A quirky look at wildlife. To be taken with a pinch of salt, but with more than a grain of truth!

We are well into October now and I am finding that many people are becoming interested in feeding the birds and other wildlife in their gardens. It is also a time when people stumble across wildlife in the darker nights and mornings and become hooked on watching and feeding. I have been asked several times what to feed — of course, what not to feed is equally important. I can only offer information that I have gained from my own experience and from quite a lot of nights spent poring over various books and internet sites for answers to my own questions!

I will cover mammals first, simply because there are fewer of them, and then take a closer look at birds and their favourite 'dish of the day'. The most likely mammals to be found in most gardens are hedgehogs and foxes. Hedgehogs are fattening themselves up for winter hibernation and will relish cat or dog food and a drink of water. At one time, bread and milk was toted as food for hedgehogs, but this will give them diarrhœa and cause dehydration. Babies produced late might be foraging still and need to be at least 600g to survive through the winter, so any additional food is a bonus. If a baby appears very
small, contact a local hedgehog rescue centre or St Tiggywinkles for advice. As always, watch out for hedgies in piles of leaves or bonfires.

Foxes are familiar to everyone and many of us will have foxes visiting without even being aware of them. They are around more at night but increasingly are spending time foraging in daylight, especially where they are sure of a welcome. They will eat almost anything, even food that is almost putrid, but I wouldn't recommend that as it might attract other unwanted visitors! They are partial to jam sandwiches and Marmite sandwiches (cut up small) are particularly good as they gives the foxes a much-needed vitamin boost. They have a tendency to follow badgers and will pinch peanuts, raisins, fruit, bread and anything else left around. The interaction between the two can be very entertaining and brock is definitely boss! Takeaway litter is of particular interest to foxes, including the packaging, believe it or not. Should you notice that your foxes have mange, feed them Marmite sandwiches to boost their immune system. Then contact the Fox Welfare Society for a homeopathic remedy which is very effective. It is free, but a donation would be much appreciated.

In some areas rabbits are becoming a bit of a pest, as are muntjac deer, as both have a liking for gardeners' prize plants. I am not sure it is a good idea to actively feed grey squirrels, either. For one thing, I understand that too many peanuts are not good for them. In any case, they are doing absolutely fine by their own efforts, thank you very much! They will 'steal' more than enough to sustain themselves
(and entertain or annoy you) without offering them food 'on a plate'.

Now we come to my 'friends'. More and more people seem to be encountering badgers as their habitat is destroyed or built on. I have lived in my house for almost forty years and didn't know they were within a stone's throw of our garden until just over a year ago. A visit to the little room at 4.15am and a casual glance out of the window revealed a badger eating bird food left on a low table. It was during a long dry spell and earthworms were difficult to find. Up to four have been visiting almost nightly ever since. They are also fattening themselves up for semi-hibernation between mid-December and mid-March.

They seem to have a good nose for the garden 'bistros' of this world, which is why the foxes follow them around. Cunning and lazy, the foxes will pinch food from under the noses of the badgers, but always creep up from behind. Cowards! While the badger's staple diet is earthworms, they will also eat an amazing variety of foods throughout the year, not just the peanuts, raisins and honey that most people know. In fact, honey should be avoided, as badgers will do anything and go anywhere for such a treat. They only have one set of teeth in a lifetime, which can be ruined by sweet things, and this can result in an early death. I searched for advice, as I didn't feel a constant diet of peanuts and raisins could be good for them, and found that they will eat grapes, apples, pears, plums, strawberries, peas, sweetcorn, carrots and almost any root vegetable. Brown bread in small quantities, preferably spread with peanut butter or Marmite, is also good.

There are a number of badger foods on the market, including dried food, and dog or cat food is acceptable too. Dried food should always be accompanied by drinking water within reach. If you are concerned that a badger sett is being interfered with, contact the RSPCA, the Badger Trust or your local police if they have a wildlife officer. Never approach anyone loitering around a sett with dogs or
shovels, etc.

There is a good deal of natural food around for birds at this time of year, but much depends on where you live and the recent weather. Birds are increasingly frequenting feeders and tables in gardens as their
food supplies disappear. This is often a result of building development or changes in farming practices. This is also the time when migrant birds start appearing in large numbers, so extra feeding is needed.

Everywhere that bird foods are advertised, you will see photos of bird tables loaded with food. Well, they are selling the stuff after all. However, I have found that doing this can be disastrous, especially in wet weather, which can turn wholesome food into a gungy mess ripe for mould. It also hides bird excreta, which can rapidly turn the food in to a poisonous concoction. It is such a waste, too. I find
it is best to put out small quantities, perhaps twice a day and more often if they are really hungry. Small feeders with a roof help, too. It makes cleaning up easier, and unlike humans, birds do not gorge on more food than they need just because it is there — they know they have to fly away afterwards!

