DON’T... FEED BIRDS DODGY SEED MIXES
DODGY SEED MIXES, PLASTIC NETTING AND LEFTOVER SCRAPS CAN ALL HAMPER GARDEN WILDLIFE. HANNAH STEPHENSON FINDS OUT HOW TO REMEDY BAD HABITS
IF YOU are thinking about how to attract more creatures to your plot through nectar-rich plants, bird food and good garden practices, take care you are not killing your wildlife with kindness.
Are you unwittingly putting out the wrong scraps for animals, creating a pond in which creatures become trapped, or tidying your garden to the detriment of nests and sheltering spots?
Here are some common mistakes gardeners make when trying to be kind to wildlife, and advice from experts on how to keep wildlife safe.
DON’T... SERVE UP FAT BALLS IN PLASTIC NETTING
PEANUTS and fat balls are regularly sold in nylon mesh bags. Never put out any food in mesh bags, the RSPB (rspb.org.uk) advises. These may trap birds’ feet and even cause broken or torn off feet and legs. Birds with a barbed tongue, such as woodpeckers, can become trapped by their beaks.
Instead, hang a half coconut filled with fat balls in a tree or from a bird table, the RSPB advises.
THE RSPB advises bird lovers to avoid seed mixtures containing split peas, beans, dried rice or lentils, as only the large species can eat them dry. They are added to some cheaper seed mixes to bulk them up.
Any mixture containing green or pink lumps should be avoided as they are dog biscuit, which can only be eaten when soaked.
Poor quality peanuts can carry the aflatoxin fungus, which can kill birds if they eat it. Instead, make sure you buy peanuts that are guaranteed aflatoxin-free from a reputable supplier.
And buy seed mixes from a reputable source such as the RSPB, checking which species the mix is likely to attract before you buy.