Gardening expert Monty Don has encouraged gardeners to put five common kitchen leftovers outdoors this month to support birds as winter approaches and temperatures drop. He suggests leaving out pastry, bread, rice, cheese and cooked potatoes.
Why Feed Birds in November
Many gardeners enjoy providing bird food, particularly during the colder season. Birds also eat some of our leftover meals, which can help them maintain warmth throughout winter, making now a crucial time to offer food for garden birds.
Birds will eat seeds and berries already in the garden, though Monty noted that supplies can become depleted rapidly. Supplementing the natural supply with additional food can benefit the birds while providing entertainment as they visit.
Monty Don's Advice on Leftovers
Monty explained that food should be "as calorific as possible," with seeds, nuts and fat being the best choices. On his blog, he mentioned that leftovers can prove helpful too.
He said: "Left-over pastry, bread and rice always get eaten fast, and fruit is good, especially for blackbirds and thrushes. Grated cheese is popular as well as cooked (but not raw) potatoes."
Monty added: "Avoid anything salty such as crisps, salted peanuts or bacon."
Other Bird Food Options
Monty purchases dried mealworms which appeal to robins, tits and wrens. He explained: "If in doubt sunflower seeds and fat-balls - preferably hanging so tits can land on them without being bullied away by more aggressive birds - are invariably popular."
How to Feed Garden Birds Safely
Feeding birds safely is crucial to prevent the spread of disease. The RSPB advises gardeners to change the amount of food provided based on demand and ensure it remains dry.
It stated: "Busy bird feeders can become hotspots for disease. To help keep birds healthy, it's vital to keep things clean."
Avoid using bird feeders with flat surfaces as these carry a greater risk of disease. Clean bird feeders and water baths at least weekly and move them to a new position afterwards.
Monty has also discovered a method to ensure food is distributed fairly amongst all bird species. He explained: "Another way of making sure that all the food does not get gobbled up by pigeons and starlings is to find an old log with lots of cracks and crevices and pour seed over it. The smaller birds will extract every last bit from the fissures that bigger ones cannot reach."
