Bird Food 

We’ve often talked about the food of birds, especially in winter. Many people have got bird feeders that will attract a range of native and introduced birds: 

Seeds: These can be via seed dispensers or stuck to solid blocks of dripping. They are preferred by sparrows and finches (chaffinch, green finch) 
Nectar feeders: In the form of sugar water, they attract Tui, Bellbird, Silvereye and Kaka if you’re so lucky to have them around. 
Fruit feeders: Some birds love those bits of apple, orange and banana. Tui, Bellbird Kaka and Kereru are some of your guests, but I have literally seen wars break out when silvereyes spot a peeled banana!! 

In the school holidays these feeding stations could be great subjects for a little bit of citizen science and education. Let’s see who comes to which feeding station and observe their behaviour. Do they travel in flocks, like silvereyes tend to do? Is there any animosity? Can you identify the local “owner” of the territory that is trying to chase away the interlopers? Tui are good at that!! 

See the different types of territorial behaviour, or hear the different types of territorial behaviour. Primary feathers or flight feathers of Tui and Bellbird have oddly-shaped notches that create that whirring sound in flight: “Listen, mate! This is MY territory!!!” 

Calculate landing rates of certain species. Guess how much they eat. How long does it take for a flock of silvereyes to demolish one of those lard balls you can get from your local butcher’s? 

How many birds of a certain species can you count at one time on your feeding station? It’s all maths and statistics, but it’s also art and joy and creative writing! 

A lot of birds feed on insects and invertebrates, but at this time of the year they may be hard to find, also for the birds, so here are some ideas of what to look for. With the recent rain you’ll find lots of earthworm holes and casts on lawns and bare soil. This is food for blackbirds, thrushes, starlings, magpies and even owls and harriers.  

Starlings have a habit of probing into the soil at this time of the year. They leave heaps of distinct holes all over the place. I reckon they are looking for the larvae of grass grubs, who are settling just below the surface during raining periods, within easy reach. And then there are the various shrubs and trees that still bear fruits, berries and seeds. 

While you are at it: count the number of birds you see within an hour and record those for the Annual Garden Bird Survey 

Find it on the LandcareResearch website: https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/science/plants-animals-fungi/animals/birds/garden-bird-surveys 

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