Feeding wild birds is not only a sympathetic gesture towards nature, but often a necessity, especially during periods of natural food shortage. However, in order to help effectively and safely, it is useful to know what food for wild birds should contain. In this post, we take a look at the ingredients that will ensure birds have the right energy, health and support throughout the year.
Wild birds have a variety of nutritional needs, depending on the species, the season and the availability of natural food. In winter, when temperatures drop and insects and fruit are fewer, the provision of easily digestible energy becomes crucial. In spring and summer, on the other hand, birds need ingredients to support growth and reproduction. The feed must therefore be balanced and varied to meet these changing requirements.
The most important element is grains - diverse and rich in nutrients. In mixtures for wild birds, you will often find wheat, sorghum, millet, as well as various types of sunflower - black and striped. Sunflower is particularly prized because it provides a lot of energy due to its fat content, and its shells are easy for birds to split.
In addition, it is a good idea for the feed to contain hemp seed, flax, broken corn kernels, beans, vetch and peas - these ingredients provide protein and fibre, which are essential for the birds' bodies to function properly.
Fats are extremely important for many bird species, especially in cold weather. They provide birds with the concentrated energy they need to stay warm and active. Crude rapeseed oil or animal fats in the form of fat balls are often added to wild bird feeds. The latter are particularly favoured by insectivorous birds such as tits and woodpeckers.
Ważne jest, aby tłuszcze były naturalne i niesolone – sól jest dla ptaków zimujących szkodliwa i może prowadzić do poważnych problemów zdrowotnych.
Owoce i orzechy to kolejne składniki, które warto podawać ptakom, zwłaszcza miękkojadom, takim jak drozdy czy kosy. Pokrojone jabłka, gruszki, rodzynki czy orzechy ziemne (niesolone!) wzbogacają dietę o witaminy i minerały. Warto pamiętać, że owoce do karmienia powinny być surowe i świeże, a orzechy nieprzetworzone i bez przypraw.
The basic rule is to avoid processed and salted foods. Birds should not be fed salted nuts, pork fat, bread or uncooked porridge, which can swell in the digestive tract and cause health problems. Bird food must always be dry, clean and fed in small quantities so that it does not linger and become mouldy.
The feeder should protect the food from moisture and wind, have a canopy and covers to prevent the grains from blowing away or getting wet. It is important to refill the feed regularly, preferably weekly, and to change the location of the feeder to help prevent the spread of disease. It is worth bearing in mind that the feeder needs to be cleaned from time to time.
In addition, it is worth remembering to feed naturally by leaving plants in the garden that provide food for the birds themselves - such as mugwort, mullein or rowan. This is an excellent addition to your feeder and a way to support birds all year round.
Podsumowując, karma dla ptaków dziko żyjących powinna być przede wszystkim urozmaicona i naturalna. Ziarna różnego rodzaju, tłuszcze, nasiona roślin oleistych oraz dodatki w postaci owoców i orzechów tworzą kompletną dietę, która pomaga ptakom przetrwać trudne okresy i cieszyć się zdrowiem. Unikanie soli i produktów przetworzonych oraz odpowiednie podawanie karmy to kolejne kroki, które zapewnią skuteczne i bezpieczne dokarmianie dzikiego ptactwa.
Thanks to such care, we can not only observe the beauty of birds in our gardens, but also make a real contribution to the conservation of their populations and species diversity. It is therefore worth remembering that each of us can become an ally of wildlife, starting with simple actions such as the right choice of food. It is worth choosing the types of grain according to the species of birds that live in our area.
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