You might find birds flying around in your locality all the time or just resting under a tree shade in your backyard on a hot summer day. From sparrows to koels, these humble little flying creatures visit us almost every day. In India, feeding birds is more of a prevalent practice. But the question is, are we feeding our backyard birds the right way? Even though our intentions are pure, some practices, if not done in the right way, can cause more harm than good. You should have some basic knowledge about the type of birds found in your locality and their feeding habits to avoid mishaps. 

For good health, be it a human being or a bird, we need a balanced diet. A balanced diet consists of a combination of nutrients in adequate proportions for the best health. Not just humans but animals also need a balanced diet for good health. 

So, what should you feed the birds coming to your garden to meet their nutritional needs?  

Go for something like veggies, grains, seeds, nuts that not only fills their stomach but provides them nourishment. You don’t want to go high on fat-rich food or any sort of carbs. Fats and carbohydrates are great sources of energy for birds, but only when taken in the right amount. There are various seed mixes available in the market that ensure a low-fat diet. But you can easily make one at your home. Rice is rich in carbohydrates. It is quite popular in Indian culture to feed cooked or raw rice to the birds. But, instead of feeding them rice every day, you can go for other healthier alternatives like flax seeds, chia seeds, sunflower seeds, oats, millets that are readily available in the market. Also, it is important to provide adequate hydration along with healthy food for proper digestion and metabolism. Especially, in a tropical country like India, summers can be brutal. So, don’t forget to keep some water on the side of your birdfeeder to quench their thirst.

To make the feeding process convenient for yourself along with the birds, you can install a bird feeder. You can buy a birdfeeder or DIY one at home out of a water bottle or a mug. There are many tutorials on the internet to make one. It can be pretty fun and interactive activity that your kids will love. Bird feeding is one of the best interactive activities for your child. It will bring about their creativity and bring them closer to nature. It will make them responsible and inculcate curiosity at the same time. It is better to pass on good habits right from the start. Make sure your birdfeeder does not have any sharp corners to avoid hurting any creature. Install the birdfeeder in an open space so that birds can fly in and out with ease. Keep it a suitable height where it is away from the reach of predators. Make it a habit to clean your birdfeeder at least twice a week to maintain hygiene and avoid any sort of infections.

Can I feed bread to birds?

This is one of the most asked questions. Often, I see people feeding small pieces of bread to the birds. But think about it this way, will you feed your kids bread every day? Bread is nothing but a type of junk food with high contents of carbohydrates and sugars and next to no nutritional value. Often, wet bread gets moldy and can make the birds sick. The same applies with leftovers, don’t feed birds anything spoilt. If you plan on feeding them leftovers, make sure it is a balanced platter with bits of vegetables and healthy grains. Also, just like dogs and cats, chocolate is highly toxic for your backyard birds too. So, never by any means feed any chocolate to the birds.

Don’t overfeed the birds is another important point to keep in mind. Birds also feed themselves on insects and other sources in their natural environment. So, fill the bird feeder accordingly. Once the birds get habituated, they will visit your place every day in the hope to find food. So, don’t stop the practice abruptly according to your convenience. A sudden change like this can cause great distress to these little birds. 

Bird-feeding is truly a hassle-free practice. Can we not spare 10 minutes every day to feed these chirpy flying machines? A little time, effort, and vigilance from your side can help keep a bird healthy and happy. What can be better than that? If you are looking out for ways to help animals and don’t know where to start. Then bird feeding is one of the best activities for beginners. So, why wait? Better start tomorrow!

If you have any more questions, leave a comment, we will be more than happy to answer.