#54 Feeding Garden Birds with the BTO's Claire Boothby

I talk to Claire Boothby, from the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), about feeding garden birds, feeder hygiene and the BTO Garden Birdwatch. (Bird feeding tips below)

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LINKS

BTO Garden Bird Watch

Link to www.bto.org/gbw

 

Great tips from the Audubon society:

https://www.audubon.org/news/bird-feeding-tips

 

 RSPB Garden Birdwatch

https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/birdwatch/

 

Report to

www.Gardenwildlifehealth.org

For all types of disease in garden wildlife, birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians

 

Contributions in this episode from:

Kate from Pups n PopCulture podcast

http://www.pupsnpopculture.com/

 

Susan from The Dead Ladies Show podcast

https://deadladiesshow.com/podcast/

 

The theme music is Short Sleeved Shirt by The Drones. Thanks to them for letting me use it. Check out their website at www.dronesmusic.net

 

 

Additional material - Tips on feeding garden birds.

Foods to Avoid:

NO fat from cooking meat because it can be salty and will decay quickly

NO Soft fats, ones that are soft at room temperature - can interfere with plumage

NO Bread - it is nutritional poor

NO Mouldy seeds

If peanuts aren’t being eaten, check they haven’t gone mouldy. Only put out what will be eaten over a few days

 

Foods to try:

Apples - good for Thrushes

Sunflower hearts - favourite with Goldfinches

Fats, suet blocks, fat balls - Blackcaps, Tits, Woodpeckers (Remember: remove netting from fat balls, as birds can get caught in it)

Grated mild cheese is good for Robins

 

Homemade fat cake treat from the RSPB:

 - Take a block of hard fat like store-bought lard or suet, 

 - mix in birdseed, raisins and unsalted nuts

 - press the mixture around a pine cone. 

 - Hang it from a tree with string and you have a food source that will appeal to the acrobatic tit family. 

 - Or place one on a mesh ground feeder tray and allow the Blackbirds, Robins and Dunnocks to also enjoy your creation!

 

Hygiene:

Clean feeders regularly. If there are a lot of birds visiting, clean them more frequently

Use mild disinfectant and rinse, and leave to air dry

Have smaller feeders at different locations, and rotate feeding stations so contaminants aren’t building up at the base of the feeder. 

Provide fresh water every day (even through the winter ) and clean out bird baths regularly

Only put out enough food that will be eaten in 2-3 days

 

Sick birds

If you find birds displaying the following symptoms:

 - Lethargic, being fluffed up, difficulty swallowing, messy faces

 - Look obviously ill 

 

Report them to

www.Gardenwildlifehealth.org

For all types of disease in garden wildlife, birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians 

 

Take food away and don’t feed for a couple of weeks, to encourage birds to disperse.

Give all feeders a thorough clean

Further tips can be found on the BTO website at https://www.bto.org/