The unusually low temperatures have continued here. It is the end of a long winter, the birds are tired and hungry and I have time, for once, to feed them.
The cold has brought new visitors. Gangs of blackbirds demolish the apples thrown out for them. Starlings have come to ground to flaunt their shiver of green sparkles against the dead grass. The marvellously painted goldfinches have finally discovered the niger seed feeder they have ignored all winter and a solitary field fare, puffed and fluffed against the cold eats sultanas and the apples left over by the black birds.
The sparrows can’t eat their crumbs fast enough before they freeze and I have taken to putting out hot couscous that stays unfrozen just long enough for them to eat it on their table.
As ever, the shops run out of bird seed at this time of year, as they are determined to sell us spring things, whatever the evidence of their eyes tell them to the contrary.
So I dug to the back of the food cupboard to find what I could use instead and came up with: dried figs (chopped up), raisins, sun flower kernels, oats and couscous ( cooked) and rice (cooked). I found soya beans which I boiled up. The birds wouldn’t touch them. I also threw two chicken legs onto the shed roof, which wonders of wonders, tempted in a red kite and a buzzard !
Possibly the most useful thing I have contributed so far is a regular kettle of hot water into the tin tray that is my bird bath. As all the water is ice at the moment, birds really need something to drink and the circles of ice in the picture are the emptied offerings, which shows how long it has been cold. My reward, when I was pouring the kettle, was the distant drumming of a woodpecker and the high, sweet mewing of a buzzard calling for a mate in the clear air.
© cathysrealcountrygarden. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material and images without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Cathysrealcountrygarden with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
You are very resourceful! The sheep next door seem to love lentils and chickpeas (I assume soaked). I’ve just run out of sunflower seeds … and the only packets I found to replace them were split wide open … so I may be taking your tips on board.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hungry birds will take what they like and reject the rest. I only cook things I worry might swell in their guts, but I don’t think that happens in real nature!
LikeLike
Good for you, I’m sure they’ll appreciate both food and water. I wonder why they don’t like soya beans. It’s been cold and snowy here so I’ve been doing the same. Unlike you I’ve not seen many, and nothing unusual. xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not tastey or nutrious for a blackbird I assume . Not too fond of them myself! Xx
LikeLike
Awww, I’m glad the birds have you to look after them. Our garden is full of them at the moment too. There’s a lot of wood pigeons wadding through the snow looking abit confused about the whole thing. 🙂 We are also putting out lots of food and water. 🙂 xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Spring seems a long way off, but if some bird seed and apples will keep the birds going until the sunshine it is worth it! Stay warm x
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a good soul you are!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Or daft!
LikeLike
Great idea on how to improvise with seeds, cooked rice and dried fruit when you run out of bird feed, we might have to try that if it doesn’t thaw here soon. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Couscous is the easiest and cheapest just add boiling water and wait . The sparrows and blackbirds love it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
We are covered in snow, so the days are spent sat at the dinning table with the laptop trying to do work, all the while being distracted by many the winter visitors to the bird feeders.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe the distraction is the lap top and the birds are the real attraction!
LikeLiked by 1 person