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Gardeners have been urged to leave bacon and cheese in their garden this December for a really important reason.
Though we associate birdsong, chirping and the comings and goings of birds in our gardens with sunny summer days, in fact many birds are just as active in the winter as they are in warmer weather.
Several popular and well known British species, such as robins, blackbirds, starlings and magpies, all stay in the UK over the cold winter months, choosing to search for food here rather than fly south to somewhere warmer.
That’s why gardeners are being urged to do something to help birds over the winter – by leaving out food that will keep them not only fed, but well nourished in the difficult colder season.
Instead of the usual nuts and seeds, gardeners are being told to provide fattier foods in winter like bacon rinds and cheese, as well as fat balls.
These provide extra energy during colder weather and will help keep birds warm as well as fed.
Website Songbird Survival says: “Keeping feeders topped up in the winter months is key to providing a haven for songbirds. By topping your feeders up at roughly the same time, birds will learn when to visit your garden for food and not waste energy visiting when there’s no food!
“Offering food that is high in protein or fat like fat balls, bacon rind (unsmoked and chopped up), cheese and sunflower hearts provide extra energy to help birds stay warm.
“Seeds that don’t need to be de-husked is also a great idea for feeding, as these require less time spent out in the cold to access the food.
“If we have been blessed with some snowflakes, make sure to clear away patches of snow so that birds can access the soil underneath.
“Many birds feed on invertebrates in the soil and clearing the snow can be a small task that is very appreciated by our feathered friends.
“Don’t feed birds milk, desiccated coconut, white bread, or salty foods as these are not good for their health.”
