The Importance of Feeding Birds
Feeding birds in the garden is a great way to attract beautiful wildlife and bring life to your garden. However, it’s important to know what birds like to eat and what is healthy for them. Peanuts are a great source of protein and fat for birds, but not all birds can eat them.
Common Garden Birds
Before we look at what garden birds eat peanuts, let’s take a look at some common garden birds in the UK:
- Robin
- Blue Tit
- Great Tit
- Sparrow
- Goldfinch
- Chaffinch
- Blackbird
Which Birds Eat Peanuts?
Peanuts Are Not for All Birds
While peanuts are a great source of food for birds, not all birds can eat them. In fact, feeding birds peanuts can be harmful to some birds. Birds like sparrows, robins, and chaffinches can safely eat peanuts. However, birds like seagulls, pigeons, and crows should not be fed peanuts because they are not good for their diet.
How to Feed Peanuts to Birds
When feeding peanuts to birds, it’s important to use unsalted and unflavored peanuts. You can feed whole or chopped peanuts to birds. You can also feed them from a peanut feeder or scatter them on the ground.
It’s important to note that feeding peanuts can also attract squirrels and rats, which can be harmful to the garden and other wildlife.
Other Foods for Garden Birds
Sunflower Seeds
Sunflower seeds are a great alternative to peanuts for attracting birds to the garden. They are high in protein and fat, and most garden birds like them.
Mixed Seeds
Mixed seeds are also a great option for feeding garden birds. Most garden birds like mixed seeds, and they are a great source of energy and nutrition.
Mealworms
Mealworms are a great source of protein for birds, and most garden birds like them. They are especially good for attracting birds in the winter when food is scarce.
Conclusion
Feeding birds in the garden is a great way to attract wildlife and bring life to your garden. However, it’s important to know what birds like to eat and what is healthy for them. Peanuts are a great source of protein and fat for birds, but not all birds can eat them. It’s important to use unsalted and unflavored peanuts and to only feed them to birds that can safely eat them. Other great options for feeding garden birds include sunflower seeds, mixed seeds, and mealworms.