Once autumn is just around the corner, winter is not far behind. Now it is time to think about the animals in nature. Winter bird feeding is not only fun for us, but children also enjoy it. Now you can observe the animals very well and watch them eat.
What should you definitely not feed them?
Many people mean well and give the animals leftovers from the kitchen. You can see people at ponds and lakes feeding ducks with old bread scraps. However, these food scraps are for the animals absolutely unsuitable The salt contained in our food is harmful to birds and ducks. In general, old bread is too high in carbohydrates and can be fatal for the animals in the long run.
Better: use the range of products offered in stores for the animals. Whether loose feed or fat balls – you can't go wrong here and are certainly on the safe side.
What should the bird feeding station look like?
In many front gardens, you can already see the classic birdhouses. These are of course offered in retail in various variations, but according to the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU), they are less suitable. But why?
Due to the design, the animals naturally soil these miniature houses and thus also defecate on the food. They then naturally ingest this food again. Result: the animals get sick. Much better, however, are the feeding columns or silos. There, the birds can reach the food via a funnel and thus receive as much food as is necessary. In addition, the bird food remains protected from the weather, does not get wet, and cannot come into contact with the animals' excrement.
Tip: the birdhouse should not be attached directly to the window or the house wall. It is better to position the feeding station free-standing. The birds are very skittish and should not be disturbed while feeding.
Do the animals need our support?
In winter, nature sleeps – this also represents a rather meager menu for animals in the wild. To support local winter birds, one should make their lives easier, because many animals cannot survive without us humans. Especially on frosty and icy nights, the birds need a good layer of fat and energy to be able to maintain their metabolism and body temperature.
When should you start feeding?
Native birds should really only be fed in winter. In mild weather, the animals can manage on their own and do not need human help. However, if the days and nights become increasingly colder and frostier, feeding is appropriate.
Ideally, early morning and early evening are considered ideal feeding times. In the morning, the birds are particularly hungry after the long night, and in the evening, they need a boost for the long night ahead.
Also, be sure to clean the feeding area regularly. If there is a lot of droppings at the feeding station and on the food, germs and pathogens can spread lightning-fast and make healthy birds sick. These pathogens can also trigger lightning-fast epidemics among the birds. So, throw away food scraps regularly and offer the animals a clean feeding place.
Read also: Designing a Koi garden
Image by Janine, meinhaushalt.at
