Britain is bracing itself for its third heatwave of the year this week, with mercury levels expected to soar beyond 30C across parts of the nation once more.
But research has revealed that when arid periods such as those experienced during summer become just 1C warmer, birds’ annual survival prospects plummet by approximately 63% on average.
Lucy Taylor, garden wildlife specialist at Vine House Farm Bird Foods, has revealed how homeowners can assist feathered friends during these scorching and parched conditions this summer.
She explained: “The main food that most garden birds need at this time of year is invertebrates, including caterpillars, flying insects, earthworms and snails. Even species like the house sparrow that feed on seeds for much of the year will partly switch to invertebrates during the breeding season because the protein and moisture they contain are what their chicks need to grow and survive.
“Prolonged dry weather can make this food much harder to find, with earthworms, for example, staying well below the ground surface and therefore not being accessible to species like blackbirds and robins.
“The lack of rain also means a lack of drinking and bathing water for birds, with many in more urban areas often relying on a simple puddle to drink from and bathe in. But there’s plenty we can all do to help our garden birds get through the current dry spell.”
Protecting garden birds during a heatwave
Treat your feathered friends to live mealworms: “Mealworms are the larvae of a species of beetle, and are produced commercially in very large quantities. They can be purchased online and aren’t too expensive, but even if you only purchase a small quantity, the benefit to your garden birds is huge because live mealworms are packed with protein and have a very high moisture content, which the young in the nest need to stop them becoming dehydrated.”
Ensure other snacks are moist enough: “Dried mealworms are a rather poor alternative to live, but if they are used, then they must be first soaked in cold water for a few hours before putting them out. Sultanas are another food which is good for some species of garden bird, but again, it’s essential they’re first soaked in water.”
Maintain full and pristine bird baths – consider an extra one: “Access to clean water can be a lifesaver for birds when there’s no natural source of water close by, but dirty water in bird baths is a real hazard as it can cause and spread disease in birds. So keep the bird bath clean and full with fresh water throughout the day.
“The other thing you can do is add a further source of clean water in your garden, which can be any sort of shallow dish or tray – e.g. the sort that goes under a plant pot.”
Offer wet mud for house martins and swallows: “If you have house martins or swallows or they’re close-by in a neighbouring property, then you can help their nest-building efforts by providing a tray of wet mud, which is what both species use as their main material.
“Both species can have a second or even third brood, so although it’s now late in the breeding season, there’s still time to help them.”
Think about making your garden more wildlife friendly: “Thinking more medium and long-term, the change we now see in our weather patterns, which has resulted in more extremes of dry and wet conditions at different times of the year, can be a prompt to consider the sort of gardens we have.
“Many people have already switched to wildlife-focused gardens, with the benefit being that birds and other wildlife are far better able to withstand extremes of weather. So I would urge anyone who’s yet to make the change, to research more and put a plan into action – even if it’s just a corner of a garden which has wildlife in mind.”