Snow food for the birds

WITH freezing temperatures set to continue Birdwatch Ireland is asking people to remember to feed garden birds.

As temperatures are average below freezing many birds are struggling to access the food they need to survive. With their natural food sources buried deep beneath ice and snow, wild birds need help if they are to make it through the winter season.

Hungry birds feeding in the snow at Aylesbury

According to Pat Durkin of Birdwatch Ireland there are many common larder items that can be fed to birds. "Tits such as Longtail, Coal, Blue or Great love fat balls made of suet. They also love cheese," he  explained.

"Other birds love seed mixes or sunflower seeds and these can be picked up in most supermarkets," he said.

Many birds also enjoy eating nuts but Pat warned that people should not leave them out whole as birds can choke on them. "It's better to put them in a net or feeder so birds can pick at them," he said.

Ground eating birds such as thrushes and blackbirds enjoy apples, grapes, melon, pinneapple or raisins that have been soaked in water.

Many species of bird will also eat porridge, cooked potatoes, chips, rinds from rashers, drippings from a pan or flaked meal or bread that has been moistened.

"It is very important that people do not give them polyunsaturated fat from dairy spreads," warned Pat. "That could do more damage than good."

It is also a good idea to leave out a little food at a time and to put it at a slight height so as not to attract vermin.

"Water is also another thing that birds are having difficulty finding at the moment," said Pat. "If you leave some out in late morning and early afternoon and empty the container at night then it shouldn't freeze over."

A handy tip to prevent starlings keeping balls of fat or cheese to themselves is to thread the wire from bird feeders through the middle of an old CD. "Starlings tend to cling on and let no-one else near them so if you slip the wire through a CD they can't get a grip and they will get annoyed and leave it altogether," he said.

Birds to look out for in the garden include many that have flown in from Northern Europe, Scandanavia and even Iceland. Keep an eye out for the Fieldfare ( a large thrush), the Redwing (a red mark under the wing and a white mark over the eye), the Goldcrest (the smallest bird in Europe and has a yellow stripe on top of the head), the Waxwing (crest on top of head and red spot on each wing), the Lapwing, the Curlew, the Golden Plover, the Little Egret and of course the Robin.

For more details on garden birds log onto www.birdwatchireland.ie

Robin