Eight foods 'could kill' birds if left out in gardens this winter

As the UK braces for colder temperatures and enters the prime bird-feeding season, garden bird expert Lucy Taylor has issued her annual warning about foods that can be harmful or even fatal to birds visiting our gardens. This period sees a significant increase in people providing additional food, particularly as natural resources dwindle and winter migrants arrive.

However, despite good intentions, many households unknowingly provide foods that are actively harmful to birds. Each winter, wildlife charities witness an increase in reports of ill or dying garden birds.

A large number of these cases are associated with inappropriate foods left out with the best intentions, including high-salt kitchen scraps, liquid fats, mouldy leftovers and even bread.

What not to feed the birds in your garden

Lucy, from Vine House Farm Bird Foods, said: "For most people feeding the birds in their gardens, all the food they put out is purchased for just that purpose – so products such as sunflower hearts, seed mixes and suet products, etc. There are also useful and healthy additions to put out which most households would already have, with a good example being apples – which are a great food in the winter months to attract Blackbirds and migrant Fieldfares.

"However, most of the food types we keep in our homes for our own consumption are not suitable for garden birds, and indeed some are can be very harmful to them. So here we've listed some key examples of foods not to put out in your garden for birds."

Bread

Lucy explained: "It's now widely known that feeding bread to ducks at local ponds and rivers is not a good thing to do, but actually the same is true for garden birds such as House Sparrows and Starlings, which will readily eat bread. The main issue is that bread not only has little nutritional value for birds, but it also fills their stomachs quickly, which discourages them from feeding on other foods which would be of benefit to them."

Foods that contain salt

Lucy stated: "Most processed foods are high in salt, with a prime example being bacon. Some cooked firm animal fats which don't contain salt are fine for birds, but bacon fat most certainly isn't. And to be clear on the problem: salt is toxic to songbirds – even in small quantities."

Fat that is relatively liquid

Lucy pointed out: "We all know that suet-based products such as fat balls are great for many species of garden bird, but one of the reasons birds are able to safely consume it is because the product is firm. In contrast, fat, which is much less firm – e.g. on the remains of a roast chicken or turkey – can mean that birds can end up with the fat on their feathers as they attempt to feed on it, with this potentially impeding their ability to fly."

Other foods to avoid

Desiccated coconut – this is highly dangerous and potentially fatal to birds, because once in their stomachs it will swell as it absorbs liquid.

Chocolate – while it may seem unlikely you'd leave this out as most of us enjoy it ourselves, it's vital to understand that chocolate is poisonous to birds.

Milk – birds cannot digest milk and consuming it can prove fatal.

Avocado – this might come as a shock, but avocado contains a compound called persin, which can trigger heart damage and respiratory problems in birds, potentially leading to sudden death.

Any mouldy or spoiled foods – just as it is for humans, any mouldy or spoiled food is dangerous and potentially deadly to garden birds.

Lucy added: "On a final note, if you're ever in doubt about what foods to put out and what not to, then just play it safe and provide the birds in your garden with the type of products we supply directly from Vine House Farm."