblewska.
The birds visiting the feeders like seeds, particularly sunflower seeds - both hulled and unhulled. Sunflower amateurs include tits, greenfinch, sparrow and tree sparrow, nuthatch, siskin, howfinch and yellowhammer. Cereal seeds, including millet, oats and wheat, are readily eaten by pigeons and collared doves. Sparrow and tree sparrow are also willing to help themselves to millet.
Tits, nuthatches and woodpeckers, as well as corvids are eager to eat pork fat. We should remember that it should not be salted. Salt is very harmful to the birds. It is also important to regularly, about every two weeks, replace it with fresh portion. When temperatures are above 0 deg., it is better to limit or completely abandon feeding with pork fat, which can become rancid and endanger the health of the birds.
Tits and woodpeckers also like unsalted nuts, especially hazelnuts. Sliced apples and raisins will be a treat for thrush: blackbird and fieldfare. Cooked vegetables cut into small cubes are good feed for aquatic birds, especially swans.
"Remember that bread can be given only as a supplementary food. It should be cut into small pieces, it can not be wet or mouldy. Do not leave too much of it, because it spoils quickly, which favours the development of pathogenic organisms. Birds that feed on bread only - especially waterfowl wintering in urban parks or passing through the city sections of rivers - are susceptible to serious gastrointestinal problems that reduce resistance to disease" - explained Groblewska.
When there is snow, it is more difficult for birds to independently acquire food. And in winter their energy demand is higher than during the rest of the year - noted the OTOP spokeswoman.
Feeding should gradually cease in early spring to encourage birds to independently search for food. Many species will change their diet from plant to animal and begin to feed on insects.
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