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Ruud Kleinpaste: Looking after and feeding birds during winter

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Sat, 1 Jun 2019, 11:43AM
(Photo / Supplied)

Ruud Kleinpaste: Looking after and feeding birds during winter

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Sat, 1 Jun 2019, 11:43AM

Gardening expert Ruud Kleinpaste joins Jack Tame to remind us not to forget our feathered friends as the days begin to shorten. Listen to the audio above.

Food is becoming scarce, unless you’ve planted a heap of trees and shrubs that provide nectar and honeydew to keep the nectivores happy.

A lot of people feed birds dodgy supplements such as stale bread and food scraps; yes – sparrows and starlings (as well as mynahs and the odd blackbird) might initially seem to appreciate your gestures, but so do rats and mice (who are also looking for fodder)

Interesting to note how all these organisms are not native to NZ, but largely culture-followers or exotic imports.

Bread, by the way, is not a great food for birds – stomach troubles etc. And it certainly doesn’t help our native species.

Another point about feeding birds in your garden is that you’ll need to keep going till spring; Your generosity is something the birds rely on and when you stop, there will be consequences for the artificially-high populations created by extra feeding!

I tend to target nectar feeders in winter assistance: things like Tui, bellbird and silver-eyes; especially the last one is pretty useful to have around in the garden: Silver-eyes are also insect eaters, specialising in scale insects, mealybugs, aphids, psyllids, whitefly and a heap more of those quite damaging garden pests.

I hate spraying systemic insecticides, so birds’ help is always welcome.

Two types of feeding stations are of importance here:

Sugar water (NOT Honey water!!!) in a container from which the birds can feed (many different types on the market)

Lard blocks in an old onion bag or in a small, metal “cage” where the birds can hang from. This last contraption feeds a wide range of birds that over-winter in my garden.

Replenish frequently and remember to place the feeders in a spot out of reach from neighbourhood cats. 

A source of water might also be handy as – even in winter – birds need water

My goal is to get the largest flocks of silver-eyes on the lard blocks and sugar-water stations throughout winter and right into spring, when the silver-eyes start to disperse to go breeding.

You might think you will have “lost” them from the garden... they are getting very secretive around nesting time, but they will remember your place as a heaven full of food, so...

In spring and summer they’ll come and do the pest control business for you by scouting the scale insects and aphids from your plants, to feed their kids!!!

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