The beauty of chili powder is that while it’s a tasty spice for humans, it’s a natural deterrent for animals, and this will help the birds in your garden eat as there will be less competition for food
You can help the birds in your garden by following a simple tip(Image: undefined via Getty Images)
Gardeners are being urged to sprinkle a bit of spice in their gardens this June, and it’s all for a noble cause. While it might sound odd, chilli powder can effectively keep food meant for birds from being pilfered by other critters, especially as summer begins and our winged friends still face a tough time finding food.
The bird populations across the globe are struggling to find enough to eat, with a shocking 60 per cent drop in insect numbers over the last two decades—attributed to habitat destruction and climate change—impacting the entire food chain.
With insects scarce, birds are increasingly at risk of going hungry, which is particularly concerning during springtime when they need to nourish their chicks. This has led to calls for gardeners to step up and provide bird food.
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Peckish, a bird food company, stresses the critical need for birds to have access to sustenance in June, describing it as a ‘frantic’ period for avian parents feeding themselves and their young.
Chilli powder will help birds(Image: Getty Images)
The company notes: “We are still in the busiest part of the breeding season during June, and while birds won’t be feeding their chicks from bird feeders, they may use them to feed themselves during this frantic time.”
“Blue tit and great tit chicks will be the most obvious young birds at this time of year, with their noisy begging from tree tops, reports the Mirror.
“You may also see dunnocks, robins and blackbirds nesting again, as they will often attempt a second brood. For this they will need plenty of invertebrates for their chicks, leaving lawn unmown and hedges unclipped will help with this by making sure the insects have a place to live.”
However, one major issue with leaving bird food out is that other creatures – such as grey squirrels – will try to nick it, reports the Express.
This is where the chilli powder comes into play. If you have a birdbath or bird table, or something which you leave bird food on for the birds (and if you don’t have one, consider getting one), then you can leave a mix of chopped peanuts, seeds, mealworms and slices of fruit like apples out for birds to munch on.
Bruised apples and pears are really appealing to birds, and household scraps like pastry, cooked rice and breadcrumbs can be used too – although you should avoid using too much of these, according to the RSPB.
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But sprinkle all of it with a dusting of chilli powder or chilli flakes, and the birds will have the food all to themselves.
“That’s because birds aren’t at all affected by the spicy taste of chilli, whereas squirrels and foxes can’t stand it. That way, all of the food is left for the peckish birds. The RSPB advises: “When buying bird food, try to get a good mix of peanuts, seeds and live food like mealworms and waxworms. ” “Fruit, especially bruised apples and pears, will be popular with thrushes and blackbirds.
Household scraps like pastry, cooked rice and breadcrumbs should only be offered in small amounts occasionally. “Strong chilli powder or pepper sauce (like Tabasco) can be shaken onto bird food.
“Birds aren’t bothered by the chilli, but most squirrels can’t put up with the burning sensation and will leave the food alone.”
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