1:20pm Thursday 24th December 2009
By Ann Janes
Why is it that snow and really cold weather always come as such a surprise to us? It happens often enough, not usually as early as this, but at sometime during the period from December to the end of February we will have snow and ice. The last few days have been awful, particularly for travellers. We all ask how can high-tech trains like Eurostar just stop working, leaving people stranded for hours in distressing conditions?
But however uncomfortable the cold makes us take time to think what it is like for our native wildlife. Obviously food supplies dwindle as the cold weather sets in, just when the needs of the birds who share our gardens are at their greatest.
We probably notice the birds that visit us more than other more secretive wildlife and as the trees shed their leaves we can see them much more clearly. With the shortage of food birds tend to become bolder and we are better able to view their antics. For us these can be very entertaining but to them it can be a matter of life and death to successfully find food.
It is important for us all to help, but if you feel you can make a commitment this has to be for the duration of the winter. Birds are tiny fragile creatures and use a great deal of their limited energy supply searching for the nourishment they so desperately need. If you only put out food on an occasional basis they will waste some of their precious reserves on the days you don’t top up their supplies.
Having made your commitment what are the best foods to put out? Try to offer a fairly wide selection of different foods and be generous with high energy foods such as nuts, bread, bacon rind, fats and cheese as well as fruit. I heard a request from the RSPB asking that we don’t put out fat drained from around the turkey because of a risk of salmonella. It also helps to provide a suitable place for the birds to feed. Local garden centres have many really attractive designs to choose from or you could have a go at making one. A sloping roof is a good idea as it helps to keep the food dry. Bigger birds will always try to chase off smaller ones so try fitting chicken wire round the feeding surface. This allows the smaller ones to feed undisturbed and also help to deter cats. Water is as important as food. Fill a shallow dish every day and check that it hasn’t frozen over.
It isn’t all one sided, birds are a great help in eating loads of pests when we can once again enjoy the warmer weather.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.stalbansreview.co.uk/trade_directory/