April, May and June are the most important months for UK garden birds during nesting season
April, May and June are the most important months for UK garden birds during nesting season(Image: Elva Etienne via Getty Images)
Gardeners are being encouraged to place egg shells on their bird tables this spring and summer in an effort to support garden birds.
April, May and June mark the most crucial period of the year for birds – their breeding and nesting season. This is when birds are rearing their chicks and require additional food, both for themselves and their offspring, to maximise their chances of survival – and many gardeners don’t realise that both eggs and egg shells can assist the birds.
This is particularly vital given that bird population figures have fallen in recent decades, with RSPB data from its Big Garden Bird Watch this year indicating that birds such as house sparrows particularly require assistance. The house sparrow is amongst the UK’s most widespread birds, yet its breeding populations have ‘declined drastically’ over the past 50 years, the RSPB has cautioned.
This is one reason why garden and wildlife specialists consistently encourage people to do whatever they can to support birds, with feeding being a crucial element of this, reports the Express.
However, few people are aware of how both eggs and egg shells can benefit birds throughout nesting season. According to specialists at Really Wild Bird Food, chopped, cooked eggs offer vital nutrients for birds – and even crushed egg shells can nourish them as well.
They said: “Kitchen scraps make an excellent addition to your usual choice of bird food. By putting out the right scraps, you are helping to reduce landfill waste, as well as providing the birds with additional essential fats and carbohydrates, which are especially important in the Winter and during nesting season.”
Gardeners are being urged to put egg shells on bird tables(Image: Alex Evans)
“Chopped, cooked eggs contain many essential nutrients for birds, and even the crushed egg shells will provide calcium for nesting birds, plus the grit helps their digestion.”
They added, about other kitchen scraps: “Stale cereal and oats are fine, just as long as they don’t have a high sugar or salt content and are not soaked in milk. Cooked oats can harden around a bird’s beak, so raw oats are preferred. Plain, cooked pasta and rice is a popular choice and a great source of carbohydrates. Just make sure that they are not coated in sauce or cheese.”
However, they emphasised that any uneaten food must be removed to prevent the risk of disease spreading, adding: “It is vitally important to clear away any uneaten food. Not only does it attract rats and other vermin, but it can spread bacteria, and birds will not touch food that is off.”
Get all the latest and breaking news in Yorkshire by signing up to our newsletter here.
Comments are closed.