Gardeners Encouraged to Provide Eggshells for Birds During March
Feeding garden birds in spring can be both economical and highly beneficial, with leftover eggshells emerging as a valuable resource. These common kitchen scraps are rich in calcium, which is crucial for female birds as they lay eggs and for ensuring the healthy development of chicks.
Essential Calcium for Nesting Season
Maureen Eiger, director of Help Wild Birds, highlights that eggshells contain impressive levels of calcium and minerals, making them particularly useful during the spring nesting period. "We discard eggshells daily, but they are packed with nutrients," she explains. "Birds require extra calcium, especially after nesting season, to support egg production and chick survival."
Birds' dietary needs change with the seasons. In winter, high-fat foods help them conserve energy and stay warm. In spring, however, female birds benefit significantly from crushed eggshells due to their calcium-rich composition. This mineral aids in producing strong eggs that hatch successfully and gives hatchlings a robust start in life.
Safe Preparation Is Key
It is important not to simply scatter raw eggshells on bird tables, as uncooked eggs can harbour harmful bacteria like salmonella. This poses risks to birds and can lead to disease transmission to their offspring. Instead, a safer method involves sterilising the shells first.
A recommended approach is to bake the eggshells in an oven for about 10 minutes. This process eliminates bacteria and properly sterilises them, ensuring they are safe for bird consumption.
Step-by-Step Guide to Preparing Eggshells
- Collect empty eggshells in their carton as you use eggs for cooking.
- Once the carton is full, rinse the shells under running water to remove any raw egg yolk, which can attract pests like rats. Use hot water but avoid soap, as it may be harmful to birds.
- Arrange the eggshells on a tray and bake them in an oven at 120°C for approximately 10 minutes. Allow them to cool completely afterwards.
- When cooled, the eggshells will be brittle. Crush them into tiny, gritty fragments resembling coarse sand or gravel. Avoid large pieces, as they can be difficult for birds to handle and may pose a choking hazard.
- Scatter the crushed eggshells on a bird table or around your garden. This provides fledgling chicks with a fantastic head start in life.
Feeding eggshells in small chunks also reduces the risk of birds associating eggs with food and raiding other nests, which is safer for local wildlife.
Beneficial for Common Garden Birds
This practice is especially advantageous for species such as blue tits, sparrows, blackbirds, chaffinches, and robins during springtime. By consistently leaving out prepared eggshells throughout March, gardeners can expect to see more of these feathered friends visiting their gardens, contributing to a thriving ecosystem.
