Why this bird feeder allows you to meet the needs of wild birds?

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As more and more of the British countryside becomes eroded away by housing and industry developments, our wild bird natural food sources are becoming depleted. The result is a greater reliance on humans for the provision of food particularly during the winter months.

The Grumpy Gardener bird feeding station allows you to encourage a variety of species by offering a range of different food types at any one time. This means you can support the nutritional requirements of a wide range of wild bird species.

According to the BTO (British Trust of Ornithology) the types of food we should offer our garden birds are:

• peanuts – rich on oils and protein. These must be bought from a reputable supplier and ensure there is no mould growing on the peanuts. They have a short shelf life so it isn’t worth over stocking. Peanuts must be fed to birds from a rigid wire mesh cage to avoid birds taking large pieces as they could risk choking.
• premium quality, high energy fatballs. Buy from a reputable supplier and avoid those sold in a nylon mesh bag as they may trap the birds feet. Enjoyed most by the tit family.
• sunflower seeds and seed mix – a small bird seed mixture or high protein mixture will attract a variety of birds such as tits and finches.
• mealworms – a natural source of energy, fat and protein. They need to be placed on a flat feeder. Blackbirds, tits, thrushes, wrens, dunnocks and robins love mealworms.

When feeding birds try to put out just enough to meet the requirements of the average number of daily visitors. Putting too much out could lead to food going mouldy or attracting unwelcome rodents.

The BTO and the RSPB both advocate that we feed birds throughout the year. Each season has it’s own demands on bird life so keep encouraging them into your garden. Feeding birds in spring can help birds to raise their chicks more successfully. In Autumn migratory birds need to build-up reserves. The cold, short days of winter making foraging for food more difficult. Small garden birds need to consume 30% of their total body weight per day to survive.

The Grumpy Gardener bird feeding station stands 1.9m high. It includes a feeder for fatballs, a feeder for peanuts and one for mixed seeds. It also includes a mesh feeding dish for mealworms and a plastic water tray.

Features of the Grumpy Gardener bird feeding station

• 1 x nut, 1 x fatball, 1 x seed feeder
• Base of the bird feeding station is a 5 point stand making it easy to lift out of the ground and secure to another location in your garden
• Available in a choice of two colours – sage or black
• Galvanised, rust resistant steel pole protected by a thick weather proof paint
• Only 3 screws on the entire stand (2 in the base and 1 at the top)
• There are 3 arms to fit each of the feeders onto the pole without having to screw them in place. This allows you to adjust the arms without leaving scratches to the pole
• Water dish is plastic for easy cleaning

The bird feeding station can be positioned anywhere in your garden where birds can easily see any approaching predators. The Woodland Trust advocates that “if you can it is worth moving bird tables and feeders around the garden every now and then. This will reduce the build-up if bird mess”, which could encourage disease or unwelcome visitors to your garden.

Happy bird feeding! I am sure garden birds appreciate our food offerings and desire to keep them well nourished.