Wild birds are both an attractive element of your garden and a vital source of food. By providing treats during the winter, you can attract these feathered friends back indoors for some fun and sustenance.
Though many human foods are unsafe to feed birds, there are some that you can offer safely. Here are a few ideas to try:
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Fruit
Fruit is an effective way to draw birds that don’t usually visit seed feeders. Try offering fresh orange slices or dried fruits like raisins.
Many backyard birds, such as thrushes (bluebirds, robins and sparrows), enjoy eating fruit. Grapes, apples, bananas, pears and blueberries are all excellent choices for wild bird food sources.
Wild birds benefit from a variety of fruits, but some are more beneficial than others due to their nutrients that keep them healthy and reduce stress during migration. Berries such as raspberries, blackberries and strawberries in particular offer plenty of antioxidants which may help ward off diseases.
Nuts
Nuts are an especially beloved treat for wild birds as they’re high in fat and provide energy. In wintertime, wild birds often consume nuts to stay warm and healthy.
Nut-eating woodpeckers, titmice, chickadees, cardinals and blue jays are just a few species that enjoy nuts. Not only that but these seeds contain high levels of protein and fibre which makes them an ideal addition to suet cakes, feeders or other food sources for visiting birds.
Peanuts are a favorite among birds. Whole peanuts attract larger garden birds, while smaller species like blue tits will chip away at their shells to get to the tasty nut inside.
Grated cheese
Cheese is an enjoyable snack enjoyed by animals of all kinds. It provides essential proteins, vitamins and lipids for energy and growth in birds. Cheese also provides calcium to aid in bone formation.
Nutrient-rich honey contains essential elements like calcium, iron and potassium that are beneficial to bird health. While it’s one of the best dietary choices for birds to give as a treat in small amounts, it should only be given occasionally as a treat.
Wild birds like robins, wrens, sparrows, blackbirds and crows will frequent your feeders when offered cheese. They especially appreciate mild, grated Cheddar cheese.
Bread
Bread is a beloved treat for birds that many people leave out at bird feeders. Unfortunately, this practice can have serious repercussions and even harm wild birds.
First and foremost, bread has zero nutritional value for wild birds. It may fill their stomachs quickly but fails to supply them with energy or protein necessary for growth.
Bread is a high-calorie food and may lead to obesity in birds that consume it. Additionally, its ingredients such as sugar, salt and preservatives may be hazardous for wild birds.
Finally, moldy bread can spread diseases and attract rodents, potentially leading to the demise of wild birds.
Sunflower
Sunflower seeds are a favorite snack of many wild birds due to their ease of consumption and nutritious value. Not only that, but sunflower seeds also contain healthy amounts of fat which helps fuel up a bird’s energy reserves.
Sunflower seeds are an excellent source of calcium and protein, both essential for growth and development in birds. However, sunflower seeds should only be given as a treat and not part of your bird’s regular diet.
Hulled sunflower kernels make a convenient alternative to whole seeds because they lack a shell, making them less messy to feed and easier for some birds to eat. Hulled sunflower kernels may be especially helpful for seed-eating birds like Dark-eyed Juncos and smaller goldfinches who have difficulty cracking open whole seeds.
