The RSPB has shared this hack ahead of the warmer summer months
Chilli powder can be beneficial when left in your garden(Image: Getty Images)
Gardeners are being encouraged to sprinkle chilli powder in their gardens this May for a particularly important reason. It may sound rather unusual, but the hack will help hungry birds as we head into the warmer summer months.
With nesting season reaching its peak, now is a significant time of year. Birds have struggled for a number of years, largely due to the loss of habitats and a growing scarcity of food.
Gardeners have reported spotting far fewer birds than usual, with the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch monitoring the decline in bird populations in people’s gardens over recent decades.
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The dramatic drop in insect numbers, down by as much as 80 per cent over the last 20 years due to habitat loss and climate change, is believed to be having knock-on effects throughout the food chain, as birds have considerably less to eat, placing them at serious risk of starvation.
That’s why UK households are being urged to do what they can to support birds by putting food out, particularly during the crucial nesting season.
However, one significant problem with leaving bird food out is that other animals such as squirrels will attempt to steal it. That’s precisely where the chilli powder comes in.
If you have a birdbath or bird feeder, you can leave out mealworms, suet, fat balls and slices of fruit such as apple for birds to enjoy.
Bruised apples and pears are particularly appealing to birds, and household leftovers such as pastry, cooked rice and breadcrumbs can also be used — though the RSPB advise against using too much of these, reports the Express.
Gardeners are being urged to put chilli powder in their gardens(Image: Alex Evans)
However, lacing all of it with chilli powder means the birds will have the food entirely to themselves. That’s because birds are completely unaffected by chilli powder, while squirrels and foxes cannot stand it – leaving all the food for the birds to enjoy.
The RSPB says: “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.”
That said, flat bird tables should no longer be used. The RSPB withdrew them from sale in 2024 amid concerns they were contributing to the spread of disease.
It’s also worth avoiding leaving out seeds or peanuts between 1 May and 31 October. The RSPB believes that seeds and nuts could be spreading disease that is killing birds, despite well-intentioned bird enthusiasts putting food out with the best of motives.
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