Why We Need To Feed Wild Birds During Breeding Season

Spring this year being warmer than normal you would expect that the high insect levels would be enough to satisfy even the hungriest of breading wild birds. But slim pickings of wild bird food off the land mean breeding birds need all the help we can give if their young hatchlings are to survive.

Modern farming techniques coupled with increased use of pesticides has significantly reduced the insect levels here in the UK. It is our demand for the quantity and perfect looking fruit and vegetables that has contributed to this increase in pesticides and crop spraying.

Hotter weather, most of us welcome it, but these dry spells really do harden the ground making it difficult for the breeding wild birds such as tits and chaffinches to source food such as worms and grubs for their young.

Feeding Wild Birds is Rewarding.
A great deal of fun can be had from feeding wild birds at any time of the year, feeding wild birds during breeding season is also important. Warmer weather does mean you will need to keep on top of the hygiene, ensure the feeder and the bird table are cleaned regularly as the wild bird food will go off and whilst insects may be good for the birds not many people would want them infesting their gardens.
Not only is live bird food one of the best sources of protein for the hatchlings and mothers, choosing a live bird food makes for entertaining viewing, watching the food wriggle around and see the birds trying to pick it up, just remember to use a live bird food feeder or your bird food will wriggle away before the birds get a look in. Live foods such as mealworms are the popular choice of live bird food, made up of over 48% protein and 40% fat and have a high percentage of moisture which is vital for hatchlings and nestlings.

If you wish to help the wild birds in your area during breeding time but don’t fancy the idea of handling live mealworms, fear not modern technology comes to the rescue in the form of dried mealworms, these freeze dried mealworms offer the same levels of protein and fats but in a less messy package. A tip when using dried mealworms during breeding season would be to soak them in a little water to help the hatchlings digest them easier.

Wild Bird Feeding This Springtime

With this spring being milder than usual you might assume that the high insect levels would be enough to satisfy most wild birds appetites, but the hotter weather also hardens the ground and many wild birds who normally feed of worms such as tits and chaffinches will struggle to find food.

Springtime is also breeding time for wild birds so extra food will always help and can really make a difference to the survival rate of the young, just be mindful that hygiene is important, clean feeders and tables and that certain foods will not last long in the hot weather.

Foods to avoid feeding to wild birds during this time of year include such things as whole peanuts, due to the risks of choking young birds, an exception to this could be through the use of a caged feeder that won’t allow larger chunks of nut through the gaps in the mesh. Other foods to avoid should include bread as this could prove harmful if the older birds feed them to their young.

What can I feed Wild Birds Then?
Some adult wild birds will come and feed from your garden to satisfy their own needs whilst other parents will take the food you have put out back to their young so a plentiful supply of protein rich foods are much needed. Fat products are ideal as these provide the high energy proteins breeding birds require such as fat balls, suet blocks and suet pellets. Fat products also appeal to a wide variety of wild birds so putting these types of foods out in the garden should increase the diversity of wild birds visiting. New production techniques now unable a less messy option in what’s known as Less Mess Suet Blocks, these are ideal as they don’t melt or get sticky in the hotter weather but are still as tasty and appeal to the wild birds.

Live foods such as insects are one of the best sources of protein for wild birds that are breeding, live foods such as mealworms are possibly the most popular live bird food.

Many species go mad for mealworms including robins, blackbirds, sparrows and tits. Mealworms are ideal for feeding in gardens and are made up of over 48% protein and 40% fat and have a high percentage of moisture which is vital for nestlings. Just remember to use special live bird food feeders otherwise your bird food will wriggle away before the birds get chance to eat them.

Don’t like the idea of handling live mealworms but still want to help the wild birds during the springtime then consider using dried mealworms, freeze dried but still containing all the same levels of proteins and fats but much easier to deal with, although during breeding season it would be better to soak in a little water to aid with digestion of nestling birds.