Birds are more likely to come into a garden in February as there is hardly any food for them to forage in late winter (Image: Getty)
Gardeners are being cautioned about what food they are leaving out for birds, as they might be doing more harm than good for these critters. February is when local British birds are more likely to go into gardens, as their natural food sources like berries are mostly gone, and the soil is too frozen for them to forage for insects. It is really kind to take the time to feed birds like robins, sparrows or woodpeckers, as if they do not get enough energy at this time of year, it is easy for them to freeze to death.
However, Debi Klein, a gardener and cofounder of The Backyard Naturalist, has warned that you cannot feed birds bread or anything else sitting in your kitchen cupboard. Debi said: “Please don’t give wild birds bread, crackers or other human snack foods. Bread has no nutritional value for wild birds. In fact, bread, crackers, chips and other human snacks are, in some ways, WORSE than feeding birds absolutely nothing.”
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Feeding birds bread can harm or even kill them at this time of year (Image: Getty)
It is a common myth that birds like bread, as many people feed it to ducks when visiting rivers or ponds, but you should not feed it to any wild bird at all.
Bread, crackers or any other human food filled with carbohydrates contains a lot of calories, so it will fill a bird up, but it has no nutritional value for them.
Feeding birds will make them feel full but provides them with no energy, and since they have a fast-acting metabolism, they will tire out and become cold despite not feeling hungry.
Eating bread is dangerous for birds, as they need to store energy to keep warm in winter. If they do not eat the right food, they can die overnight from the cold at this time of year.
You should also avoid feeding birds any other human food, as they cannot digest salt at all, and anything salty will greatly damage their kidneys.
It is much better to feed birds fatty foods bought at a pet store like suet pellets or sunflower seeds (Image: Getty)
If you want to help birds survive, it is best to put out fatty foods made for birds, such as fat balls, suet pellets, and sunflower seeds.
These foods give birds lots of energy and can even save their lives on frosty mornings if they have not eaten since the day before.
Many common birds, such as robins, finches, and woodpeckers, enjoy peanuts, but these should only be bought from a pet shop so they are unsalted and safe.
If you want to feed birds, offer soft fruit like apple or pear pieces, or raisins or sultanas. However, soak hard foods like raisins or sultanas in water first to prevent them from becoming choking hazards for the birds.
Water is also just as important for birds at this time of year, so make sure to have a birdbath nearby, and your garden will stay a popular spot for these cautious critters.
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