Gardeners are being urged to scatter rice on bird tables this November in a bid to help ailing birds out during scarce winter months where food becomes harder to come by.
The next few months are the toughest time of year for species which don’t fly south for the winter, like robins, as gardens slowly empty out of insects and berries that would normally help keep them fed.
Even during summer, many bird species are under threat thanks to habitat loss, reductions in food such as the drop in insect numbers, as well as climate change and pollution. That’s why gardeners are being urged to do what they can to help birds out by providing food for them all year round, whether summer or winter. But you don’t necessarily need to buy posh bird seeds from garden centres.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds says that pastry, cooked rice and breadcrumbs can all be used to feed birds occasionally, alongside other items like apples, pears, and seeds and nuts.
The RSPB says: “When buying bird food, try to get a good mix of seed, peanuts, suet and mealworms.
“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.”
Of course it’s important to cook the rice first, as uncooked rice can cause digestive issues in birds, which is one of the reasons throwing rice at weddings fell out of popularity. So always use cooked rice, never raw.
You also need to clean your bird table regularly and clean up any uneaten food.
Whatever you leave out, be sure to clear away any uneaten food at the end of the day, and clean any bird table regularly.
This is because the RSPB last year pulled flat bird tables from sale while it investigates the possible spread of disease it says could be caused by flat tables, due to food being left out exposed to the elements.
It recommends cleaning bird tables, as well as nesting boxes, regularly and removing any uneaten food.
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