Good hygiene is essential, especially in hot, humid or wet weather. It take a little time, but working in the garden with just the sound of impatient birds waiting for nice clean food is a tonic in itself. There are a number of cleaning agents available specifically for this purpose, but a frequent good scrub with hot soapy water (not detergent) can be just as good. Water should also be changed frequently and
birdbaths cleaned out regularly.

Information on bird feeding, hygiene, diseases, migration, endangered species and lots more are available from the RSPB, BTO and many other birding web sites.

Buying bird food can be a minefield. Many stores, pet shops and market stalls stock wild bird food, but beware. Cheaper foods contain corn, wheat and dried peas among other things to bulk up, but you are likely to be plagued with large flocks of woodpigeons and possibly feral pigeons. This to the annoyance of the neighbours and the disgust of the other birds who lose out! Peanuts should always be bought from a source which guarantees that they have been tested and guaranteed free from aflatoxin. Some imported peanuts are badly affected by aflatoxin, produced by a fungus called Aspergillus¹, which can make birds and mammals ill and may cause them to die..

If feeding for the first time, buy small quantities and experiment. A good-quality seed mix, a few peanuts and a peanut cake/fat ball will soon give an idea of what birds are about, and a small quantity of nyjer seeds may attract goldfinches but are appreciated by other birds too, such as dunnocks and siskins. Raisins soaked in water and a few oats are a good standby too, attracting blackbirds and thrushes. Grated mild cheese will soon bring the local robins to your door. Starting with a mix, you can soon move, as most people do, to 'straight' foods, i.e. single rather than mixed bags. Try one at a time to see which birds like what and you will have less waste. You can then mix and match foods to suit your particular population. Be prepared for some surprises, though. Books will tell you that some birds won't perch or cling, others don't feed on the ground, others are shy, others precocious. Always add 'generally' to those statements because, like people, they have different temperaments and they learn quickly from each other. Don't assume that because you have only seen the usual blackbird, robin, blue and great tits, starling and sparrow, these are the only birds on your patch.

Don't ask me how, but word soon gets around and they will come from far and wide. A garden with plenty of vegetation and leaves, dead wood, etc. can hide a multitude of wildlife, some of which you will only discover when you are out early in the morning or in the darker evenings.

Bacon fat, grated cheese, moistened bread, cake/biscuit crumbs and fruit that is over-ripe will all disappear. Pasta (no sauce please — we're British!), cooked rice, oats, cold baked potatoes and even
porridge go down well. Blue tits love apples, digging deep for the seeds. Both cooked and uncooked pastry and many other 'leftovers' can provide a boost for our wildlife without breaking the bank. As in your own diet, avoid salt and sugar as much as possible, and also margarine, as the hydrogenated fats, etc. are not good for them.

However, the 'dish of the day' which will keep almost all birds and mammals happy is without doubt sunflower hearts and seeds. High in oils and calories, these appear to be a universal food. Black sunflower seeds are richer than striped, and those that have had the husks removed are a quick and easy meal in hard times. I do feel we should feed with the husks on, too, so that young birds know what a sunflower seed looks like in its natural state and they get used to breaking them open. It also keeps the birds in view for longer as they stay to crack them open. The seeds stay drier in wet weather too, but the husks can cause hygiene problems if not cleared away quickly. The husks do make good compost.

Rather than advertise or show my own preferences, I would suggest that you Google 'wild bird foods' and you will find a plethora of suppliers all vying for your custom! Foods on offer are quite appetising and not dissimilar to our own, but are not produced or stored to human hygiene standards, so don't be tempted to nibble!

Sunflower seed, nyjer seed, millet, maize, pinhead oatmeal, canary seed, peanut nibs or granules, peanuts, raisins and sultanas, oats, suet/peanut cakes with all sorts of goodies added (fruit, seeds, nuts, insects, dried mealworms) can all be offered to vary the diet. Note: I read recently that dog and cat owners should feed raisins and sultanas on a bird table mixed with seeds, not on the ground, as even
small quantities can make dogs and cats ill with kidney problems. No, I didn't know that either.

Of course, if you really want to be popular — and nagged — and chased — then the ultimate food to guarantee you a five-star rating as a bird feeder would be real, live wriggly mealworms. You won't need to put them out; the birds will come fetch! If you can't face the thought of wrigglies, you can buy dried mealworms, which are acceptable, but you will miss all the fun. The queues, the fights, the antics when they can't find their way in to the feeders. The visits from hungry birds tapping on the window when the dishes are empty and who invite themselves indoors to look for mealworms if none are immediately forthcoming.

All the organisations I have mentioned will give you masses of information and hours of pleasure as you learn more about our birds and other animals and their likes and dislikes. I wish you joy as you make a difference — to your life, and theirs.

Websailor's Wacky Wildlife World Archive

Websailor

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