Opinions on the topic of feeding birds sometimes differ greatly. Does year-round feeding make sense? What should you feed in winter? We answer these and other questions and show the advantages and disadvantages of year-round feeding.
It doesn't matter whether it's bedding, sunflower seeds, feed cake or fat balls - birdseed is available in every hardware store and even in supermarkets when the time is right. Feeding birds has long since ceased to be an aid to isolated conservationists, but has developed into a widespread hobby. And the offer is gratefully accepted by many wild birds, because in our increasingly intensified and barren landscape they can often no longer find enough natural food. However, to ensure that the well-intentioned support does not turn into potential danger for the birds, there are a few things to consider when feeding birds appropriately. Scientists and amateur ornithologists have been arguing for a long time, especially about the topic of year-round feeding. In this article we would like to shed light on the advantages and disadvantages of year-round feeding and answer other important questions about correct wild bird feeding.
Feeding the Birds: Benefits of Feeding Year Round
Nowadays, our landscape is increasingly dominated by structurally poor agricultural land, unnaturally tidy forest forests and gardens with English lawns and foreign ornamental flowers. For this reason, native wild birds can no longer find enough habitat and food in many places, even in spring and in the summer months. Year-round bird feeding can therefore support wild bird populations in the medium term and provide an important additional food source for a large number of garden birds. Grain-eating bird species in particular, such as the goldfinch or yellowhammer, are happy to be fed all year round.
All-season feeding: disadvantages
Basically, birds have different food requirements in winter than in summer. Classic loose fodder made from seeds and nuts is made up of components that the birds in nature first break downfind the late year. The high-fat kernels are ideal for the cold half of the year, as they provide a lot of energy for heat production.
In summer, on the other hand, expectant bird parents need more protein-rich feed for egg production and the development of the young. Adult birds will still accept fatty seeds, but there is a risk that they will feed them to their young if there is a lack of natural summer food. However, young birds often do not tolerate fatty foods, and particularly large seeds, such as whole sunflower seeds, can clog the young birds' small stomachs.
Conclusion: Does year-round feeding make sense?
In view of our rapidly dwindling wild bird population, year-round feeding makes perfect sense because it supports a large number of bird species in their daily struggle for food and survival. However, in order not to cause adverse consequences, one should be aware of the food requirements of garden birds and use different feeds in summer than in winter.
What should be fed in summer?
Both fresh and dried fruits, protein-rich seeds of wild herbs, oat flakes, chopped nuts or seeds and also farmed insects are suitable for summer feeding.
Our specially developed Plantura all-season feed, for example, offers many beak-friendly and protein-rich components with a wide range of nutrients and an extra portion of feed lime for egg development.
What should be fed in winter?
As the name suggests, the all-season food can of course also be offered in winter. Our Plantura scatter feed is also the perfect supplement. The mixture of nuts, seeds and shelled sunflower seeds provides an additional boost of energy in the cold season.
Furthermore, a variety of high-energy plant seeds - such as peanuts or sunflower seeds -, fat cake and suet balls or fresh fruit are suitable for winter feeding. In principle, it is always an advantage to offer different feeds. In this way, a wider range of nutrients is offered while supporting more bird species. After all, birds also have different preferences when it comes to their food.
Tip: When using fat ballswe recommend using fat balls without a net. You can find out what advantages these offer in our special article.
Feeding the birds correctly: Other things to consider
There is of course more to the question of how to feed birds properly than just the right food. To make your garden birds feel as comfortable as possible, we have put together a few points to consider when feeding the birds:
- Safety: Always set up feeding stations out of the reach of house cats and other predators - preferably hanging under a canopy or on a high, smooth pedestal.
- Hygiene: To prevent the food from becoming moldy, it should be protected from moisture. Feeding places should therefore always be covered, and cleaning the aviary should be easy. Ideally, feeders are also designed so that the birds cannot sit on the feed and contaminate it with their droppings.
- Supplements: Especially pure grain eaters need a balance to the dry seeds. A year-round feeding is therefore optimally supplemented by the offer of a water point. There the birds can quench their thirst and take a refreshing bath on a hot day.
- Less is more: Despite all hygiene measures, feeders are always exposed to the elements and feed rarely stays dry outdoors for long. For this reason, only small amounts of feed should be applied at a time and the feeding and water points should be cleaned regularly.
Tip: If you don't have your own garden, you can feed the birds on the balcony instead.
A feeding station in the garden is not only a great way to support wild birds, it also provides numerous opportunities for bird watching at home. You can find more practical tips for getting started with hobby ornithology in our special article.