feeding birds

[gleno1]

I am still putting seeds fatballs and crumbs for the birds that frequent my garden .They are bluetits robins sparrows and the occasional wren I havent seen any chaffinches for a while The question that i need to ask is is it neccesary to do it in the summer .Acouple of my friends say theres enough natural food on trees and bushes to feed them . Id be grateful for anybodys opinion Thankyou.

[Kelvin]

According to the RSPB it's OK as long as you avoid hard foods. For the full article go to:
http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/helpingbirds/fee ding/birdtables/

[seadogg]

We keep feeding just in case we have helped sparrows, dunnocks and others to rear more young than the natural food source would sustain. Don't want to fatten 'em just to let 'em starve! Others, like chaffinch, goldfinch, siskins etc have pushed off into the woods anyway. We have bank voles that live on the bird seed and you could have something like that too.

[gen2]

It depends upon two things:
(a) are other local residets also putting out food?
(b) have the local birds come to rely on your garden as a major source of food at this time?

Just now the majority of birds have fledged a brood and some are on to a second brood. If your garden is a major food-source in your locality, and they have come to rely on it, then removing it now could be a disaster for current broods that cannot move on immediately to other areas.

I find that demand doesn't drop off until October.

At the moment I am not aware of any other neighbours putting out birdfood so they are very dependent upon what I put out. At the moment, they are getting through a kilo of mixed birdseed a day (The feeder is filled twice a day) + 5 or 6 fatballs and a small amount of peanuts (the peanut feeder is refilled once a week). If I were to stop feeding them right now, I'm sure it would cause stress to many local birds.

For many tears now, I have had food available all year round, and will continue to do so.

[gen2]

Typos:
For 'residets' - read 'residents'
For 'tears - read 'years'

[gleno1]

Thankyou for your replies Kelvin - seadogg and gen2 ii will carry on feeding them until october . Thanks once again

[blackietwo]

it does no harm to feed the birds all year round. it can only help with the diminishing songbirds in the uk. a variety is good because they addapt to different kinds through the seasons. dont just suddenley stop especially during a cold snap, or hot sunny days, they come to rely on the food you provide and stopping suddenley can kill them. remember water also.

[gleno1]

Thankyou very much for replying blackietwo its much appreciated