Feeding the Birds - Advice from Bill

Should Birdwatchers feed the Birds?

The answer is of course "yes"; but I am constantly amazed and disappointed that many of them don't.  It is almost as if some "serious" birdwatchers - "twitchers" even - think that bird feeding is sort of beneath them. A bit soppy perhaps. Well, I reckon they should have their binoculars confiscated! The fact is that bird feeding is making a great contribution to the welfare of birds. Arguably gardens are one of the few habitats where birds can and do flourish these days.

To put it simply, anyone who enjoys watching birds "should“ contribute to their welfare, and feeding is one of the most practical and important ways to do that. So if you don't: do start now. Please!

Real Birdwatching

I sometimes wonder how many people who call themselves birdwatchers actually "watch“ the birds they see. They "tick them off", yes, but do they really study their behaviour, their displays, their breeding routines, or indeed their feeding habits? The truth is that there are hundreds  - no, millions - of people who would not call themselves real birdwatchers but who probably know more about the habits of some species than many of the so called experts. There are few better places to study bird behaviour than in your garden or backyard. Most people who put up feeders and nest boxes would admit that they also spend ages gazing out of the window. They see the tits, finches, robins and so on, and they become involved in their daily and yearly lives. Well, "that's“ what I call bird watching!

Keep it Simple!

Never has there been quite such a massive selection of seeds and feeders on the market. It's great, but it may also be a bit bewildering. If you are just starting bird feeding - and especially if your budget is limited - then you may be feeling a little overwhelmed. My advice is to keep it simple, but try to afford the best. I would recommend a good basic seed mix (Premium Wild Bird Food from Haith's), peanuts (guaranteed safe) and feeders for both. It is the feeders that are worth spending that bit extra on. Yes, the heavy duty metal ones ’are“ more expensive, but they will last a very long time. Plastic and wood are fine if you have no grey squirrels, but if you do (and they may appear as soon as you put up feeders!) I'm afraid they will very soon nibble their way through (and they are partial to seed almost as much as peanuts). It is simple mathematics that one long lasting feeder actually costs less than having to keep replacing cheaper ones.