1 day Ago By Alex Evans
With spring in full swing and the warmer weather finally returning, gardeners are trying to do what they can to help nesting birds provide for their young. Spring is the pivotal time of year for many songbirds like robins, finches and blackbirds, threatened with diminishing population numbers thanks to climate change and the loss of food sources. But although leaving food out on bird tables and bird feeders is a good thing to do to help birds thrive, you could land yourself in legal trouble if you make a mistake with bird food that causes them harm.
Neil McKenzie, a garden expert from Halton Stairlifts, warned that there are several foods which could actually cause birds to become ill or even die. He said: “It's easy to assume birds can eat the same things we do, but the truth is, a lot of it just isn’t safe for them. “We’ve all done it – thrown out some leftover bread or scraps thinking it’s a treat, but in many cases, it’s the opposite.
” He went on to warn gardeners not to leave out several foods that are commonly mistaken as being safe for birds. This includes bread, which actually fills birds up without providing any important nutrition. Then, potatoes if they have added salt or fat.
The extra salt can damage a bird’s digestive systems, as can fat from roasting trays which can coat a bird’s feathers and ruin their ability to stay waterproof. Finally, salty and processed foods could also harm birds because birds cannot tolerate salt like people can, and it could end up killing them. If someone reported you for harming birds as a result, you could even end up with a fine.
Neil added: “The advice isn’t just about protecting wildlife. Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, anyone who harms wild birds – even by accident – could face fines of up to £5,000 or a prison sentence of up to six months.” Instead, gardeners can leave out several safe foods, including unsalted bird seed mixes, sunflower seeds, Nyjer seeds, fresh fruit like apple slices, mealworms or oats and cooked rice.
Neil adds, “If you’re unsure, it’s always best to stick to proper bird feed from a trusted supplier. A small change in what you put out can make a big difference to local wildlife.”.
