Variety at the bird feeder, pay attention to high-quality food
Vienna (OTS) – Not all bird species go south to overwinter. Many of our favorite city birds stay in Vienna over the winter and are happy to receive nutritious attention. Blackbirds, tits, finches and sparrows like to gather at well-filled birdhouses.
The colorful hustle and bustle at the bird buffet is a real nature experience and makes it easier for the numerous feathered guests to find food in the winter. The animals are loyal to their location and, with good service, quickly become regular guests at the feeding place. It is important that the birdhouse is hung in a cat-safe manner, filled regularly and kept clean. The most suitable feeders are those that the birds use from outside and cannot contaminate the food with droppings.
Variety and quality make the difference
We also love variety when it comes to food, as do our feathered roommates. Some prefer grains and seeds, others prefer soft food, raisins or apples. When it comes to fatty food, most people like to peck at it and nuts are definitely the bird’s feast menu. Fat balls are a popular fatty feed – but it is better to offer them in dispensers without a net, otherwise the animals can get stuck and get injured. Anyone who offers a bit of everything can look forward to visits from chaffinches, sparrows, robins, nuthatches and goldfinches, and the woodpecker also likes to stop by.
Paying attention to good quality when buying food pays off, because the birdies are picky if the mixture is rancid or the proportion of less popular seeds is too high. It can then happen that a good part ends up on the ground uneaten. When purchasing high-quality feed, preferably regionally or organically produced, it pays off in terms of sustainability. This avoids long supply chains and possible pesticide contamination of the grains.
“If you have berry bushes or wild herbs in your garden or on your balcony, you should leave them to the birds over the winter, because the berries and seeds are an important winter source of food,” says Climate Councilor Jürgen Czernohorszky.
Even if it is well-intentioned, not everything is suitable as bird food: “Leftover food, salty bacon, pasta or bread are not suitable food for birds and can be harmful to their health,” points out Ferdinand Schmeller, ornithologist at the City of Vienna Environmental Protection .
Homemade fat balls
Ready-made food mixtures are available commercially for almost all winter bird needs. This ranges from scattered food to peanut columns, peeled or unpeeled sunflower seeds to special grain mixtures and the fat-containing suet balls. The latter attract not only titmice but also sparrows and woodpeckers.
Fat ball variations are very easy to make yourself. To do this, make the basic recipe, shape dumplings, cut out cookies or fill the mixture into flower pots, coconut halves, mugs or cans. A thread for hanging and the bird buffet is ready.
Coconut fat is suitable as a fat base, preferably organic quality and at least unsalted. Melt the fat, but do not let it get too hot, then stir in the sunflower seeds and other ingredients such as flaxseed, oat flakes and peanuts. When the mixture has cooled down a little and is therefore firmer, shape it into dumplings and incorporate the thread for hanging.
Or fill the mixture into one of the containers mentioned above. A stick inserted into it that sticks out a little serves as a handle for the birds.
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Questions & Contact:
Silvia Kubu
City of Vienna environmental protection
Phone: 01 4000 73426
E-Mail: silvia.kubu@wien.gv.at
www.umweltschutz.wien.at