The Bird Feeder Blog

What to feed garden birds in Summer

As we enter the summer months, here are a few tips on what to feed your garden birds. 

It is important to only feed selected foods at this time of year. Please don't use peanuts, home made fat cakes (they go rancid and yucky if it's hot) or large pieces of bread as these can choke the young chicks if taken back to the nest.

Food shortages can occur at any time so any extra food supplied from the food list below can assist in the survival of their young. For example, if we have a very dry period during Spring or Summer this will cause problems for the blackbirds and song thrushes. These birds feed on earth worms so if the soil is too hard and dry, one, the birds can't get through the soil and two, the worms will go deeper down. 

Then again if it's unusually cold or wet, there will be a shortage of insects, therefore effecting other species of birds, like the blue tit and chaffinch.  

Please keep your feeders clean as bacteria can build up and cause the birds more harm than good. Using warm water and a little washing up liquid will do fine in most cases. You can buy specialist cleaners online. 

Below is a list of suitable feeds for this time of year:

• Black sunflower seeds
• Seed mixtures without loose peanuts
• Shop brought fat balls/bars are suitable but please throw away after 3 weeks
• Mealworms
• WaxwormsPinhead oatmeal
• Soaked sultanas, raisins and currants,
• Mild grated cheese
• Fruit, soft apples, pears, bananas and grapes.

Above all, don't forget fresh water!

Does anybody have any other suggestions or advice they can share?