GALLERY: Newcastle’s ‘bird lady’ discusses why you should feed garden birds

"Feeding the birds isn't spoiling them - it's helping them survive winter."

July 11, 2020

Bruce Douglas 2 minutes read

Feeding birds in your garden is a good idea. Despite the misconception many have, Sylva Francis has explained why setting out seed, fruits and even bone meal can help birds through the colder months.

“People have this idea that if they feed birds and then go away, the birds will starve. That’s nonsense. It is very important to feed birds in winter because of the lack in food available to them.”

Sylva has considerately provided tips for residents to follow when setting out food for garden birds, and some ideas of what she feeds birds and why:

Sylva Francis with a spotted eagle-owl she is rehabilitating.

Bird seed: Sylva makes use of a simple feeder with a narrow ‘seating’ space, which limits access to pigeons and doves. The feeder has a few holes which allows seed to drop to the floor, for the pigeons and doves to eat instead. “Doves are the lowest on the food chain and are ‘feed bags’. Throwing food down will make your garden a haven for doves only.”
Fruit: Sylva sets out a variety of fruit in a wire holder. With oranges for example, she cuts the fruit top to bottom to expose more of the flesh to the birds. Apples also work well and the fruit need not be perfectly fresh either. “Fruit has natural sugar for the birds.”
Sweet water: This is created by dissolving approximately a half-cup of sugar in three litres of water. Add some red colouring to help the birds see the water, but Sylva explained that if bees drink the water, it’s too sweet.

Within minutes of setting out bone meal and fruit, birds began flocking to Sylvas garden.

Bone meal: Sylva buys this from supermarkets and butchers for a small amount (or even free). She rolls the meal into balls and freezes them, then places the bone meal ball in a wire holder. This is a helpful source of protein for birds.
Clean water: Birds also need water, especially ‘live water’ that drips or sprinkles.

“Bread is okay to feed birds and pap is too, but do not feed them cheese as it attacks their livers. It’s quite common for people on social media to ask about feeding cheese but it isn’t a natural food for them.”

Sylva turns bone meal into balls and freezes them for later use.

Providing another reason why she feeds birds, Sylva said she took pleasure in watching the pecking order and seeing the birds’ plumage change throughout the year.