How and when to feed birds? Help instead of harming

In autumn, many bird species leave our country to spend the winter in warmer places. Those that stay naturally evoke empathy. However, the trend for bird feeders, hanging fat balls and dry bread does not always benefit our feathered friends. If you want to feed birds, check how to do it responsibly.

A bird feeder is not a decoration

DIY stores now offer a wide range of feeders in various shapes and sizes. Design should not be the main criterion – functionality matters most. A good feeder has a large, sloping and tight roof that protects food from getting wet or covered with snow. Wet seeds mold easily and can harm winged visitors.

Ornithologists recommend wooden houses without sharp edges or protruding elements that could injure a bird. Location also matters – the farther from glass surfaces and moving objects, the safer it is. Mounting a feeder within reach of a household cat will also cause more harm than good. A tree nearby is ideal, offering a place to rest and finish a meal safely.

A few words should also be devoted to popular fat balls, which may seem like a cheap alternative to a feeder. They are indeed an attractive treat for tits, sparrows and tree sparrows, but they should never be hung in a plastic net due to the serious risk of trapping a bird during feeding.

What to feed birds?

The menu depends on the visitors, meaning the birds seen in the area. Small species such as sparrows, tits, buntings and greenfinches love sunflower, hemp, wheat and oat seeds – the more variety, the better. Crows, rooks, magpies and jackdaws will gladly enjoy nuts, while pigeons should be offered wheat and buckwheat or barley groats.

Birds’ diets can also include fruit, especially pieces of apples and raisins. These will help attract blackbirds and fieldfares, and occasionally even song thrushes known for their vocal talents. Meat-eating tits and woodpeckers are fond of lard, provided it is neither smoked nor salted – even small amounts of sodium chloride can lead to dehydration and death in birds.

And what about bread? Ornithologists advise against it. It is processed food containing salt, unsuitable for wild birds and even posing a risk of digestive diseases. The fact that ducks or swans eagerly devour large amounts of dry bread does not mean it is good for them.

They can survive without our help

Do birds really need to be fed? They do not. Species that winter in Poland can find a whole range of delicacies in the natural environment – from sloe and wild rose fruit to insects hidden in tree bark. In most cases, they can manage without human help, although nature sadly knows cases of starvation.

The hardest time for native birds is during periods of frost and heavy snowfall – food is scarce and difficult to obtain. Ornithologists believe that harsh winters are the only reasonable justification for setting up feeders. Feeding too early may disrupt natural instincts and reduce birds’ innate fear of humans.

On the other hand, if you start regularly inviting birds for a meal, it is worth continuing the habit until the end of winter. Animals accustomed to ready-made meals may feel confused when they suddenly disappear. A good alternative to feeders are fruit-bearing shrubs and trees in the garden. Hawthorn, guelder rose or dogwood beautifully complement the landscape around the house, offering birds support that cannot be overdone.