PRESS RELEASE

9 December 2008

BRUSSELS SPROUTS ON CHRISTMAS MENU FOR BIRDS THIS WINTER


As the Met office warns the nation to prepare for an unseasonably cold December, Cheshire Wildlife Trust is appealing for people to share their festive Christmas feast with our feathered friends.

Even the nation's favourite winter bird, the robin, traditionally associated with the cold Christmas period, cannot escape the perils of the winter chill. Cold is one of the largest causes of death for the red-breasted bird and only 28% of fledglings and 38% of adults survive to the following year.

Diminutive breeds of birds like the robin struggle to consume daily the vast quantities of food they need. Wildlife gardening officer for Cheshire Wildlife Trust, Sue Tatman, says: “The smallest birds need to eat as much as 30% of their body weight daily to ensure they have the necessary fat reserves to get them through the long, cold nights.

“Whilst we are all tucking into hearty Christmas dinners this year, share leftovers with garden birds as the boost from all the nutrients on your menu could make the difference between life and death for small birds.

“Garden birds will appreciate a Christmas handout, but they need to find food every day so if you can keep putting food out all winter that will make a big difference.”

Encouraging wildlife into domestic gardens also helps towards Cheshire Wildlife Trust's vision of a Living Landscape, a county where wildlife flourishes and nature reserves are joined up by surrounding wildlife-rich land.

A La Carte Garden Menu for Birds:

• BRUSSELS SPROUTS: Love them or loathe them, birds such as starlings will happily eat cold cooked sprouts, parsnips and carrots.
• ROAST POTATOES: Left out cold and opened up, most garden birds will tuck into spuds with relish.
• FAT: fatty off cuts from meats (as long as they are from unsalted varieties) are a fantastic treat for birds.
• CHEESE: Hard bits of cheese are a favourite with robins, blackbirds and song thrushes (though very strong or blue cheeses should be avoided).
• DRIED FRUIT: Raisins, sultanas and currants provide a fruity delight for blackbirds and robins.
• CAKE: Biscuit crumbs and stale cake are ideal for birds in winter, due to their high fat content (though less good for the rest of us!).

TOP TIPS

• Never feed birds salty foods as they cannot digest them.
• Only leave enough for one day's food otherwise unwanted visitors may be attracted.

-ENDS-