Blogger: Erica Howe, Communications Manager
It’s not often I go clothes shopping. No really! But, last weekend I braved the crowds and the shops and headed for the high street. I needed to buy some shorts. Now I know it’s not exactly the height of summer, but I just couldn’t find any at all. The shops were full of big knit cardigans, scarves, winter boots and snuggly jumpers. All lovely and rather tempting but not what I needed.
It’s certainly been unusual weather for October, but we can’t deny that the colder months are creeping up on us all. As I bike to work, the roads are littered with fallen leaves, scattered across the pavements; crisp and orange and crying out to be childishly kicked around.
And, while we get ready to stock up for winter with the usual hearty ingredients, there is one extra little thing we must think about doing. Feeding the birds. I know it sounds very Julie Andrews (and as I write this I’m thinking about going home to indulge in watching Mary Poppins with the excuse of ‘research’), but it is one of the most important things that you can do to help your garden birds survive the winter. Sadly, our blue tits, green finches, robins and the like, don’t have weekly trips to Topshop to don the latest warm knitwear. Our garden birds have to turn their food into energy quickly to keep warm and they are most vulnerable to the cold first thing in the morning and last thing at night. It is at times like this that these tiny little creatures need to find food, and fast. A blue tit weighs the same as a 20p piece, and although this seems unbelievably light, it does mean that every drop of food it consumes is immediately used up as energy to keep going.
There are some really cheap and easy ways that we can all help our garden birds and trust me, they will love you for it. Apples and pears will be gobbled up by blackbirds and robins, Nyjer seed is a favourite of siskins and goldfinches and peanuts are fine for the really cold months, but be sure to check that they don’t come from your local pub or have salt in them as this can be dangerous to birds. And with Christmas just around the corner, it’s really easy to make good use of any food scraps you might have. Garden birds absolutely adore things like, dried fruit, pastry, cake, raisins and mild grated cheese.
Perhaps you might be heading out to the shops this weekend to buy a new winter coat or some trendy gloves. If you are, spare a thought for your garden birds and pick up some bird food for them too. It will certainly give them a helping hand and you’ll have them as loyal visitors to your garden for months.
Article in Eastern Daily Press on 8 Oct 2011