Feeding birds while out and about

Soupdragon · #1 (**permalink**) 06-02-2009, 10:18 PM

I have been wondering about feeding birds in the wild (as well as in gardens). We don't have many birds visiting our little garden, so I have been taking some food to put on fence posts and crannies in high walls in nearby farmland and woods. A good idea, or not?

sunnydale · #2 (**permalink**) 06-02-2009, 10:21 PM

I don't see the harm, especially not in this weather. The birds need all the help they can get

ron1863 · #3 (**permalink**) 06-02-2009, 10:28 PM

Agreed, at least you are helping the birds through the cold spell

galanthus · #4 (**permalink**) 06-02-2009, 10:40 PM

Yep they certainly could do with a little help at the mo, it's such a cold snap for them

I saw an old lady doing the same today on our nearby reserve, I was really pleased she was putting wild bird seed out and smiled at her, however, a few hundred metres on she'd run out and was putting dry white bread on all the posts

I pushed most of it off and meant to kindly mention seed was better until she got into conversation with someone she knew, didn't like to interrupt then.

Blackbrook Eye · #5 (**permalink**) 06-02-2009, 10:41 PM

Following what I thought to be a great suggestion on a post in the forum some weeks ago, my bean bag is now filled with bird seed and I regularly share a little of this with the country birds while out with my camera, it is surprising how quickly it attracts them which is a bonus for me at the same time.

Keith

Soupdragon · #6 (**permalink**) 06-02-2009, 10:46 PM

Cool. I was unsure about the food maybe rotting if it gets wet and is left (or is covered in snow for a few days). We tend not to walk the same way from day to day, and take the odd day off, so food is always in different places.

There seem to be lots of song birds in other gardens cheekily singing at top volume as we go past

and my neighbour says she has a wide range of birds who all line up on her fence for her to feed them in the mornings.

I've been in half a mind to give her our bird feeders, as they don't seem to be emptying much.

Maybe I should hang the full feeders from trees in the wood!

Soupdragon · #7 (**permalink**) 06-02-2009, 10:56 PM

I saw someone with a professional looking camera using seed on a fence to attract birds at the Arboretum some weeks ago, Blackbrook Eye. They were flocking in! I wish I'd asked him which birdseed he was using now.

I don't use white bread, but sometimes some wholemeal toast, cut up small. (Is that alright?) We have RSPB mixed seed, niger (not really touched in the garden) suet fat and berry flavoured mealworms. We keep mostly fat & mealworms for the few garden visitors, as they are eating that up, as long as we keep the snow off it.

Blackbrook Eye · #8 (**permalink**) 06-02-2009, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soupdragon

I saw someone with a professional looking camera using seed on a fence to attract birds at the Arboretum some weeks ago, Blackbrook Eye. They were flocking in! I wish I'd asked him which birdseed he was using now

Personally I just use the cheap and cheerful mixed wild bird seed from my local pet shop, about £8.00 for a 25k bag, then it helps a wide range of birds without making too big a hole in my budget.

Keith

sunnydale · #9 (**permalink**) 06-02-2009, 11:46 PM

Not sure if anyone else local knows where I mean....but there is a lay-by on the A5012 (Via Gellia road) and someone regularly puts a large selection of food there for the birds. It's a perfect place as it's right next to woodland.
There are feeders and fat balls hanging in the trees and bird tables with food on too. I drove past it last week and there was what looked like a chicken carcass hanging up!

There's enough room for around 5 cars to pull off the road safely and even when cars are parked, the birds still come for a good feed. It's a great place to get photographs but I never have the time to stop unfortunately

I actually saw my first ever GS Woody there some years ago but food has been put there for a very long time

When I go out walking, I usually find a place among some trees to eat lunch and I always leave something for the birds....or whatever else might fancy a nibble when I've gone!
A few times, I've ended up giving my favourite Jordans Frusili bar to the birds, rather than eat it myself!

Soupdragon · #10 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunnydale

A few times, I've ended up giving my favourite Jordans Frusili bar to the birds, rather than eat it myself!

Funnily enough, we went to great lengths to feed some horses and sheep today, but that's another story. At this rate, if this snow keeps up and we can't move our cars, we could be sharing the bird food!