Don’t feed birds fatty leftovers

Sharing fatty Christmas leftovers with birds visiting your garden could put them in danger.

Roasting tin fat, in particular, can damage a bird’s natural resistance to the elements. The fat remains soft even when cooled and will stick to feathers and make it virtually impossible for birds to keep their feathers clean and dry.

Such fats also become rancid when left with other meat juices in a warm kitchen, forming an ideal breeding ground for salmonella and other food poisoning bacteria.

Instead, bird seed table mix, suet balls and other nibbles are great at providing birds with vital energy and nutrients to help them through winter.

Those wanting to get creative can also cook up a festive feast for garden birds from scratch using one of the many recipes available on the RSPB website.

Samantha Herbert