Brits are making one big mistake when it comes to feeding birds (Image: Getty)
Gardeners are being warned about the food they provide for birds, as it could be doing more harm than good to these creatures. During this time of year, native British birds are more likely to visit gardens in search of food, after their food sources were depleted over the cold winter months.
Many gardeners opt to feed these birds to ensure their continued survival. However, Debi Klein, a gardener and cofounder of The Backyard Naturalist, has cautioned that you cannot feed birds bread or anything else stored in your kitchen cupboard. Debi said, “Please don’t give wild birds bread, crackers or other human snack foods.
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“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.”
It is a widespread myth that birds enjoy bread, as many people feed it to ducks when visiting rivers or ponds, but you should not feed it to any wild bird whatsoever.
Bread, crackers or any other human food loaded with carbohydrates contains plenty of calories, so it will fill a bird up, but it has no nutritional benefit for them.
Feeding birds bread can harm or even kill them (Image: Getty)
Feeding birds will make them feel satisfied but provides them with no energy, and since they have a rapid metabolism, they will become exhausted and grow cold despite not feeling hungry.
Feeding bread to birds is hazardous, as they require stored energy to maintain warmth during winter. If they fail to consume the correct food, they can perish 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.
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.
It is much better to feed birds fatty foods bought at a pet store like suet pellets or sunflower seeds (Image: Getty)
These foods provide birds with substantial 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 purchased 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 equally vital for birds at this time of year, so ensure you have a birdbath nearby, and your garden will remain a popular destination for these cautious creatures.
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