How to help wild birds in the city during winter?

Winter is the time of year when food is scarce for birds, especially when snowfall covers the ground with snow. “In the face of this shortcoming we can help neighborhood birds by offering food on our windows, patios, balconies or patiossays the NGO.

We recommend placing the feeders “only in urban environmentsBeatriz Sánchez of the SEO/BirdLife Urban Biodiversity program says, “because in this environment, the temporal and spatial distribution patterns of food are already heavily conditioned by human factors, such as the remains of food on the terrace of a bar.”

Inside non-urban mediaConversely, birds tend to have it, even if they are affected by human activities (e.g. agricultural implements). natural food sources seasonally distributed products in accordance with the rhythm of nature are at your service.

“This makes The negative impact of feeders on bird population biology will likely be much less in urban settings. compared to other types of ecosystems,” points out the conservation group.

Important: no bread or pastries

SEO/BirdLife believes that building feeders “directly attached to wild birdsand that’s not trivial.” In fact, numerous scientific studies have shown that More contact with nature contributes to better health of city dwellers.

Establishing nurturers can be “the gateway to caring and inclusion”. nature conservation actions and other much more threatened birds that need more than sunflower seeds and peanuts,” explains Beatriz Sánchez.

But you must follow basic recommendations So that the feeders do not harm the birds. The best places to install a feeder are gardens, patios or patios on the first and second floors.. The truth is, it’s only a matter of time before birds find food, even if they land elsewhere. Wherever you are.

First tip from SEO/BirdLife: “Choose a quiet, open location protected from the sun, wind, and rainand minimize the risks to birds that an incorrect location can pose.”

feeders they should never be placed near a window or glass panel where birds may collide.. Also, if the area is accessible to cats, the manger should be placed in such a way that it is impossible for cats to access it. felines.

An important question is what foods should be left in the feeders. Bread and pastries are not recommended due to the large number of additives they contain. Salty, sugary or baked. Therefore, if you decide to put nuts, they must be unsalted.

choose natural foods

The best option is always to choose natural, bird foods such as “fruit, sunflower seeds, peanuts, millet or seed mix”He points to SEO/BirdLife.

Food can be arranged purchased feeders –there is a wide variety of options on the market– or directly on the ground on a flat surface that can be cleaned frequently. For example, on a plate from a pot.

hygiene is very important because feeders can be a source of disease transmission. Regular cleaning includes removing uneaten ‘stale’ feed as it can cause problems for the birds as well as removing food debris from the bottom of the manger as they can ‘attract other unwanted visitors’.

There is also the option make feeders using materials found in any home. “The simplest is to hammer a series of nails. peanutone wire after another and hang it in the appropriate place”, details SEO/BirdLife.

Another option is to use orange or onion net is filled and hung on the branches. Might pass one more bottle With two skewer type sticks, make a hole for the birds to eat about three inches above the stick, fill the bottle and hang it with a string. These are just a few of the possible solutions offered by the NGO, which recommends that everyone try their own style.

If birdwatching is also recorded and shared with citizen science tools such as the eBird app, it will help improve knowledge about their behavior and conservation status.

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Contact address of the environment department: crizclimatica@prensaiberica.es